Burning behaviour of nitramine model formulations

Model formulations of RDX and a hydrocarbon binder were studied by various methods to investigate the effect of addnl. polymeric fuel on the burning mechanism. The fuel reduces the burning rate at higher pressures and the pressure exponent. Extinguished burning surfaces show that the RDX is depleted at the surface. Emission spectra in the UV/VIS are dominated by OH, NH and CN similar to the case of pure RDX. However, the OH decreases at higher distances from the surface obviously consumed by decompn. products of the fuel. At high pressures ( >2 MPa) soot emits strong continuous radiation. The temps. obtained from the OH bands at 306 nm range from 2800-3000 K which is close to the adiabatic flame temp. The temps. evaluated from the continuous radiation are considerably lower indicating radiation cooling.