The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 10, 2019
Filed:
Aug. 19, 2017
Steven Wayne Buckner, St. Louis, MO (US);
Paul Jelliss, St. Louis, MO (US);
Stephen Chung, Florissant, MO (US);
Jacob M Laktas, St. Louis, MO (US);
Gregory J Place, St. Louis, MO (US);
Albert Michael Becksted, Jr., Brentwood Bay, CA;
Steven Wayne Buckner, St. Louis, MO (US);
Paul Jelliss, St. Louis, MO (US);
Stephen Chung, Florissant, MO (US);
Jacob M Laktas, St. Louis, MO (US);
Gregory J Place, St. Louis, MO (US);
Albert Michael Becksted, Jr., Brentwood Bay, CA;
Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
The present invention generally concerns decomposing a ternary metal hydride to isolate nanoparticles to use in a fuel grain. More specifically, the present invention harnesses increased energy densities from two distinct nanoparticles isolated by a precise decomposition of LiAlH. The singular material is air stable and is a nanocomposite of LiAlHnanoparticles, elemental Al nanoparticles, an amount of Ti metal, and a nanoscale organic layer. We call this nanocomposite nMx, which protects and preserves the high energy densities of the core metals isolated from the controlled reaction, making the nanoparticles safe to handle in air. The narrow distribution of nanoparticles has no byproducts or phase transitions that decrease energy output. The unique burning characteristics of nMx enhance the combustion of solid propellant formulations compatible with solid or hybrid rocket motors, where fuel grains are cast, pressed, or 3D printed with nMx powder, a polymeric binder, or optional additives.