Silane ballistic modifier containing propellant

Abstract

A silicon compound as a burning rate catalyst for a solid propellant comption is disclosed along with the solid propellant composition for which the silicon compound is an effective catalyst. The silicon compound is selected from a class of silicon compounds characterized by having one or more silicon bonds selected from silicon to hydrogen bonds, silicon to nitrogen bonds, and silicon to carbon bonds. Representative silicon compounds of the described class of compounds include p-bis(dimethylsilyl) benzene, tris(dimethylsilyl) amine, triethylsilane, hexamethyldisilane, bis(dimethylamino) dimethylsilane, bis(dimethylamino) methylsilane, octylsilane, hexamethylcyclotrisilazane, and dimethyldiicyanatosilane. The burning rate of the solid propellant composition varies as a function of the silicon content in the propellant composition which is additionally comprised of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene binder, an optional bonding agent which is the reaction product formed from equimolar quantities of 12-hydroxystearic acid and tris [1-(2-methylaziridinyl)]phosphine oxide, an optional quick cure catalyst of triphenyl bismuthine, an oxidizer of 1 micrometer ultrafine ammonium perchlorate and 90 micrometers ammonium perchlorate, aluminum metal powder fuel, and a curing agent of isophorone diisocyanate.