Combustion Performance of Model Propellant with Boron and Boron-Containing Compounds

The heat of combustion of different formulations of boron-rich solid fuels was measured in an oxygen calorimeter bomb. The mechanism of boron particles agglomeration is largely similar to the mechanism of aluminum particles agglomeration in the combustion of composite solid propellants, but it has its own features. It is well known that, thermodynamically, systems containing “metallic” boron are very attractive from the point of view of air–breathing, such as supersonic combustion, or air-augmented solid rocket propulsion. Boron is the most ideal fuel for such kind of propellants due to high volumetric and gravimetric calorific value. The novel energetic material, aluminum–boron mechanical alloy, was produced by milling. To establish a baseline for ball-milling experiments, boron powder was first milled without additives or organic compounds for 120 min in hexane. Improvements of the combustion efficiency of boron were often associated with the use of magnesium and aluminum as additives or as part of composite materials, alloys, and compounds.