On convective combustion of ammonium perchlorate mixtures with aluminum

This paper presents an experimental study of the effect of aluminum particle shape, sample density, and small additions of an organic fuel (polymethylmethacrylate) on the initiation and development of convective combustion in bulk and pressed mixtures of ammonium perchlorate with aluminum. It is shown that replacing spherical particles of ASD-4 aluminum by flaky particles of PAP-2 and increasing the mixture density above a certain value results in an increase in the minimum length of samples at which convective combustion begins and its transition to an explosive process is recorded. With the addition of small amounts (up to 4%) of polymethylmethacrylate, this length decreases.