Effect of catalysts on the combustion of layered systems

An experimental study is made of a “chemical arc”, a model layered system of solid components, between the end surfaces of which stationary combustion takes place. The rates of combustion of the components in ammonium perchlorate-polyether, ammonium perchlorate-polyethylene, and ammonium perchlorate-butyl rubber systems with catalytic additives (diethyl ferrocene, epoxyethyl ferrocene, and iron oxide) are measured as functions of the distance between the components. A maximum mass combustion velocity is found to exist as a result of the transition from a low velocity (kinetic) to a high velocity reaction regime. The data are in qualitative agreement with theory. The mechanism by which the catalysts affect the combustion characteristics is analyzed.