Estimation of the Propellant Ablation Rate in a Pulse Discharge

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the intensity of evaporation of polymers (polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamide-6, acetal homo- and copolymers, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride) under the influence of a pulsed discharge. First, the dynamics of evaporation of the surface of polymer samples by radiation from the discharge channel was studied using shadowgraphy (schlieren photography), and then a unit force impulse created by a vapor–plasma flow accelerated in the discharge was determined. It has been shown that polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene have the highest evaporation rate and, accordingly, create a higher force impulse.