Exploration of the Application of Borane Metal‐Organic Framework Fuel in Solid Propellant

ABSTRACT Three high‐energy density and high‐activity borane metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) fuel [Co(EIM) 2 (BTB) 2 ] n ( 1 ), [Cu(EIM) 2 (BTB) 2 ] n ( 2 ), and [Cd(EIM) 2 (BTB) 2 ] n ( 3 ) were introduced into the propellant formulation. The effects of three kinds of MOF fuels on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry. The theoretical specific impulse of MOF fuels and AP mixed system was calculated by Chemical Equilibrium with Applications software. The combustion process of the MOF fuels and AP mixed system was analyzed using by high‐speed camera. The propellant formulations were designed by using MOF fuels instead of aluminum powder (Al), and the combustion performance tests were carried out. The results show that MOF fuels 1–3 reduce the peak temperature of exothermic decomposition of AP by 63.2, 51.5, and 5.9°C, and the mixed system of MOF fuel and AP can be ignited by electric heating wire and burn stably, resulting in a large amount of high temperature gas, the gas production of MOF 1 mixed system is 2.76 mol per 100 g, and the specific impulse of MOF 2 /AP mixed system is the highest (223.0 s) at O/F = 4. Under the pressure of 3–9 MPa, the burning rate of the propellant is in the range of 8.1–13.4 mm/s, which is higher than that of the propellant fueled by Al (7.1–9.4 mm/s), and the pressure index is lower, among which CSP 2 has the best combustion performance.