Functionalized Graphene Sheet Colloids for Enhanced Fuel/Propellant Combustion

Publication Year
2009

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

We have compared the combustion of the monopropellant nitromethane with that of nitromethane containing colloidal particles of functionalized graphene sheets or metal hydroxides. The linear steady-state burning rates of the monopropellant and colloidal suspensions were determined at room temperature, under a range of pressures (3.35-14.4 MPa) using argon as a pressurizing fluid. The ignition temperatures were lowered and burning rates increased for the colloidal suspensions compared to those of the liquid monopropellant alone, with the graphene sheet suspension having significantly greater burning rates (i.e., greater than 175%). The relative change in burning rate from neat nitromethane increased with increasing concentrations of fuel additives and decreased with increasing pressure until at high pressures no enhancement was found.

Journal
ACS Nano
Volume
3
Pages
3945-3954
Date Published
12/2009
ISBN
1936-0851
Accession Number
ISI:000272846000026

Sabourin, Justin L. Dabbs, Daniel M. Yetter, Richard A. Dryer, Frederick L. Aksay, Ilhan A.