Patent ID: 6334917
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: C06B,C06D

Abstract:
A propellant for use in a vehicle, comprising:a solid fuel-rich material weighing a first amount; an oxidizer material including ammonium nitrate; and fibrous cellulose weighing a second amount and said fibrous cellulose being different from said solid fuel-rich material; wherein said propellant is a solid uniform mixture having a length of said solid fuel-rich material, said oxidizer material and said fibrous cellulose such that, for each selected cross-section along said length, any 1.000-micron portion of said selected cross-section has the same composition as any other 1,000-micron portion of said selected cross-section, said solid uniform mixture of said propellant being in extruded form wherein said fibrous cellulose is included to provide said extruded form and in which said second amount of said fibrous cellulose is less than said first amount of said fuel-rich material, said solid uniform mixture of said propellant having a porosity of at least 15% by volume after being formed by mixing said solid fuel-rich material, said oxidizer material and said fibrous cellulose, said solid uniform mixture having a property that, when said ammonium nitrate is subject to a temperature change that causes an increase in volume of said ammonium nitrate, said porosity accommodates said volume increase.