Fuel Ratio and Additives Influence on the Combustion Parameters of Novel Polyurethane-based Flares

Abstract

Pyrotechnic compositions using polyurethane as binder were designed to maximize the temperature of combustion and the burn rate. The flares consisted in mixtures of potassium perchlorate/Mg-Al alloy/polyurethane/additives. In order to determine the optimum input ratio that conducts to the most appropriate solution in terms of theoretical amount of heat released, specific volume of gaseous products and chemical composition, Explo5� thermochemical software runs were executed. Further, the temperature of combustion and the burn rate were determined by infrared thermography, while the heat of combustion and the specific volume of gases were obtained using an adiabatic calorimeter coupled with a Julius-Peters volumeter. The fuel ratio was varied in the compositions in order to optimize the combustion, and the addition of chlorinated rubber confirmed a significant enhancement in both parameters.