Gandhinagar: A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), including Prof Kabeer Jasuja (Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering), Prof Chinmay Ghoroi (B S Gelot Chair Professor, Chemical Engineering), and a PhD student Harini Gunda, has developed a new class of nano-additives for fuels used in space and defence applications. This new class of nano-additives result in a superlative enhancement in the performance of solid propellants used in rocket propulsion systems and can also help carry additional payload/satellites into an orbit.

What are solid propellants and how do they work?

Many countries in the world are eyeing to take the lead in the development of their capabilities in space missions. India has also made its space program more visible and active as the country aims for greater self-reliance in space technology. Multiple aspects are being researched thoroughly that can lead to a successful and economic mission. Fuel is one of those critical parameters. In rockets and missiles, ‘solid propellants’ are used as fuel. Solid propellants are a mixture of fuel and oxidizer. Whether it is ISRO’s famous PSLV launch vehicles to lift satellites or DRDO’s AGNI intercontinental ballistic missile, all are powered by solid propellants as fuel. Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) is one such energetic fuel used widely in rocket propulsion systems. However, solid propellants usually need multiple additives to improve their burning rates, performance and maximise the energy of the fuel.

Conventionally, several additives are added to AP to improve its performance. These additives can take up to 30% of the total weight of the fuel. Boron is one of those fuel additives, but it faces severe ignition delay and a low burning rate because of an inert boron oxide layer formation.