Preparation and properties of high-energy-density aluminum/boron-containing gelled fuels

Energetic nanofluid fuel has caught the attention of the field of aerospace liquid propellant for its high energy density (HED), but it suffers from the inevitable solid-liquid phase separation problem. To resolve this problem, herein we synthesized the high-Al-/B-containing (up to 30% [mass]) HED gelled fuels, with low-molecular-mass organic gellant Z, which show high net heat of combustion (NHOC), density, storage stability, and thixotropic properties. The characterizations indicate that the application of energetic particles to the gelled fuels obviously destroys their fibrous network structures but can provide the new particle-gellant gelation microstructures, resulting in the comparable stability between 1.0% (mass) Z/JP10 + 30% (mass) Al or B and pure JP-10 gelled fuel. Moreover, the gelled fuels with high-content Al or B exhibit high shear-thinning property, recovery capability, and mechanical strength, which are favorable for their storage and utilization. Importantly, the prepared 1.0% (mass) Z/JP-10 + 30% (mass) B (or 1.0% (mass) Z/JP-10 + 30% (mass) Al) shows the density and NHOC 1.27 times (1.30) and 1.43 times (1.21) higher than pure JP-10, respectively. This work provides a facile and valid approach to the manufacturing of HED gelled fuels with high content of energetic particles for gel propellants.(c) 2023 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.