Combustion Characterization of Energetic Fluoropolymer Composites

This chapter discusses polymeric materials that act as an oxidizer in composite energetic formulations that use aluminum as the fuel. It focuses on the synthesis and combustion characterization of these materials using various analysis methods. Fundamental combustion theories are explained to provide a more complete understanding of combustion in general. The molecular structure of the fluoropolymer has recently been shown to have a significant impact on the burning performance of the composite and presented which includes discussion of benchmark methods for characterizing energy propagation during reaction using flame speed measurements. By coupling discussions on chemical kinetics to ignition and energy propagation, a more complete understanding of the unique combustion behavior of fluoropolymers reacting with aluminum can be understood. This chapter presents a broad perspective on aspects relevant to the use of polymers in energetic material combustion and provokes thoughtful inspiration for future work.