title: Functionalized graphene sheet colloids for enhanced fuel/propellant combustion.
abstract: We have compared the combustion of the monopropellant nitromethane with that of nitromethane containing colloidal particles of functionalized graphene sheets or metal hydroxides. The linear steady-state burning rates of the monopropellant and colloidal suspensions were determined at room temperature, under a range of pressures (3.35-14.4 MPa) using argon as a pressurizing fluid. The ignition temperatures were lowered and burning rates increased for the colloidal suspensions compared to those of the liquid monopropellant alone, with the graphene sheet suspension having significantly greater burning rates (i.e., greater than 175%). The relative change in burning rate from neat nitromethane increased with increasing concentrations of fuel additives and decreased with increasing pressure until at high pressures no enhancement was found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Justin L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sabourin
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dabbs
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Yetter
authors.forename: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Dryer
authors.forename: Ilhan A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Aksay
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004735:Energy Transfer; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D006108:Graphite