COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF SOLID PROPELLANTS PRODUCED BY COLD PRESSING AND THERMAL MELTING IN MINIROCKETS

Authors

  • Aline Rebeca Araújo Barroso Northeast Aerospace Federation
  • André Castro Da Silva Northeast Aerospace Federation
  • Breno Souza Pizolitto Silva Northeast Aerospace Federation
  • Gabriel Vicente de Lima de Sousa Northeast Aerospace Federation
  • Gabrielle Ribeiro Silva Northeast Aerospace Federation
  • Isaac Forte de Lima Oliveira Northeast Aerospace Federation
  • Sângella Gomes Silva Forte Northeast Aerospace Federation
  • Vitor Gabriel Nascimento Cavalcante Northeast Aerospace Federation
  • Claus Franz Wehmann Federal University of Maranhão https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8756-9387

Keywords:

Low-cost, Academic rockets, KNSU, Education

Abstract

The application of small-scale aerospace technologies in academic settings, particularly minirockets, represents a strategic area of research, as it allows for experimental validation in a controlled environment and at a low operational cost. In particular, the use of solid propellants has become prominent within experimental rocketry, especially formulations based on potassium nitrate (KNO3), whose ease of preparation and energy efficiency make them ideal for educational and experimental purposes. Accordingly, this work presents a quantitative experimental study aimed at the comparative analysis of two solid propellant manufacturing methods widely used in academic contexts: cold pressing and thermal melting (melt-casting). A single formulation composed mainly of potassium nitrate and sucrose was used as the basis to produce propellant grains via both processes. Their performance was then evaluated through static tests on a custom-built test stand equipped with force sensors, a data acquisition system, and capabilities for total impulse calculation. This production was a collaborative effort among university teams from Northeast Brazil. The results indicated significant differences in average thrust, combustion stability, ease of production, and associated risks, providing relevant technical insights for educational and research applications involving small-scale experimental rockets. Therefore, a clear trade-off between performance and reliability was observed, with the cold-pressing method being more variable in performance and susceptible to structural failures, while the thermal melting method proved to be more consistent in its power output.

References

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Published

2025-11-10

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2025): Revista Interdisciplinar de Pesquisa em Engenharia

Section

Artigos

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