Propellants and Explosives

This second edition of the classic on the thermochemistry of combustion now features five new chapters and updated coverage of significant recent developments in the field. Addressing both experimental as well as theoretical aspects, the book covers the thermochemical and combustion characteristics of all important types of energetic materials, such as explosives, propellants, and the new class of pyrolants, as well as related phenomena. It presents the fundamental bases of the energetics of materials, deflagration and detonation, thermochemical process of decomposition and combustion, plus combustion wave structures. The book also goes on to discuss the combustion mechanisms of various types of energetic materials, propellants, and explosives, based on the heat transfer process in the combustion waves. The burning rate models are also presented as an aid to understanding the rate-controlling steps of combustion processes, thus demonstrating the relationships of burning rate versus pressure and initial temperature. As a major topic new to this edition, new propulsion methods such as duct rockets, ramjets, pulse motors and thrusters are described in detail, while appendices on flow field dynamics and shock wave propagation have been added.