Microwave Stimulation for Throttling of Energetic Materials

While thermal and mechanical means are the most common approach to stimulate energetic components, alternative methods are also available. This talk discusses using microwave (MW) to stimulate energetic material and modulate the energy release process. Unlike surface stimulation of bulk materials, MW heating offers the potential to trigger energy release within the energetic spatially and temporally, thus enabling the in-operando spatially selective control of throttling. We give examples of employing reactive MW sensitizers (For example: Ti and MnO₂) to trigger local ignition of non-MW sensitive energetic components. In addition, we demonstrate that by embedding wires which act as a MW receiving antenna into poor MW sensitive composites, ignition can be triggered locally or alternatively accelerate the local burn rate. We also demonstrate embedding a wire as monopole MW antenna within an AP/HTPB propellant to deliver MW energy to the burning surface and increase the propellant burn rate.