Synthesis and Fabrication of Nanothermite Fuel for Space Propulsion

空间工业在使用小型卫星方面正呈指数增长。随着发射成本的降低，小型卫星为发现、巡逻和商业任务提供了独特的价值。新型小型卫星推进技术的发展对该行业的持续增长至关重要，并得到了大量全球投资的支持。为了支持这一增长，该项目将开发和商业化创新的合成和燃料颗粒制造技术，以促进基于可调和高功率密度亚稳态分子间复合材料（MIC，也称为纳米othermite）的新型太空推进技术。提出的方法包括四个方面的研究：(1)优化核壳复合材料和杂化纳米热材料的合成；(2)制定纳米热球燃料颗粒3D打印工艺标准；(3)实验研究合成复合材料和填充颗粒的反应机制/能量产生与组成/微观结构之间的相关性；(4)建立数学模型，以适当的精度，从代表性的3D打印样品中捕获已识别的物理（燃烧机制，火焰传播，推力产生等）。通过技术开发和HQP培训，该研究成果有望为小型卫星制造新型推进系统。这项技术将使轨道机动、导航、稳定、定位和指向成为可能。该项目将进一步帮助加拿大公司在目标空间市场的渗透，这需要原始研究开发高能量释放复合材料，具有成本效益的材料合成方法和先进的设备制造技术。

The space industry is experiencing an exponential increase in the use of small satellites. Along with reduced launch costs, compact satellites provide unique value for discovery, patrolling, and commercial missions. The development of novel small satellite propulsion technology is central to a continued growth of this industry and is being supported by significant global investments. To support this growth, this project will develop and commercialize innovative synthesis and fuel pellet fabrication technologies to facilitate a novel in-space propulsion technology based on tunable and high-power-density metastable intermolecular composites (MIC, also called nanothermite). The proposed methodology addresses four research components: (1) optimizing material synthesis of core-shell and hybrid nanothermite composites; (2) developing a standard for 3D printing process for nanothermite-based fuel pellets; (3) experimental investigation of correlations between reaction mechanisms/energy production and compositions/microstructures of both synthesized composites and packed pellets; and (4) developing a mathematical model, with appropriate accuracy, to capture the identified physics (combustion mechanism, flame propagation, thrust production, etc.) from representative 3D printed specimens. The research outcomes, through technology development and HQP training, are expected to enable manufacturing of novel propulsion systems for small satellites. This technology will enable orbital maneuvering, navigation, stabilization, stationing and pointing. This project will further help the penetration of Canadian companies in the target space market which requires original research developing high-energy-release composites, cost-effective material synthesis methods, and advanced device fabrication technologies.