La combusti\u00f3n de propulsantes s\u00f3lidos que contengan en su formulaci\u00f3n aluminio exhibe fen\u00f3menos asociados con la acumulaci\u00f3n, aglomeraci\u00f3n, ignici\u00f3n y combusti\u00f3n de part\u00edculas de aluminio de tama\u00f1o nano y micro. Este es un fen\u00f3meno indeseable, que puede dar lugar a reacciones incompletas, con reducci\u00f3n de impulso y formaci\u00f3n de residuos que pueden da\u00f1ar el aislamiento del motor. Este art\u00edculo presenta un mecanismo f\u00edsico que explica el proceso de aglomeraci\u00f3n, revelando que las part\u00edculas peque\u00f1as tienden a aglomerarse m\u00e1s que las grandes. Adem\u00e1s, sugiere maneras para reducir la aglomeraci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n
Aluminum particles are commonly added to solid propellants (up to about 20% mass fraction) to increase their energy and energy density. However, during the propellant combustion, aluminum particles tend to form relatively large agglomerates which are ejected from the propellant surface into the hot gas fl ow fi eld. This situation may result in undesirable phenomena such as incomplete combustion, two-phase fl ow losses, and slag accumulation, particularly in motors having a submerged nozzle (e.g., in space motors such as the Space-Shuttle boosters). Besides demonstrating only partial oxidation which decreases the actual propellant energy, the existence of slag reduces the overall jet momentum, adds parasite mass, and may damage the motor insulation.<\/p>\n