Abstract: The microfoam oblate spherical propellants were designed and prepared in temperature-rising progress by supercritical fluids technique in order to improve their burning performance based on progressive burning surfaces theory and the mechanisms of foam nucleation and growth in the foaming progress were discussed. The effects of the contents of CO₂ and particles on foam morphology were investigated. Scanning electron microscope(SEM) results showed that foams in microfoam oblate spherical propellants were closed and isolated, foam morphology can be changed by particle and the mean foam diameter became small as the contents of CO₂ in oblate spherical propellants decreasing. The closed bomb tests indicated that these microfoam oblate spherical propellants showed progressive burning performance. Therefore the microfoam oblate spherical propellants with different foam morphology and burning performance can be achieved by supercritical fluids technique.

Key words: applied chemistry, supercritical CO₂, microfoam oblate spherical propellants, solubility, progressive combustion