Polymer seeded with metallic powders in ablation mode laser propulsion

In order to improve polymer’s propulsion Performance, polyformaldehydes(POM) seeded with metallic powders have been researched with a CO2 laser.The results show that metallic powders can improve POM’s propulsion performance under proper condition. The largest momentum coupling coefficient of POM rises from 12×10-5 N/W to 21.72×10-5 N/W after added with micron aluminium powders. When the POM seeded with micron aluminium powders is put into a long cylindrical model, the largest momentum coupling coefficient and specific impulse rise to 61.64×10-5 N/W and 727.32 s, respectively. The corresponding energy usage ratio is over 100%. This indicates that the target has reacted with air．