Characterization of Nitromethane/Fumed Silica Nanogel

Nanogels are liquids that rheological properties were modified by the addition of gelling agents.Fumed silica (SiO2 nanoparticles) is a common choice for gelling hydrocarbon fuels (such asRP-1) and some of the propellants. An important characteristic of fumed silica nanoparticles istheir high surface area. In this research, the properties of nitromethane nanogel as a propellantwere investigated. This gel was prepared using a mechanical mixer with a rotational speed about1000 rpm at room temperature for 2.5h. The rheological properties showed that nitromethanenanogel containing 5% wt of fumed silica (14 nm) was a non-Newtonian fluid with a shearthinning property and thixotropic character was observed for the nanogel. Using the rheologicalmodels for the sample was shown that this gel had a yield stress significantly. Also, SEMobservation of the nanogel exhibited that the fumed silica chains in nitromethane linked togetherand gel network was formed. The nitromethane gel has a nontoxic nature.

Characterization of Nitromethane/Fumed Silica Nanogel Keywords:

Nitromethane , Fumed silica , Rheology , Nanogel , Yield stress