• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.116-123
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• 2019

Thermal batteries are also called molten-salt batteries as the electrolyte is mainly composed of molten salt. The molten-salt electrolyte is a solid that does not conduct electricity at room temperature, but when it is melted by a pyrotechnic heat source, it becomes an excellent ionic conductor. Thermal batteries are a kind of pyrotechnic battery because they operate only when the solid electrolyte is melted by the heat energy provided by pyrotechnic materials. Pyrotechnic components used in a thermal battery include heat sources, fuse strips, and an igniter. The reliability of these pyrotechnic components critically affects the reliability and performance of the battery that must supply electricity stably to guided munitions even under extreme environmental conditions. Different igniter types offer different advantages: notch-type igniters offer improved ignition probability, whereas film-type igniters offer improved safety. The addition of metal oxides to the heat paper could improve the burn rate, and the ignition reliability could be greatly improved by using it with a flame igniter at the same time. Using a two-step reduction process, high-purity Fe particles in coral form can be safely obtained.