Burning, solid propellant monopropellants

Solid propellants may be classified as monopropellants or composite propellants. Monopropellants are substances in which the fuel and oxidizer are both contained within the same molecule or at least in a single phase. These materials may either burn slowly at subsonic rates or may decompose rapidly in detonation. Depending on the use to which this type of material is put, it may be classified either as propellant or high explosive. In general, useful monopropellants are difficult to detonate. The typical example of a monopropellant is the so-called double-base propellant. This substance consists of nitrocellulose which has been colloidized by nitroglycerine along with various minor constituents which have been added to... 

A missile system carries both a fuel and an oxidizer, which are burned to produce hot gases. When these hot gases are expelled through a nozzle, kinetic energy is provided for thrust. Missiles may use either liquid or solid propellants. Liquid propellants may be classified as pressure-fed systems or pump-fed systems [1]. Hypergolic propellants are those in which contact of the fuel and oxidizer produces spontaneous ignition. Monopropellants combine the oxidizer and fuel in one liquid. 

In addition to solid rocket propellants, a wide class of liquid rocket fuel is also available. Liquid propellants exist as monopropellants and bipropellants. Monopropellants are liquids that burn in the absence of external oxygen. They have low energy and a specific impulse and are used in small missiles that require low thrust. Hydrazine, NH2-NH2, is the most widely used monopropellant. However, other monopropellants such as hydrogen peroxide, ethylene oxide (C2H4O), and nitromethane (CH3NO2), are also used [4]. 

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