Oxidizers, propellant hydrogen peroxide

Finally, we note that propellants for rockets and the like are often explosive mixtures of liquids 100% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), liquid oxygen, and even liquid fluorine have been used as oxidants in rockets for light substances such as hydrazine (N2H4) or unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine [(CH3)2N—NH2], while torpedoes and submarines have been powered with diesel fuel oxidized by hydrogen peroxide. Indeed, had the fast Walter H2 02-turbine U-boats come into service earlier than December 1944, the Second World War might have taken a rather different turn. 

RocketPropella.nts, Liquid propellants have long been used to obtain maximum controUabiUty of rocket performance and, where required, maximum impulse. Three classes of rocket monopropellants exist that differ ia the chemical reactions that release energy (/) those consisting of, eg, hydrogen peroxide, ethylene oxide, C2H4O and nitroethane, CH2CH2NO2 that can undergo internal oxidation—reduction reactions (2) those... 

Propellant. The catalytic decomposition of 70% hydrogen peroxide or greater proceeds rapidly and with sufficient heat release that the products are oxygen and steam (see eq. 5). The thmst developed from this reaction can be used to propel torpedoes and other small missiles (see Explosives and propellants). An even greater amount of energy is developed if the hydrogen peroxide or its decomposition products are used as an oxidant with a variety of fuels. 

Monomethylhydrazine is a clear, colorless liquid used extensively in military applications as a missile and rocket propellant, in chemical power sources, and as a solvent and chemical intermediate. Upon contact with strong oxidizers (e.g., hydrogen peroxide, nitrogen tetroxide, chlorine, fluorine) spontaneous ignition may occur. 

Hybrid Rocket Propellants. A special proplnt combination of unlike materials, particularly of unlike physical characteristics. Typical hybrid proplnt combinations are a solid fuel (or oxidizer) in combination with a liquid oxidizer (or fuel) in tjiat order. Sometimes a grain of solid fuel is encased in the combustion chamber of a rocket engine and burned in combination with liq oxygen. Similarly, a liq fuel may be injected into a combustion chamber in contact with a solid oxidizer. Another example is the use of concentrated hydrogen peroxide and a hydrocarbon fuel. In this case, the hydrogen peroxide is converted by decompn into a hot gas contg oxygen. The fuel is injected downstream of the first reaction, mixed with the hot oxidizer-rich gas, and burns (Ref 1)... 

Aliphatic hydrocarbons petrol, paraffin. In the U.S.A. several types of combustibles for liquid propellant jet aircraft are used. One of them, i.e. JP-4, is employed for rocket propulsion, with nitric acid as an oxidizing agent (it can also be used with hydrogen peroxide or liquid oxygen). The specification of JP-4, is as follows ... 

Liquid rocket propellants are subdivided into monopropellants and bipropellants. Monopropellants are liquids which burn in the absence of external oxygen. They have comparatively low energy and specific impulse and are used in small missiles which require low thrust. Hydrazine is currently the most widely used monopropellant however, hydrogen peroxide, ethylene oxide, isopropyl nitrate and nitromethane have all been considered or used as monopropellants. Information on the performance of some monopropellants is presented in Table 8.3. 

Any compound or mixture of compounds capable of undergoing an exothermic reaction is a potential monopropellant. In this sense all solid propellants are monopropellants. The term monopropellant however generally is reserved for liquid propellants. The monopropellant may be a single compound such as hydrogen peroxide or propyl nitrate. For hydrogen peroxide, the exothermic reaction is in the form of a decomposition. The exothermic reaction associated with propyl nitrate is better characterized as a fuel-oxidizer reaction, the fuel and oxidizer in... 

Nitromethane is active chemically, can have many chemical reactions as a chemical reagent or synthesis intermediate. It also can be used as solvents for cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate, vinyl resin, polyacrylate coating, beeswax, etc. base or other materials can be added into nitromethane for generate explosives when nitromethane is mixed with strong oxidant hydrogen peroxide or N2O4, it can be used as liquid rocket propellants and fuel nitromethane can also be used in medicine, dyes, insecticides, fungicides, stabilizers and surfactants. 

The bombardier beetle defends itself by spraying a jet stream of hot (100 °C), noxious p-benzoquinones at an attacker. The beetle mixes p-hydroquinones and hydrogen peroxide from one abdominal reservoir with enzymes from another reservoir. The enzymes convert hydrogen peroxide to oxygen, which in turn oxidizes the p-hydroquinones to p-benzoquinones and explosively propels the irritating spray at the attacker. Photos by T. Eisner and D. Aneshansley (Cornell University) have shown that the amazing bombardier beetle can direct its spray in virtually any direction, even parallel over its back, to ward off a predator. 

The bombardier beetle stores a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinones in a sac in its body. At the moment, the defense is needed, the mixture is pumped into a reaction chamber, where it is mixed with enzyme catalysts catalases and peroxidases) which speed up the reaction, decomposing the peroxide to oxygen. This oxidizes the hydroquinones to quinones, reactions which release a lot of heat. The oxygen gas then propels the hot spray out of the jet on the abdomen. 

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