Rocket fuel.

Other boron hydrides are known, most of them having the general formula B H + 4- for example pentaborane, B5H9, decaborane, BjqHi4. Each can be made by heating diborane in suitable conditions for example at 420 K, decaborane is obtained. Boron hydrides have been tried as rocket fuels. 

Hydrazine and its alkylated derivatives are used as rocket fuels in organic chemistry, substituted phenylhydrazines are important in the characterisation of sugars and other compounds, for example aldehydes and ketones containing the carbonyl group C=0. 

It also has lubricating properties similar to graphite. The hydrides are easily oxidized with considerable energy liberation, and have been studied for use as rocket fuels. Demand is increasing for boron filaments, a high-strength, lightweight material chiefly employed for advanced aerospace structures. 

Hydrazine—borane compounds are made by the reaction of sodium borohydride and a hydrazine salt in THF (23,24). The mono-(N2H4 BH ) and di-(N2H4 2BH2) adducts are obtained, depending on the reaction conditions. These compounds have been suggested as rocket fuels (25) and for chemical deposition of nickel—boron alloys on nonmetallic surfaces (see Metallic COATINGS) (26). 

Beryllium hydride was formerly of interest as a rocket fuel and as a moderator for nuclear reactors. 

The perchloryl fluoride [7616-94-6] FCIO, the acyl fluoride of perchloric acid, is a stable compound. Normally a gas having a melting poiat of —147.7° C and a boiling poiat of —46.7°C, it can be prepared by electrolysis of a saturated solution of sodium perchlorate ia anhydrous hydrofluoric acid. Some of its uses are as an effective fluorinating agent, as an oxidant ia rocket fuels, and as a gaseous dielectric for transformers (69). 

Specially designed impervious suits, eg. Level A suits, are utili2ed by workers handling some rocket fuels and other highly ha2ardous compounds (see Explosives and propellants). Barrier creams are much less effective than gloves for preventing skin contact. 

Poly(vinyl nitrate) has been prepared and studied for use in explosives and rocket fuel (104,105). Poly(vinyl alcohol) and sulfur trioxide react to produce poly(vinyl sulfate) (106—111). Poly(vinyl alkane sulfonate)s have been prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol) and alkanesulfonyl chlorides (112—114). In the presence of urea, poly(vinyl alcohol) and phosphoms pentoxide (115) or phosphoric acid (116,117) yield poly(vinyl phosphate)s. 

Ethylene oxide has been studied for use as a rocket fuel (276) and as a component in munitions (277). It has been reported to be used as a fuel in FAE (fuel air explosive) bombs (278). 

Hypergolic A hypergolic mixture ignites upon contact of the components without any external source of ignition (heat or flame). The only field, in which this is a desirable event, is in rocket fuel research. Accidental mixing of incompatible materials can lead to a fire or explosion. Here is one example provided by the staff at ILPI of what can happen, when incompatibles are mixed. Always read the labels on your bottles (don t assume a chemical s identity by the shape, size, or color of the bottle), and know what materials are incompatible with the chemicals that you are using. 

Two Workers Die and Solid Rocket Fuel Supply Destroyed ... 

May 4, 1988, explosions leveled a Pacific Engineering Production Co. (PEPCO) plant, at Henderson, NV, one of only two U.S. plants producing 20 million lb/ year (maximum of 40 million Ib/year - see Table 7.1-2) ammonium perchlorate for solid rocket fuel. It was the principal supplier for the space shuttle and sole supplier for the Titan rocket and several military missiles. 

World production capacity of hydrazine solutions in 1995 (expressed as N2H4) was about 40000 tonnes, predominantly in USA 165(X) t, Germany 6400 t, Japan 6600 t and France 6KX) t. In addition some 32(X) t of anhydrous N2H4 was manufactured in USA for rocket fuels. 

A final, somewhat variable outlet for large-scale liquid oxygen is as oxidant in rocket fuels for space exploration, satellite launching and space shuttles. For example, in the Apollo mission to the moon (1979), each Saturn 5 launch rocket used 1270 m (i.e. 1.25 million litres or 1450 tonnes) of liquid oxygen in Stage 1, where it oxidized the kerosene fuel (195 000 1, or about 550 tonnes) in the almost unbelievably short time of 2.5 min. Stages 2 and 3 had 315 and 76.3 m of liquid O2 respectively, and the fuel was liquid FI2. 

To achieve the goal of the greatest speed with a given mass of fuel, it is necessary that the ejecta come out of the rocket as fast as possible. Therefore, the efficiency (or effectiveness) of rocket fuels is better measured in terms of the speed of the ejected material than by energy efficiency. 

A colorless, fuming liquid miscihle with water, hydrazine (diazine) is a weak base but a strong reducing agent. Hydrazine is used as a rocket fuel because its combustion is highly exothermic and produces 620 KJ/mol ... 

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