Rocket propellant additives

A.luminum Hydride. Aluminum hydride is a relatively unstable polymeric covalent hydride that received considerable attention in the mid-1960s because of its potential as a high energy additive to soHd rocket propellants. The projected uses, including aluminum plating, never materialized, and in spite of intense research and development, commercial manufacture has not been undertaken. The synthetic methods developed were cosdy, eg. 

Grade C, Type II is typical of Hquid oxygen used as a rocket propellant oxidizer. Particulate content is limited because of the critical clearances found in mechanical parts of the rocket engine. In addition to water, acetylene and methane are limited because, on long standing, oxygen evaporation could cause concentration of these combustible contaminants to reach hazardous levels. 

Ca.rhora.nes, These are used in neutron capture therapy (254), and as bum rate modifiers in gun and rocket propellants. They are used as high temperature elastomers and other unique materials, high temperature gas—Hquid chromatography stationary phases, optical switching devises (256), and gasoline additives (257). 

Nitropropanes are good solvents for vinyl and epoxy resins. They are also used to manufacture rocket propellants. Nitromethane is a fuel additive for racing cars. 

MD M28 rocket propellant and burster hydrolysates slurried with shredded and micronized dunnage that has had the hydrolyzed aluminum removed by filtration. These tests included the results of aluminum filtration tests. This test also demonstrated a modified chemistry for controlling solids transport through the reactor without the use of an additive that degrades the titanium reactor material. 

The compound cerium oxide (either Ce Oj or CeO ) is used to coat the inside of ovens because it was discovered that food cannot stick to oven walls that are coated with cerium oxide. Cerium compounds are used as electrodes in high-intensity lamps and film projectors used by the motion picture industry. Cerium is also used in the manufacturing and polishing of high-refraction lenses for cameras and telescopes and in the manufacture of incandescent lantern mantles. It additionally acts as a chemical reagent, a misch metal, and a chemical catalyst. Cerium halides are an important component of the textile and photographic industries, as an additive to other metals, and in automobile catalytic converters. Cerium is also used as an alloy to make special steel for jet engines, solid-state instruments, and rocket propellants. 

Similar to nitramine composite propellants and TAGN composite propellants, AN composite propellants produce halogen-free combustion products and thus represent smokeless propellants. However, their ballistic properties are inferior to those of other composite propellants the burning rate is too low and the pressure exponent is too high to permit fabrication of rocket propellant grains. In addition, the mechanical properties of AN composite propellants vary with temperature due to the phase transitions of AN particles. 

Uses. In rocket propellants in polymer synthesis corrosion inhibitor fuel additive mothproofing agent... 

Accdg to the paper of 1962 by Macek (Ref 14) "The shift of attention to the problem of transition to detonation in solid explosives, about a decade ago, was occasioned by the awareness that the problem may be pertinent to the proper functioning of large rocket propellant grains, and was given additional impetus by the scientific approach to shock initiation. From initial qualitative suggestions of Kistiakowsky (Refs 4 6) and Ubbelohde (Ref 5) there developed the hypothesis of precursor shock, which postulates a sequence of events rather analo-... 

Both gas and liquid are very sol in water. Can be prepd by distUlation from the product of reaction of Ca fluoride (fluorspar) and sulfuric acid. Used as fluorinating agent in organic and inorganic reactions production of fluorine and A1 fluoride prepn of hydrofluoric acid production of fluoroborates, fluorosilicates, etc as an additive in liquid rocket propellants and for refining of uranium (Ref 3, p 588-R)... 

Gun and rocket propellants are based on nitrocellulose (NC-SB), NC with NG as second principal ingredient (DB) and nitroguanidine (picrite) in addition to NC and NG ( ) propellants. Propellant formulations also contain stabilizer, plasticizer, coolant and ballistic modifier, in addition to their principal ingredients. 

Navale, P.B., Athar, J., Diwakar, R.P., Sadakale, V.G., and Agrawal, J.P. (1999) Unsaturated polyester with melamine based additives for inhibition of DB rocket propellants. Proc. Polymer 99 (Polymers Beyond AD 2000), IIT Delhi, Jan. 12-15,1999, pp. 778-781. 

In the initial stages, the end use of n-Al was largely dominated by defense-related applications. Small caliber primers for defense munitions, additives for solid and hybrid rocket propellants, enhanced lethality explosives and pyrotechnics and thermite-based weapons are some typical military applications of n-Al powder. The use of n-Al powder has also been reported for some civil applications such as fireworks, automotive inflators and airbag initiators as well as drilling and oil exploration. 

Double-base rocket propellant Nitrocellulose (13.25% N content) Nitroglycerine Plasticizer Other additives 2000 2500... 

Composite rocket propellant Ammonium perchlorate Hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene Aluminium Other additives 2400 2850... 

The handling of ammonia safely has been discussed by Brandt(Ref 40) and the toxicity of ammonia fumes by inhalation,by Wheatherby (Ref 55) Ohno(Ref 57) noted that the tojcicity of gaseous ammonia was much smaller than that of sulfur dioxide. Both gases produce irritation of mucous membrane and eyes, bronchitis, hyperemia, hemorrage, endema, exudation and pneumonia. Krop(Ref 58) lists the toxiciry and health hazards of ammonia and other substances used as fuels in rocket propellants[Also see Sax(Ref 82) for additional information on the hazards of ammonia]... 

Kirk Othmer 11 (1953), 777 stated that AN can be used as an oxidizer in rocket propellants in place of K perchlorate V)Warren (1958), p 1 lists a solid rocket propellant consisting of AN 80, elastomeric binder 18 additives 2%. He also discusses on pp 34-5 the use of AN as an oxidizer in rocket propellants W)Dr L.Deffet, Belgium listed in private communication, 10 March 1954,the following AN expls as currently manufd in Belgium Alkalite, Alsilite, Centralite TA, Cooppalite Dynamite III, Flammivore,... 

The following uses have been claimed for compounds containing the 1,2,4,5-tetrazine skeleton as herbicides, insecticides, bactericides, as pharmaceuticals, as explosives and rocket propellants, as photographic dyes and additives to photographic layers, as reducing agents, as inhibitors of steel corrosion and as fuel additives. 

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