dione@atlas.lpl.arizona.edu (Matt Cheselka) (02/27/91)
Does anyonw know at least what the solid fuel in the SRB's is made of? I am trying to find out the actual combustion process, and anything more than just the makeup of the fuel would be appreciated. Matt Cheselka
kaplow@pobox.enet.dec.com (Bob Kaplow) (03/05/91)
In article <1172@organpipe.UUCP>, dione@atlas.lpl.arizona.edu (Matt Cheselka) writes... >Does anyonw know at least what the solid fuel in the SRB's is made of? I am >trying to find out the actual combustion process, and anything more than just >the makeup of the fuel would be appreciated. > >Matt Cheselka The solid fuel is made up of mostly ammonium perchlorate oxidizer and a rubber (polybutydyne?) fuel. Aluminum is added to increase the ISP, and there are various trace additives. The high performance model rocket motors now available (from Aerotech, et. al.) use essentially the same fuel. The exact chemistry of the fuel and its combustion process can be found in many reference books. Bob Kaplow | UUCP: ...!decwrl!pobox.enet.dec.com!kaplow Digital Equipment Corp. | ARPA: kaplow@pobox.enet.dec.com Elk Grove Village, IL | CIS: >INTERNET:kaplow@pobox.enet.dec.com There is no such thing as a free launch!
everyman@gorn.santa-cruz.ca.us (arvey j. shier) (03/10/91)
The SRB's for the shuttle use the same type of composite propellant as utilized in the Titan solid boosters as well as the first stage of the Minute Man missile system. It is composed primarily of aluminum as the fuel and ammonium perchlorate as the oxidizer. About 86% oxidizer and 14 % aluminum including small fractions of binding material etc. I can provide a more detailed breakdown if desired.
everyman@gorn.santa-cruz.ca.us (arvey j. shier) (03/10/91)
The aluminum in the SRB propellant is the fuel for the combustion process. However, the amount of aluminum in the mixture does corellate with the value of the Isp achieved. You are right when you state that the details of the composition and all the combustion phenomena are available from any of the major organizations involved with the shuttle. NASA, Thiokol Chemical, etc.