deadsexy - 15-10-2003 at 20:44
I am going to do a science project for school, which includes rocket fuel. I am going to add different sized alcohols to the fuel and test which
expends the most energy and heat. Then I will do the same thing with different hydroxides
. The fuel I am going to use is supposedly the rocket fuel that NASA uses for its booster rockets, but I am kind of skeptical. The fuel
includes: 69.9% Ammonium Perchlorate, 12.04% Polybutadiene, 1.96% Epoxy curing agent, 16% Al powder, and .07% Iron Oxide. I know that the NH4
Perchlorate is the oxidizer, the epoxy is to make it somewhat castable, the Al is the fuel, and the Iron oxide is a catalyst. But I have no idea what
the Polybutadiene is for, does anyone know? Also I have no source for the polybutadiene, is there a substitute I could use for it or I could
synthesize it but I think it would be pretty difficult. Does anyone have any suggestions at all? And finally does anyone know how I would go about
compiling all of these chemicals into this solid fuel? Yes I know it seems like I should know all of this before starting a project, but I have just
come up with it a few days ago. I would appreciate any help someone could give me.
Blind Angel - 15-10-2003 at 22:08
Well, NASA has many Millions of $ of budget/years... maybe you should stick to easier fuel, used some years ago
H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> or H<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub>
For Polybutanediene: http://www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog/pb.htm doesn't seem very complex but need to be bought...
[Edited on 16-10-2003 by Blind Angel]
DDTea - 16-10-2003 at 07:35
What a school you have, that would let you have such a composition for a science project! And I must say, you are looking to put a lot of effort into
this project...
Is there any reason why you want to use the NASA rocket fuels? I ask because there are many simpler, but powerful fuels available. Try looking into
some Ammonium Nitrate-based compositions. Or, as was suggested, the H2O2 route... 30% H2O2 is available at pool stores, and for a school project I
would not want to go much higher than that.
Mephisto - 16-10-2003 at 08:19
deadsexy:
Your project looks very difficult to prepare. Nevertheless, it should be possible to substitute your polybutadiene through polyurethane (PUR). I found
some years ago a polyurethane resin in a hobby-store, it was used to create rivers, sea and ponds in model landscapes. Unfortunately it was quite
expensive. Good luck with your project.
deadsexy - 16-10-2003 at 13:53
Yes, I am in a very small school, about 18 or so kids in my entire grade. The science department at our school is very open to many things. I even
told them that I wanted to be in demolition when I grew up and my chem teacher started talking about how they would find a way for me to be able to
make explosives for my project. I said no and pretended I knew nothing of the sort. I didn't really want people knowing that I have the
knowledge to create explosives.
The reason I didn't go the NH4NO3 route was because of its explosive uses, I just didn't want to mix that kind of stuff and school together.
I am still not completely sure on my fuel yet, but tomorrow I will talk with my teacher about the well known H2O2 fuel. I don't really want to
use any gases that have to be under pressure to be a liquid such as O2 and H2. I will be testing my fuels in a "bomb calorimeter." At the
end I might make a rocket and use the fuel and alcohol or hydroxide with the most energy output. I am aware of the difficulty of this project, but I
am prepared for the worst and excited to get this thing started. Thanks for all the help so far and if you want I will keep you updated on my
progress.