So here boron produces as much heat aluminum does, while being so much lighter as in molar mass, so dosent this make it much more efficient ? Also,
Boron produces B2O3 when burned with oxygen, which is very good because it boils at 1850, unlike Al2O3 produced by the widely used aluminum that boils
at 3000+
Here is a list of the heat enthalpy of different stuff with oxygen during combustion.
Hydrogen (H)
141.80 MJ/kg (According to stoichiometry on Wikipedia)
125.00 MJ/kg (According to stoichiometry on HC Calculator)
Boron (B)
116.87 (According to stoichiometry on Chinese pyrotechnic)
Aluminum powder(Al)
60.9 MJ/kg (According to stoichiometry on Chinese pyrotechnic)
62.1 MJ/kg (According to stoichiometry on Zumdahl 5th edition)
Kerosene
46.20 MJ/kg(According to stoichiometry on Wikipedia)
Those are some common rocket fuels, liquid and solid. I have never seen a solid metallic fuel to be as high as hydrogen, while boron being much denser
than liquid hydrogen and being a solid at the same time where solid propellants are comparatively easier and less costly.Eddygp - 3-4-2013 at 14:00
I think boron is way too expensive to use it as a fuel... that's an advantage for Al.KonkreteRocketry - 3-4-2013 at 15:06
I think boron is way too expensive to use it as a fuel... that's an advantage for Al.
Maybe the high efficiency can make up for that loss ?Bot0nist - 3-4-2013 at 17:34
the boron oxides (boron trioxide, IIRC) will cause lots of problems for your in regards to your exuast and nozzle functionality. I think wiki has some
info on this. Al is in the "sweet spot" so to speak. Search the forum. this has been discussed before here, IIRC.
