I just wanted to get some insight as to what may be the potential chemical process that is generating ammonia gas in my Ammonium Perchlorate based
rocket propellant. Obviously some of the AP is being decomposed....
The binding agent for the propellant is Mr. Fiberglass Brand epoxy resin/hardener (4:1 ratio). Copper oxide as the burn rate catalyst and flame
colorant, and obviously Ammonium Perchlorate as the oxidizer. The propellant is 80 parts AP, 20 parts binder, and +2 parts Copper(II) Oxide.
I'm curious to see what reactions could be generating this ammonia gas evolution. Also of note... the propellant is quite stable, and I have
successfully tested many batches for temp/impact stability and they have surpassed with flying colors.
Thank youBot0nist - 19-5-2013 at 11:13
Is the NH3 being release during mixing or proccessing the propellant, or as exhaust during combustion? Surely you mean the former.BobD1001 - 19-5-2013 at 15:02
My apologies for not making that clear. It is during the mixing of the propellant, only during the initial stages of mixing, then it subsides to a
minor ammonia smell. When tacky or cured there is no smell whatsoever.bbartlog - 19-5-2013 at 17:24
Ammonium perchlorate and cupric oxide seem like they might well react to form some copper perchlorate compound with release of ammonia. APO - 23-5-2013 at 02:48
WHAT?DubaiAmateurRocketry - 24-5-2013 at 00:23
A group of friends I knew made it few years ago, but they stopped using it since ammonium perchlorate's decomposition and burning in a rocket camber
causes great pressure, some times too great and the epoxy 'cracks' resulting in an explosion.
However they did achieve very good success with mach diamonds after each other with this smokeless propellant.
Epoxy is better replaced with a elastic synthetic rubber.
NH3 is barely produced, you might find traces of it though. This propellant mainly makes C, CO, CO2, H2O, HCl, Cl2, N2, NOX, H2.
And the rest are less than 0.01%, NH3 is predicted only to contribute around 0.00002% of gas produced.
Cupric oxide is not really needed, and ammonium perchlorate content could be further increased or maybe simply replace the 2part of cupric oxide
because ammonium perchlorate only releases only around 55% of its oxygen in it self. Good luck.APO - 29-5-2013 at 08:37
