Archive: rocket fuel - The Explosives and Weapons Forum

Note: This is an archived topic. It is read-only.

The Explosives and Weapons Forum

The 2000 Archive

rocket fuel

UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone!

profile | register | preferences | faq | search

This topic was originally posted in this forum: Improvised Weapons

Author	Topic: rocket fuel
newbie1 Frequent Poster	posted March 10, 2000 03:35 PM Has anyone here heard of this new fuel? High concetrations of hydrogen peroxide ( %90 or higher ) is sprayed on silver mesh. The silver acts as a catalyst and frees the extra the extra oxygen atom of the H2O2. Produces alot of heat and water, when the water turns into steam propels the rocket/car.
uberchlor unregistered	posted March 10, 2000 07:15 PM I don't think its that new? Another really good catalyst for hydrogen peroxide is finely divided platinum ("Platinum Black"). "T-stoff" as the germans classified hydrogen peroxide, theirs was a concentration of 85% or around so stabilized with a small amount of phosphoric acid (H3PO4), because the higher concentrated solutions of hydrogen peroxide posed as a possible explosions hazard.
Ho ju Moderator	posted March 10, 2000 07:47 PM Yeah finely powdered platnum will cause the h2o2 to turn to gas and undergo a gross expansion (i believe i have read like 500 times it's size) ------------------ -Knowledge is power, power leads to corruption, corruption is a crime, crime doesn't pay. So if you know to much you will go broke!!! http://members.xoom.com/Splynncryth
VeHeMT Frequent Poster	posted March 11, 2000 12:10 AM If you cant make a solid rocket motor, I'd suggest you not try to make hybrid rocket motors, especialy ones that use highly concentrated H2O2.
nbk2000 Moderator	posted March 11, 2000 02:25 AM A hybrid is definately much more difficult to make than a solid fuel. But does have the advantage of having adjustable thrust and being turned off and on at will. H2O2 will react with almost any finely divided metal, not just silver or platinum. But those are the most effective metals for that purpose. ------------------ "The knowledge that they fear is a weapon to be used against them."
uberchlor unregistered	posted March 12, 2000 01:52 AM NBK, solid potassium permanganate also works very well in decomposing or catalyzing hydrogen peroxide and is much cheaper than finely divided or materials like silver and platinum. But it is usually used as a freshly prepared just enough concentrated solution for rocket purposes.
uberchlor unregistered	posted March 12, 2000 02:46 AM Since iv'e witnessed how platinum black and solid potassium permanganate both catalyze hydrogen peroxide, i'd say that the KMnO4 has almost about the same effectiveness.
HMTD Factory Frequent Poster	posted March 14, 2000 11:11 PM The H2O2 doesn't react with Ag or Pt, the oxide of Ag and Pt actually catalyze the decomposition of H2O2. KMnO4 can really make a blast out of it, I did it on 3% H2O2 and it surprised me. After the blast, the KMnO4 leaves some brown powder in the used solution, it's MnO2, the cheapest catalyst known to catalyze the decomp of H2O2, it can also be found in unused C-Zn batteries.
uberchlor unregistered	posted March 15, 2000 04:53 PM I have found Potassium permanganate to be better in its action on decomposing H2O2 than Manganese dioxide. Just about any heavy metal ion will promote the catalyzation of H2O2, i have even decomposed hydrogen peroxide with NaOH, but this doesn't work as well as using manganese compounds.. And yes its the platinum catalyzing the H2O2, as you should know platinum doesn't oxidize very easily! :-)
uberchlor unregistered	posted March 15, 2000 08:31 PM Many other inorganic and organic compounds such as the on contact with concrete, especially dirt, dust, etc.
catch22 Frequent Poster	posted March 16, 2000 06:26 PM H2O2 motors are "Mono-propellant" not hybrids. The silver mesh acts as a catylist causing decomposition of the H2O2, which turns into elemental hydrogen and oxygen, the heat, volume and speed of the reaction produce thrust. Sometimes the reaction's products are ignited just outside of the nozzle, to make H20 and 02 wich produces a lot more thrust for the given mass, because it reacts twice. (kinda like an after burner) Catch 22 ------------------ "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" -Appocolypse Now

All times are ET (US)	This is an ARCHIVED topic. You may not reply to it!

	Hop to:

Contact Us | The Forum

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Version 5.38
© Madrona Park, Inc., 1998 - 1999.