Richard wrote:
> Speaking of which, anybody know how to make the propellant that they use for
> the shuttle's solid Booster ? Anyone class? anyone??
>
I know the basics of it -- it's a mix of ammonium perchlorate oxidizer,
aluminum powder, and an isocyanate-cured synthetic rubber called
hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene. Generally, you want the least
binder/fuel (the rubber) that you can get, and then you adjust the
aluminum percentage to control how rapidly and how hot the fuel burns.
Then you "only" have to work out how to cast this stuff in grains
twenty-some feet in diameter and get a perfect grain without significant
voids, cracks, or non-homogeneous portions (say, lacking oxidizer or
aluminum).
BTW, watch your storage -- ammonium perchlorate was involved in the
largest industrial explosion in recorded history (one of, if not the
largest non-nuclear explosion ever recorded in any context) back in the
late 1980s, and powdered aluminum can catch fire if it gets damp...
--
If, through hard work and perseverance, you finally get what you want,
it's probably a sign you weren't dreaming big enough.
Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer http://silent1.home.netcom.com
Opinions expressed are my own -- take them for what they're worth
and don't expect them to be perfect.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gingery_machines/app/peoplemap/view/map
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