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What would the substances have been on the glass? I assume it would be something nasty but my chemistry is poor. Also, do workers wear haz-mat suits when workin
by alex_hitchins 9y ago
What would the substances have been on the glass? I assume it would be something nasty but my chemistry is poor. Also, do workers wear haz-mat suits when working in the area? I'd guess there is a lot of the same stuff on the ground/atmosphere that could be inhaled. The ecological damage of launches is something I should really look more in to.
- packetized 9y agoHTPB, unburnt ammonium perchlorate, aluminum powder. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxyl-terminated_polybutadiene https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxyl-terminated_polybutadi...
- ridgeguy 9y agoAnd the combustion products include lots of water and hydrogen chloride, which combine to form hydrochloric acid. The gritty aluminum oxide (another combustion product) is probably a pretty good particulate sponge for holding acid as it cools below HCl's condensation point.
- alex_hitchins 9y agoThanks both for the reply. Is the Aluminimum oxide forming part of a thermite style reaction then?
- Taniwha 9y agoonly to the extend that the Al powder in the motor is burning in the O2 released from the perchlorate, it'[s not an exchange like a traditional thermite Essentially they add Al because it burns well and has a high mass which ups the mass of the exhaust gasses and as a result gives you more thrust
- tropo 9y agoSomewhat yes. Iron oxide is included, but considered a catalyst. The rubbery plastic binder is a fuel. The Aluminum is a high-energy fuel. The "ammonium" part of ammonium perchlorate is a fuel, and the "perchlorate" part is an oxidizer. The amount of aluminum is limited to prevent the temperature from getting too high and because it makes low-energy exhaust particles. Good exhaust particles are low-mass gasses with few degrees of freedom in the molecular shape. Aluminum oxide forms solid particles consisting of many atoms stuck together, which is pretty useless.
- refurb 9y agoMy understanding is post-shuttle launch, the ponds around the launch pad end up with a pH of ~1, due to the hydrochloride acid released. Not of any life form that can survive that.