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And the combustion products include lots of water and hydrogen chloride, which combine to form hydrochloric acid. The gritty aluminum oxide (another combustion
by ridgeguy 9y ago
And 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.