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There's a section of "Ignition!" where the rocket scientists try out mercaptans as a rocket fuel, and get exiled to the far end of a huge empty field for the du
by mnw21cam 4y ago
There's a section of "Ignition!" where the rocket scientists try out mercaptans as a rocket fuel, and get exiled to the far end of a huge empty field for the duration of their experiments.
- scrlk 4y agoIgnition! is a fantastic read. Not related to mercaptans (or bad smells), but this passage from the book has always made me chuckle: > [Chlorine trifluoride] is, of course, extremely toxic, but that’s the least of the problem. It is hypergolic with every known fuel, and so rapidly hypergolic that no ignition delay has ever been measured. It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and test engineers, not to mention asbestos, sand, and water –with which it reacts explosively. It can be kept in some of the ordinary structural metals — steel, copper, aluminum, etc. — because of the formation of a thin film of insoluble metal fluoride which protects the bulk of the metal, just as the invisible coat of oxide on aluminum keeps it from burning up in the atmosphere. If, however, this coat is melted or scrubbed off, and has no chance to reform, the operator is confronted with the problem of coping with a metal-fluorine fire. For dealing with this situation, I have always recommended a good pair of running shoes.
- kraussvonespy 4y agoLowe’s discussion of this is called “Sand won’t save you this time".
- nullc 4y agoIf you liked Ignition! you might also enjoy "Excuse Me Sir, Would You Like to Buy a Kilo of Isopropyl Bromide?"
- eutectic 4y agoMercaptans sound like a terrible rocket fuel; heavier than carbon, with less energy released.
- fmajid 4y agoNo to mention their unbearable stench.
- selimthegrim 4y agoCharles Stross even wrote a story - “A Tall Tail” roughly inspired by these materials.