[AR] Re: mixed monoprops (was Re: DARPA responsive launch challenge)
- From: Henry Spencer <hspencer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Arocket List <arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:58:12 -0400 (EDT)
On Fri, 27 Apr 2018, Troy Prideaux wrote:
I can't see acetylene coming out or CO2 for that matter. Nitrous is a
very effective solvent for organics. The partnership with something like
acetylene will be quite an intimate affair and I just can't see CO2's
pacification role producing anything other than a subtle reduction in
explosive yield when the 2 energetic compounds inevitably get down and
boogie.
Usually you get a non-deliberate explosion not because the whole mass of
material got grossly bashed around, but because some tiny localized region
got hit hard, e.g. by a gas bubble imploding, and that touched the rest
off. Adding inert ingredients *can* increase the heat capacity and reduce
the energy yield, per cubic millimeter, enough to make it much harder for
localized insults to reach the point of no return; the question is whether
you can do it with only modest amounts.
For example, 100% perchloric acid is a lethally touchy explosive, but 70%
is safe to handle (or as safe as a ferociously strong acid ever is).
However, finding out how much CO2 you need to pacify N2O/C2H2 adequately
would take some effort. Here you wouldn't want to trust a theoretical
calculation, even if there is a workable way to do it -- experimental
proof is absolutely necessary. It would be a lengthy, noisy, probably
expensive process.
Henry
Other related posts: