Solid Rockets, how do they work?

[USR56K]

I'm doing a presentation on Solid rocket combustion for my chemistry class. I have found tons of sites that have info on how a rocket works (thrust, newtons laws, etc) but nothing specific on what the CHEMISTRY is. Anyone know any good links?
I know this isn't the place to post but the project is due soon and I can't find what I need!!

 

[ManSnake]

Go see the movie "October Sky".

 

[Mikal]

I will teach you to help yourself.

Go to www.google.com and do a search for "solid rockets"

You're welcome!

 

[USR56K]

Dude, I have already tried that...like I said before I find TONS of sites that have basic info on rockets but no SPECIFIC details.

 

[Mikal]

Might be time to delve into an actual BOOK!

 

[thebestMAX]

The Minuteman ICBM was a solid fueled rocket. Maybe you can search on that and get some unclassified info.

 

[nukefarmer]

maybe this helps:

http://members.aol.com/ricnakk/propel.html
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/pyrotechnics-faq/

 

[Scarpozzi]

That's kind of scary...someone with a "radio-active" type icon asking about solid fueled rockets. Don't tell him where to find the info, it may be your demise!!!




Hehe...just kidding.

Check these pics out here.
Check this out as well.

 

[HomerSapien]

Jeez mikal...Your a prick.

 

[UG]

Solid fuel (solid propellant) rockets use pre-combustion fuels that at air temperature exist in non-liquid, non-gaseous form. Solid fuels are comprised of fuel energy component(s) and oxygen-providing, fuel combusting component(s).

Once the exothermic (heat-releasing) chemical reactions between fuel and oxidizer are begun they cannot be stopped. Thrust is acheived by the conversion of solid propellant chemicals into gases that exert forward pressure on the wall of the combustion chamber opposite the exhaust nozzle through which the gas pressure within the chamber is vented.

In the case (hey, a pun) of a shuttle solid rocket booster, the solid propellant is 69.83% ammonium perchlorate (oxygen source), 16% powdered aluminum (fuel energy source), 12% polybutadiene acrylic acid acrylonitrile polymer (rubber, makes the fuel the consistency of an eraser when cured), 2% curing agent, and 0.17% iron oxide catalyst.

You'll see the numbers in a Google search, too.

 

[Ultima200]

Yeah you are a prick Mikal. He said in his post that he found info but non on the chemistry.

 

[Shmorq]

Woah... for a second, I thought UG really knew all that stuff :Q until the his last line.

 

[UG]

Shmorq,

I do know that stuff. Howvever, as Einstien said, I don't clutter my mind with things I can easily look up in a book.

 

[Shmorq]

In that case, your e-mail address is definitely fitting for you.

 

[Kitros]

Hey UG, i like that saying...

thanks

 

[DesignDawg]

<< The propellant mixture in each SRB motor consists of an ammonium perchlorate (oxidizer, 69.6 percent by weight), aluminum (fuel, 16 percent), iron oxide (a catalyst, 0.4 percent), a polymer (a binder that holds the mixture together, 12.04 percent), and an epoxy curing agent (1.96 percent). The propellant is an 11-point star- shaped perforation in the forward motor segment and a double- truncated- cone perforation in each of the aft segments and aft closure. This configuration provides high thrust at ignition and then reduces the thrust by approximately a third 50 seconds after lift-off to prevent overstressing the vehicle during maximum dynamic pressure. >>


From

Nasa Space Shuttle reference manual

Ricky
DesignDawg

 

[UG]

Damn, I do love books.

 

[Pretender]

<< Nasa Space Shuttle reference manual >>

In case we forget how we designed this damn thing...