Solid Propellants

Any solid propellant consists of two parts:

•  an oxidizer

•  a fuel (or a reducer)

In solid propellants, the fuel and oxidizer components are prepared separately and are then mixed together. This is because the oxidizer is in powder form and the fuel is a fluid of varying consistency. They are then blended together and poured into the rocket case under carefully controlled conditions

In addition to fuel and oxidizer, some other compounds are added to increase the efficiency of the propellants. To understand this, let us see an example of solid propellants used in shuttles.

•  The oxidizer is ammonium per chlorate (NH₄ClO₄) (69.93 %).

•  The fuel is a form of powdered aluminum (16 %).

•  The catalyst (increases rate of combustion) is iron oxidizer powder (0.07 %).

•  The binder (holds mixture together) is polybutadiene acrylic acid acrylonitrile (12.04 %).

•  An epoxy-curing agent (1.96 %).

The binder and epoxy also burn as the fuel burns, thus contributing to the thrust produced.

Now as we know the composition of solid propellants let us proceed further and see how they impart thrust to the rocket

Now let us see the various different aspects of solid Propellants

Working

Classification

Advantages