Liquid oxygen monopropellants for rocket engines

A series of tests were performed to determine the feasibility of premixing fuels with liquid oxygen to form a rocket engine monopropellant. The fuels sclccted for cvaluation were kerosene, motor oil, propane, natural gas, ground automobile tires, uncurcd R45HT binder and coal. None of the fuels spontancously reacted when mixed with liquid oxygen (LOX) or burned explosively. KerosencLOX, motor oi lLOX and p r o p a n e b o x were not shock sensitive up to mechanical impact energies of 137.9 joules, the limit of the test equipment. Natural gasLOX was not tested since the natural gas ...auld boil off before the t a t could be performed. l\utomohile tire rubber/ LOX was slightly more shock sensitive than PETN, a Class A explosive. Uncured R45HTLOX was not tested since it burned poorly with LOX. CoalbOX had a shock sensitivity about twice that of PETN. KcroseneiLOX and motor oiliL0X had an average burn rate of 0.24 cmisecond at one atmosphere of pressure. Both monopropellants ignited easily, burned smoothly and could he extinguished by adequate heat sink. Test results indicated that keroseneLOX and motor oi lLOX monopropellants are feasible for testing in rocket engines. /