Hi Clive, remind me to give you a copy of a book called 'ignition' next time we catch up. It is a first hand account of the post WW2 rocket fuel research, and is written in the most wonderfully dry but very funny tone by one of the main players in the field.
Considering the oxidants used range from liquid oxygen, fuming nitric acid and possibly the most terrifying substance known to man - FOOF, as dioxygen diflouride is 'affectionately' known, you should be commended for not getting any further...
The main problem seems to be getting reliable, continuous ignition, when you want it.
Cheers.
Andrew.
Quote:
Originally Posted by clive milne
Yep... but I used to roll my own motors so to speak.
Experimented with (home made) black powder as well as sugar and potassium nitrate - which was interesting in that you could basically make a kind of toffee to pour in to the casing... and of course, zinc dust and sulphur - the rockets containing that stuff used to leave the ground at a rate completely in defiance of any rational interpretation of laws of physics. Perceptually, it was like seeing a pillar of smoke suddenly appear in the sky, with a shiny metal object leaving your peripheral vision never to be seen again.
Watch this to get an idea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT4RoRg9TCk
Also machined up a liquid fuelled rocket motor when I was an apprentice... never did fire it up though. There was the small mater of acquiring an oxidant. Not the sort of thing you can justify as an over the counter purchase when you are a teenager.
It's sad that in today's political climate you can no longer play with that sort of stuff without ASIO knocking on your door.
Probably just as well...
it's a miracle that I still have all my fingers and eyesight still intact considering the risky stuff I used to entertain myself with as a kid. |