Quote:
Originally Posted by alocky
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.
|
Hi Andrew... are you talking about the book by John D Clarke?
You seriously have a copy?
That is a rare and valuable collectors item!
For those curious, go here:
http://library.sciencemadness.org/li...s/ignition.pdf
As for dioxygen diflouride... it is probably just as well that I never pursued a career in academia.. That is the sort of madness that I would have been well into and first in the queue to have a play with.
It says something of the precursor when one of the (ostensibly) stable products of reaction is HF! (One could call it Satan's tears but for one significant difference - should you come in to contact with Satan, you can at least negotiate)
On somewhat of a tangent, I have a book which you also might be interested in on the subject of ballotechnics and their application as a thermonuclear trigger (without the need for a fission component)... you can see how that might be a white paper that will never reach the light of day?
Sam Cohen is supposed to be on record basically confirming it as genuine, and there have been enough scientists and weapons dealers found dismembered / in car boots, etc) in the public record to lend smoke to the fire, so to speak. Sobering stuff, and a whole new level of chemical insanity.