Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!pa.dec.com!shlump.nac.dec.com!engage!pobox!kaplow
From: kaplow@pobox.enet.dec.com (Bob Kaplow)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Solid Fuel
Message-ID: <1991Mar4.163239.4137@engage.enet.dec.com>
Date: 4 Mar 91 16:25:49 GMT
Sender: news@engage.enet.dec.com (USENET News System)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 20


In article <1172@organpipe.UUCP>, dione@atlas.lpl.arizona.edu (Matt Cheselka) writes...
>Does anyonw know at least what the solid fuel in the SRB's is made of?  I am
>trying to find out the actual combustion process, and anything more than just
>the makeup of the fuel would be appreciated.
> 
>Matt Cheselka

    The solid fuel is made up of mostly ammonium perchlorate
oxidizer and a rubber (polybutydyne?) fuel. Aluminum is added to
increase the ISP, and there are various trace additives. The high
performance model rocket motors now available (from Aerotech, et. al.)
use essentially the same fuel. The exact chemistry of the fuel and 
its combustion process can be found in many reference books. 

Bob Kaplow 		| UUCP:	...!decwrl!pobox.enet.dec.com!kaplow
Digital Equipment Corp. | ARPA:	kaplow@pobox.enet.dec.com
Elk Grove Village, IL	| CIS:	>INTERNET:kaplow@pobox.enet.dec.com

    	There is no such thing as a free launch!