Solid propellants for generating hydrogen
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsWilliam M. Chew, Orval E. Ayers, James A. Murfree, Pasquale Martignoni
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AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsWilliam M. Chew, Orval E. Ayers, James A. Murfree, Pasquale Martignoni
Estimating the term…
Disclosed are storable solid propellant compositions based on complex metal oron compounds of the general formula M(BH.sub.4).sub.x or M(BD.sub.4).sub.x, (where M equals a metal and x equals the valence of the metal M; M is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal; H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium) and ammonium salts of the general formula (NH.sub.4).sub.n Y or deuteroammonium salts of the general formula (ND.sub.4).sub.n Y (where Y represents an anion with a total charge of n; N is nitrogen, H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium) combined stoichiometrically or in varying molar ratios. The stoichiometric blend is employed in a method for producing hydrogen or deuterium that contains nitrogen as an inert diluent and is acceptable for use in HF/DF chemical lasers, the gas dynamic laser (GDL), or as a source to generate hydrogen containing an inert diluent.
A solid propellant composition in the form of a compacted solid propellant pellet that is formed by dead pressing using a pressure from about 500 pounds total load to about 10,000 pounds total load, said solid propellant pellet producing hydrogen or deuterium from a self-sustaining reaction after said reaction is initiated by a heat source sufficient to initiate said reaction, said solid propellant composition comprising a uniform predetermined molar ratio mixture of a first reactant compound which is a complex metal boron compound selected from the complex metal boron compounds of the general formula M(BH.sub.4).sub.x or M(BD.sub.4).sub.x, (wherein M equals a metal selected from an alkali or an alkaline earth metal and x equals the valence of said metal, H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium) and a second reactant compound which is an ammonium salt selected from the ammonium salts of the general formula (NH.sub.4).sub.2 Y or a deuteroammonium salt selected from the deuteroammonium salts of the general formula (ND.sub.4).sub.2 Y, (wherein Y represents the anion Cr.sub.2 O.sub.7 with a total charge of 2, N is nitrogen, H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium), said first reactant compound varying in a molar ratio from about 2 to about 7 while said second reactant compound varying in a molar ratio from about 1 to about 2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.