H2O2 decomposition catalyst

Abstract

An activated catalyst for the rapid decomposition of H2O2 is provided wherein a porous high surface area catalyst base, e.g. a zeolite molecular sieve (ZMS) is impregnated or doped with a solution of metal cation salts and an ionic promoter, dried and calcined to form an activated catalyst. Such activated catalyst, in the form of a porous monolith or chunks, extrudate, pieces, pellets, or spheres, can be poured into and confined, in a tight pack, in a cavity of a rocket housing, downstream of a pressurized H2O2 tank. The H2O2 is flowed through the catalyst and undergoes rapid decomposition into steam and O2 and flows out the propellant nozzle of such rocket. Advantages of such activated catalyst are that it can be employed to rapidly decompose H2O2 to propel a) a mono-propellant rocket, b) a bipropellant rocket (having fuel and a combustion chamber) and c) a hybrid rocket (powered by H2O2 and fuel grain) and can also be used for a starter cartridge decomposition catalyst, a gas generator decomposition catalyst and the like. Another benefit of the activated catalyst of the invention is its low weight which is highly suitable in small flightweight rocket systems.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.