Preparation of Rocket Grade Hydrogen Peroxide and Catalyst Pack for Monopropellant Rocket Thruster

Abstract

Preparation of rocket grade hydrogen peroxide and silver catalyst pack has been realized. The concentration of rocket grade hydrogen peroxide has to be above 85% and free from any kind of stabilizers. Two types of commercially available hydrogen peroxide were purchased for this research. For the preparation of rocket grade hydrogen peroxide, there are two methods: (i) atmospheric pressure boiling and (ii) below atmospheric pressure boiling. The results show that only below atmospheric pressure boiling method can produce high quality rocket grade hydrogen peroxide. Characterization of the sample has been done using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. For catalyst pack, 40-mesh silver screens with 99.9% purity were used to react with the hydrogen peroxide. Nitric acid and samarium nitrate were used in preparing silver catalyst pack to enhance the decomposition rate. The silver screens were compacted in the thruster body using hydraulic press before it is ready for hot test.

Keywords: rocket grade hydrogen peroxide, monopropellant, silver screen catalyst, characterization