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A propellant is a material that is used to move an object by applying a motive force. This may or may not involve a chemical reaction. It may be a gas, liquid, plasma, or, before the chemical reaction, a solid. Common chemical propellants consist of a fuel, like gasoline, jet fuel and rocket fuel, and an oxidizer.
Aerosol sprays
In aerosol spray cans, the propellant is simply a pressurized vapour in equilibrium with its liquid. As some gas escapes to expel the payload, more liquid evaporates, maintaining an even pressure. (See aerosol spray propellant for more information.)
Solid propellant rockets and projectiles
In ballistics and pyrotechnics, a propellant is a generic name for explosives used for propelling projectiles from guns and other firearms, in order to distinguish them from the more violent explosives as used in shells and mines to produce a blasting effect. Some explosive substances can be used both as propellants and as bursters, as for example gunpowder, and some of the ingredients of a propellant may be similar, though differently proportioned and combined, to those of a " high explosive."
They burns very rapidly but controllably, to produce thrust by gas pressure and thus accelerate a projectile or rocket. In this sense, common or well known propellants include, for firearms, artillery and solid propellant rockets:
- Gunpowders, such as
- Composite propellants made from a solid oxidizer such as ammonium perchlorate or ammonium nitrate, a rubber such as HTPB or PBAN, and usually a powdered metal fuel such as aluminum.
- Some amateur propelants use potassium nitrate, combined with sugar, epoxy, or other fuels / binder compounds.
- Potassium perchlorate has been used as an oxidizer, paired with asphalt, epoxy, and other binders.
Liquid propellant rockets
Common propellants for liquid propellant rockets include:
- RFNA and kerosene or RP-1
- RFNA and UDMH
- Dinitrogen tetroxide and UDMH, MMH and/or Hydrazine
- Liquid oxygen and kerosene or RP-1
- Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen
- Hydrogen Peroxide and alcohol or RP-1
Sources and references
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See also
Aerosol propellants | Ammunition | Artillery | Ballistics | Explosives | Propellants | Pyrotechnics
"Propellant"