Environmentally-Benign Oxidizers for Propulsion

Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC), with the assistance of SRI International under subcontract, propose to develop new and innovative environmentally-benign oxidizers to replace ammonium perchlorate (AP) in solid propellant formulations. These innovative oxidizers will not contain halogens and shall have equivalent or improved performance, reduced water solubility/mobility, and reduced toxicity relative to AP. In Phase I, physical properties, sensitivity, toxicity, combustion products and performance of the candidate materials shall be predicted using molecular modeling and other theoretical and computational techniques to provide a basis for ranking candidate oxidizing materials for use as propellants. ORBITEC shall evaluate each candidate material for use as a propellant in solid fuel formulations. This evaluation shall be based on performance, synthesis methodology, safety and environmental and toxicological properties. Each material shall also be assessed for collateral impacts on sites used for production, testing, firing and disposal. Test plans for propellants and initial synthesis methods of several possible propellant replacements shall be developed for Phase II. Performance, water solubility, sensitivity, and toxicological properties shall be fully determined in Phase II in addition to the development of large-scale production methods.