Low Temperature Catalyst for Reduced Toxicity Monopropellant

Tactical missiles that use gel propellant systems require a chemical gas generator for pressurization. While hydrazine is a proven monopropellant for gas generation, it is poisonous, a suspected carcinogen and has a high vapor pressure. Newreduced-toxicity, non-carcinogenic monopropellants are being developed by the Army for use in gas generators for tactical missiles and other applications. Unfortunately, these new monopropellants will not ignite at the same low temperatures that hydrazinedoes over existing catalysts. In Phase I, TDA Research Inc. (TDA) has identified several catalysts that can ignite the new monopropellant at lower temperatures than can be achieved with existing catalysts. In Phase II, TDA will examine additionalmulticomponent catalysts, optimize their formulation to achieve the lowest possible light off temperature, will test the catalysts at realistic temperatures and pressures typical of gas generator applications and optimize their production. Finally, ourcommercial partner will perform validation tests with TDA's best catalysts in an actual gas generator.