1. Stephen Bluestone January 17, 2008 Propulsion – Propellants Solid and Hybrid Isp Research help from: Dana Lattibeaudiere and Nicole Wilcox
AAE 450 Spring 2008

2. Solid Isp Low Inert Mass compared to Hybrids and Liquids
Fuels (Solids)
Isp (seconds) DB
DB/AP/AL
DB/AP-HMX/Al
PVC/AP/Al
PU/AP/Al
PBAN/AP/Al
CTPB/AP/Al
HTPB/AP/Al
PBAA/AP/Al
AN/Polymer
Low Inert Mass compared to Hybrids and Liquids
High density allows for smaller engines (countered by low Isp)
AAE 450 Spring 2008
Propulsion

3. Hybrid Isp
A virtually limitless combination of oxidizers and solid fuels
Solids are commonly plastics or rubbers
Isp values ranging from mid 200’s to low 300’s
Future Work
Fuel selection for each stage/configuration
More detailed analysis of solid/hybrid performance
AAE 450 Spring 2008
Propulsion

4. Solid Fuel Acronyms Al = aluminum AN = Ammonium Nitrate
AP = Ammonium Perchlorate
CTPB = Carboxy-terminated Polybutadiene
DB = Double-base
HMX = Cyclotetramethylene Tetranitramine
HTPB = Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene
PBAA = Polybutadiene-acrylic acid polymer
PBAN = Polybutadiene-acrylic acid-acrylonitrile terpolymer
PU = Polyurethane
PVC = Polyvinyl Chloride
AAE 450 Spring 2008

5. Sources
Humble, Ronald W., Henry, Gary N., Larson, Wiley J. “Hybrid Rocket Propulsion Systems,” Space Propulsion Analysis and Design, 1st ed. revised, Primis, New York, 1995, pp ,
Sutton, George P., Biblarz, Oscar “Solid Propellants,” Rocket Propulsion Elements, 7th ed., Wiley, New York, 2001, pp
AAE 450 Spring 2008