Study of monopropellants for electrothermal thrusters. Evaluation test program task summary report

An electrothermal thruster designed for operation with MIL-grade hydrazine is suitable for operation with propellants having lower freezing points. These propellants are 76% hydrazine - 24% hydrazine azide, Aerozine-50, 50% hydrazine - 50% monomethylydrazine, and a TRW-formulated mixture of 35% hydrazine - 50% monomethylhydrane - 15% ammonia. A steady-state specific impulse of 200 sec was exceeded by all propellants. A pulse-mode value of 175 sec specific impulse was exceeded by the azide blend for pulse widths greater than 50 ms and was met by the carbonaceous propellants for pulse widths greater than 100 ms. Longer residence times were required for the carbonaceous propellants; the original thruster design was modified by increasing the characteristic chamber length and density of screen packing. A substantial amount of thermal energy must be supplied to initiate decomposition of propellants containing unsymmetrical-dimethylhydrazine and monomethylhydrazine. The rate controlling factor appeared to be the endothermic removal of methyl radicals.