Preliminary Study of the Effects of Ionizing Radiations on Propellants, the X-Irradiation of Ammonia and Hydrazine

Ammonia and hydrazine were X-irradiated in a preliminary investigation of the effects of ionizing radiations on propellants. A 250-kilovolt, 15-milliampere source was used at room temperature and a distance to provide 90 to 100 roentgens per minute of radiation. Ammonia was irradiated as a vapor at pressures of 100 to 1295 millimeters of mercury with doses of 45 to 104 kiloroentgens of radiation. Less than 1 percent decomposition of ammonia was observed. Liquid ammonia decomposed to the extent of approximately 1 percent with a radiation dose of 115 kiloroentgens. The irradiation of hydrazine vapor at a pressure of 15 millimeters of mercury and a total dose of 590 kiloroentgens resulted in approximately 3 percent decomposition. Both ammonia and hydrazine decompositions involved the formation of nitrogen and possibly hydrogen. In addition to the permanent gases, hydrazine was formed from ammonia and ammonia was formed from hydrazine. All irradiations resulted in the formation of other materials that have not been characterized.