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Thermal Decomposition of RP-2 with Stabilizing Additives

Published

Author(s)

Jason A. Widegren, Thomas J. Bruno

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of RP-2 and mixtures of RP-2 with four different additives has been investigated. The mixtures with RP-2 contained one of the following: 5 % /trans/-decahydronaphthalene (decalin); 5 % 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (tetralin); 5 % 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (THQ); 1 % THQ; 0.5 % THQ; 0.1 % THQ; or 256 mg/L of the additive used to make JP-8+100 (the +100 additive ). Decomposition reactions were performed in stainless steel ampoule reactors at temperatures from 375 C to 450 C (648 K to 723 K). All of the reactions were run with an approximate initial pressure of 5000 psi (34.5 MPa). After each reaction the thermally stressed liquid phase was analyzed by gas chromatography. The increase in a suite of light decomposition products was used to monitor the extent of decomposition. The addition of THQ and tetralin had a significant effect on the decomposition of RP-2. Compared with neat RP-2, the addition of 5 % THQ slowed the decomposition by about an order of magnitude, while the addition of 5 % tetralin slowed the decomposition by approximately 50 %. At the concentrations tested, decalin and the +100 additive had little effect on the decomposition of RP-2.
Proceedings Title
Proceedings of the 57th JANNAF Propulsion Meeting
Conference Dates
May 3-7, 2010
Conference Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Conference Title
57th JANNAF Propulsion Meeting

Keywords

RP-2, thermal stability, decalin, tetralin, 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroquinoline, decomposition, stabilizing additives

Citation

Widegren, J. and Bruno, T. (2010), Thermal Decomposition of RP-2 with Stabilizing Additives, Proceedings of the 57th JANNAF Propulsion Meeting, Colorado Springs, CO, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=905430 (Accessed March 19, 2024)
Created May 7, 2010, Updated February 19, 2017