Thermal Stability of RP-2 as a Function of Composition: The Effect of Linear, Branched, and Cyclic Alkanes

Published

August 22, 2013

Author(s)

Jason A. Widegren, Thomas J. Bruno

Abstract

The objective of this work is to identify compositional changes that could improve the thermal stability of RP-2. For this study, we tested the effect of alkane concentration on the thermal stability of the RP-2 sample known as 08POSF5433. The proportion of linear, branched or cyclic alkanes in the RP-2 was increased by mixing it with 25 % of one of the following alkanes: n-dodecane, n-tetradecane, 4-methyldodecane, 2,6,10-trimethyldodecane, or 1,3,5-triisopropylcyclohexane. These mixtures were thermally stressed in stainless steel ampoule reactors at 400 °C (752 °F, 673 K) for up to 4 hours. All of the reactions were run with an approximate initial pressure of 5000 psi (34.5 MPa). After each reaction the extent of decomposition was determined by analyzing the stressed fuel by gas chromatography, and the extent of decomposition was determined by integrating a suite of chromatographic peaks that correspond to light decomposition products. These data are compared to similar data for neat RP-2.

Proceedings Title

JANNAF 8th Modeling and Simulation/6th Liquid Propulsion/5th Spacecraft Propulsion Joint Subcommittee Meeting

Volume

27

Issue

9

Conference Dates

December 5-9, 2011

Conference Location

Huntsville, AL

Pub Type

Conferences

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DOI Link

Keywords

additives, branched alkanes, decomposition, linear alkanes, RP-2, thermal stability

Citation

Widegren, J. and Bruno, T. (2013), Thermal Stability of RP-2 as a Function of Composition: The Effect of Linear, Branched, and Cyclic Alkanes, JANNAF 8th Modeling and Simulation/6th Liquid Propulsion/5th Spacecraft Propulsion Joint Subcommittee Meeting , Huntsville, AL, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/ef401677g (Accessed April 19, 2024)