Recent activities in silicon hydride research in Europe

Abstract

Silicon hydrides have potential for chemical propulsion of hypersonic vehicles and for various other applications such as the semiconductor industry. Research activity in Europe in these fields is increasing, and various activities have recently been finished, are on-going or planned. It is reported on a range of these projects, the results of which continue to increase the attractiveness of silanes for hypersonic propulsion applications, for example in combination with liquid hydrocarbon fuels as a liquid, hypergolic hydrocarbon/silicon hydride scramjet fuel blend.