Application of Low Melting Point Thermoplastics to Hybrid Rocket Fuel

Abstract

This paper introduces the application of low melting point thermoplastics (LT) to hybrid rocket fuel. LT made by Katazen Corporation has an excellent mechanical property comparing with other thermoplastics and prospect of high surface regression rate because it has a similar physical property with low melting point of paraffin fuel which has high regression rate probably due to the entrainment mass transfer mechanism that droplets continuously depart out of the surface melt layer. Several different types of LT developed by Katazen Corporation for this use have been evaluated in the measurements of regression rate, mechanical properties These results show the LTs have the higher regression rate and better mechanical properties comparing with conventional hybrid rocket fuels. Observation was also made using a small 2D combustor, and the entrainment mass transfer mechanism is confirmed with the LT fuels.