it'd be interesting to see what ammount of kerosene or some other chemical would be needed to make the powder into something liquid like.
or hmmm H202 + Al2O3 hybrid anybody? ;-> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Henry Spencer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "ERPS" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 12:14 AM Subject: Re: [ERPS] scary idea... > On Thu, 16 Oct 2003, Randall Clague wrote: > > Especially with Al2O3 in the exhaust. Atomic weight of Al2O3 is 102, > > compared to 18 for H2O, 28 for CO, and 44 for CO2... > > The molecular weight of Al2O3 is actually pretty irrelevant, since it will > condense to a liquid at quite high temperatures, taking it out of the > gas-expansion picture entirely. But its heat of formation is very large > (which is why people use powdered aluminum in solids). > > > ...But if there's no real detonation > > hazard, which seems reasonable... > > Not a safe assumption. John appears to be thinking that there shouldn't > be a significant detonation hazard because a powder suspended in a liquid > doesn't give you molecular-level mixing. However, that level of mixing is > not necessary. Many multi-component explosives are not mixed at the > molecular level. ANFO, as used in the Oklahoma City bombing, is powdered > oxidizer in liquid fuel -- miscibility zero, explosive hazard high. > LOX/charcoal combinations have been used as commercial blasting explosives. > > > Yeah. Anyone know how to compute or look up the activation energy? > > That's going to determine whether a fire goes WHOOSH or KABOOM! > > Given that light-metal hydrides generally aren't very stable, and that > AlH3 decomposition will release raw aluminum, which reacts explosively > with *water*, never mind peroxide, I'd bet heavily on KABOOM! > > I bet it catalyzes peroxide, too. > > > Still, if it can be done at all safely - wouldn't amateur SSTO be a > > kick? > > Sure would... Alas, I don't think it's quite that easy. :-( > > Henry Spencer > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > _______________________________________________ > ERPS-list mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list _______________________________________________ ERPS-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list
