Liquid hypergolic propellant

Abstract

The present invention provides a liquid hypergolic propellant. In particular, a liquid hypergolic propellant is provided, containing reactive metals and/or reactive metal salts, and one or more liquid fuels, which is hypergolic when combined with an oxidizer. In addition, a sensitizer and gelling agent may be added. The reactive metals and/or reactive metal salts are defined by Formula I as follows: AxMyHz   I. wherein A is one or more of any of Li, Na, and K; M is one or more of any of B, C, and Al; H is H; x is 0-3, y is 0 or greater, and z is 0 or greater, and wherein when x is 0, y is 1, and when y is 0, x is 1. The fuels are defined by the following Formula II as follows: CxHyOzNv   II. wherein x is 0-8, y is 1-18, z is 0-4, and v is 0-5, and wherein when x is 0, v is 1 or greater.

1 . A liquid hypergolic propellant is provided comprising: 
 (a) reactive metals and/or reactive metal salts; and    (b) one or more liquid fuels,    wherein the propellant comprising (a) and (b) is hypergolic when combined with an oxidizer.    
     
     
         2 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to  claim 1 , further comprising (c) a sensitizer.  
     
     
         3 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to  claim 1 , further comprising (d) a gelling agent.  
     
     
         4 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to  claim 1 , wherein the reactive metals and/or reactive metal salts are defined by Formula I as follows:  
         AxMyHz   I.  
       wherein A is one or more of any of Li, Na, and K; M is one or more of any of B, C, and Al; H is H; x is 0-3, y is 0 or greater, and z is 0 or greater, and wherein when x is 0, y is 1, and when y is 0, x is 1.  
     
     
         5 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to  claim 4 , wherein the reactive metals and/or the reactive metals salts are selected from the group consisting of simple hydrides, complex hydrides or organolithium compounds.  
     
     
         6 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuels comprise one or more of hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, ethers, and/or aldehydes.  
     
     
         7 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according  claim 1 , wherein the fuels are defined by the following Formula II as follows:  
         CxHyOzNv   II.  
       wherein x is 0-8, y is 1-18, z is 0-4, and v is 0-5, and wherein when x is 0, v is 1 or greater.  
     
     
         8 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensitizer comprises one or more of amines, azides, and/or amides.  
     
     
         9 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensitizer is defined by Formula III as follows:  
         CxHyNz   III.  
       wherein x is 1-8, y is 1-18, and z is 0-4.  
     
     
         10 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to  claim 1 , wherein the gelling agent comprises silica gel, guar, agar or starch.  
     
     
         11 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to the  claim 1 , wherein the reactive metals and reactive metal salts together comprise from 0.1-50.0 weight percent of the propellant.  
     
     
         12 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises 50.0-99.9 weight percent of the propellant.  
     
     
         13 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensitizer comprises 0.1-40.0 weight percent of the propellant.  
     
     
         14 . The liquid hypergolic propellant according to  claim 3 , wherein the gelling agent comprises 0.1-20.0 weight percent of the propellant.