Increasing Performance of Hybrid and Solid Motors using Large Ionic Complex Propellants

Recently, new complex borohydrides have been invented for use as hydrogen storage mediums in fuel cell vehicles. These complexborohydrides contain copious amounts of hydrogen and boron and decompose at moderate temperatures, releasing hydrogen andother volatile gases, including those that are pyrophoric. Aluminum hydride has been shown to be an excellent fuel additive in hybridmotors. The use of complex borohydrides may provide a better result due to the large amount of highly energetic boron and hydrogenin the complexes and could achieve a higher combustion efficiency due to the pyrophoric nature of the decomposition products.Performance modeling of one of these complexes, ABH-1, using NASA’s CEA code predicts a higher theoretical specific impulse thanboth RP-1 and methane could be achieved. Notably, when ABH-1 was paired with hydrogen peroxide, the chamber temperature wassignificantly decreased, meaning the cost of the motor nozzle could be reduced since the thermal loads would be lower.These complexes could also be used in solid propellant. When paired with ammonium perchlorate, an ABH-1 motor would have asignificantly lower combustion temperature while achieving a higher specific impulse. Oxidizing complexes are also of interest for solidmotors. Various compounds of the multi-perchlorates and fluorammoniums families were used in performance models and were foundto have favorable effects on the density and specific impulse of solid motors, though at the cost of increased combustion temperature.The cost of these propellants would be higher than standard propellants due to their lengthier synthesis process and more expensivestarting materials. These propellants would be most useful in applications where propellant costs are minor relative to the costof the system, such as rocket upper stages and on satellites. When used in these applications, these propellants could increase theperformance and/or decrease the cost of space systems.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.