Model of Chlorocarbon (CFC-12) Chemisorption on Solid Rocket Motor Alumina Exhaust Particles.

Abstract

Solid Rocket (SRMs) that power Titan IV rockets and Space Shuttles, exhaust large quantities of potentially ozone damaging pollutants directly into the stratosphere, while in powered flight. In the past, studies on potential stratospheric impact of the exhaust products from aluminum/ammonium perchlorate based SRMs have focused on the effect of gaseous HCl from SRMs on the stratosphere. Until recently, the impact of heterogeneous chemistry on stratospheric ozone was believed to be relatively insignificant. This research investigates the potential heterogeneous process of CFC-12 dissociative chemisorption on alumina surfaces and the release of reactive halogen species known to destroy ozone. Through a PM3 semi-empirical computational study of small alumina surface 'clusters,' dissociative chemisorption and desorption of CFC-12 was investigated. It was determined that CFC-12 does chemisorb but does not dissociate or desorb thermally based on our models. Follow-on work involving larger alumina structures should be investigated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA306260

Entities

People

  • Gary E. Lund

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aluminum Oxides
  • Ammonium Perchlorate
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Chlorine Compounds
  • Computational Chemistry
  • Environment
  • Halogens
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Molecular Orbital Theory
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Rocket Engines
  • Solid Rocket Oxidizers

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Rocket Propulsion.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster