New potential rocket fuel found

[danmand]

Trinitramide has a potential use as one of the most efficient and least polluting of rocket propellant oxidizers, as it is chlorine-free. This is potentially an important development, because the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation implies that even small improvements in rocket delta-v can make large improvements in the size of practical rocket launch payloads.


Experimental Detection of Trinitramide, N(NO2)3†
Dr. Martin Rahm1,2, Dr. Sergey V. Dvinskikh1, Prof. István Furó1, Prof. Tore Brinck1Article first published online: 23 DEC 2010

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201007047

Propeller propellant: The largest nitrogen oxide to date, trinitramide (TNA), has been prepared following extensive quantum chemical studies in which its kinetic stability and several physical properties were estimated. TNA was detected using IR and NMR spectroscopy. The compound is highly energetic and shows promise for cryogenic propulsion and as a reagent in high-energy-density material research.

Angewante Chemie International edition http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201007047/abstract

 

[JohnLarue]

Trinitramide has a potential use as one of the most efficient and least polluting of rocket propellant oxidizers, as it is chlorine-free. This is potentially an important development, because the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation implies that even small improvements in rocket delta-v can make large improvements in the size of practical rocket launch payloads.


Experimental Detection of Trinitramide, N(NO2)3†
Dr. Martin Rahm1,2, Dr. Sergey V. Dvinskikh1, Prof. István Furó1, Prof. Tore Brinck1Article first published online: 23 DEC 2010

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201007047

Propeller propellant: The largest nitrogen oxide to date, trinitramide (TNA), has been prepared following extensive quantum chemical studies in which its kinetic stability and several physical properties were estimated. TNA was detected using IR and NMR spectroscopy. The compound is highly energetic and shows promise for cryogenic propulsion and as a reagent in high-energy-density material research.

Angewante Chemie International edition http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201007047/abstract

That very much looks like a trace quantity study.
(Discovered with NMR & IR and several physical properties estimated

Since it is an Oxide of Nitrogen, I would not be surprised if the stability of the compound is an issue and the ability to produce it in sufficient quantity for a rocket launch may be a challenge

As you might guess producing any chemical capable of being a rocket propellant is a tricky and dangerous business.

However it may be a significant discovery if it can increase the payload