Ammonium dinitramide
Encyclopedia
Ammonium dinitramide ADN is the ammonium salt of dinitraminic acid. ADN decomposes under heat to leave only nitrogen, oxygen, and water. The ions are the ammonium ion NH4+ and the dinitramide N(NO2)2-. It was originally invented in the Soviet Union
, but remained classified until it was discovered independently in the United States
in 1989 at SRI International. SRI obtained US and international patents for ADN in the mid-1990s at which time scientist from the former Soviet Union revealed they had discovered ADN in the 1970s.
It makes an excellent solid rocket
oxidizer with a slightly higher specific impulse than ammonium perchlorate
and more importantly, does not leave hydrogen chloride
fumes. The salt is prone to detonation under high temperatures and shock more so than the perchlorate
. It can be synthesized from ammonium nitrate, nitric acid
, and super concentrated sulfuric acid
, to which a base other than ammonia must be added before the acid dinitramide decomposes. The final product is obtained by fractional crystallization.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, but remained classified until it was discovered independently in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1989 at SRI International. SRI obtained US and international patents for ADN in the mid-1990s at which time scientist from the former Soviet Union revealed they had discovered ADN in the 1970s.
It makes an excellent solid rocket
Solid rocket
A solid rocket or a solid-fuel rocket is a rocket engine that uses solid propellants . The earliest rockets were solid-fuel rockets powered by gunpowder; they were used by the Chinese in warfare as early as the 13th century and later by the Mongols, Arabs, and Indians.All rockets used some form of...
oxidizer with a slightly higher specific impulse than ammonium perchlorate
Ammonium perchlorate
Ammonium perchlorate is an inorganic compound with the formula NH4ClO4. It is the salt of perchloric acid and ammonia. It is a powerful oxidizer, which is why its main use is in solid propellants...
and more importantly, does not leave hydrogen chloride
Hydrogen chloride
The compound hydrogen chloride has the formula HCl. At room temperature, it is a colorless gas, which forms white fumes of hydrochloric acid upon contact with atmospheric humidity. Hydrogen chloride gas and hydrochloric acid are important in technology and industry...
fumes. The salt is prone to detonation under high temperatures and shock more so than the perchlorate
Perchlorate
Perchlorates are the salts derived from perchloric acid . They occur both naturally and through manufacturing. They have been used as a medicine for more than 50 years to treat thyroid gland disorders. They are used extensively within the pyrotechnics industry, and ammonium perchlorate is also a...
. It can be synthesized from ammonium nitrate, nitric acid
Nitric acid
Nitric acid , also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosive and toxic strong acid.Colorless when pure, older samples tend to acquire a yellow cast due to the accumulation of oxides of nitrogen. If the solution contains more than 86% nitric acid, it is referred to as fuming...
, and super concentrated sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula . Its historical name is oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless, viscous liquid. The salts of sulfuric acid are called sulfates...
, to which a base other than ammonia must be added before the acid dinitramide decomposes. The final product is obtained by fractional crystallization.
Sources
- Modern rocket fuels> PDF> HESISERMAN ONLINE LIBRARY
- TEXTBOOK OF CHEMISTRY 1999 PRENTICE PRESS, NEW YOURK, NEW YORK