Hydrogen peroxide—a promising oxidizer for rocket engines: physical and chemical properties: decomposition in the liquid phase

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the physical and chemical properties of hydrogen peroxide as well as some regularities of its decomposition in the liquid phase. Hydrogen peroxide has been known for many decades and currently is one of the most important products of the chemical industry. Until recently, its use in the liquid state in rocket engines in space and defense has been limited due to storage and safety concerns. The latest research results made it possible to obtain hydrogen peroxide with higher purity and concentration as well as improved properties, safe and convenient in storage. As a result, hydrogen peroxide is widely considered for use in a wide range of rocket propulsion systems both as a bipropellant oxidizer and a monopropellant. As the size of the satellites being designed decreases, it is more and more difficult to select appropriate propulsion systems (PSs) ensuring required controllability and maneuverability. Currently, the smallest satellites (5–50 kg) usually use compressed gas. It is proposed to use hydrogen peroxide to improve efficiency, while reducing the cost compared to hydrazine PSs. As a monopropellant, hydrogen peroxide is characterized by high density (> 1,300 kg/m³) and specific impulse in vacuum of approx. 150 s (approx. 1,500 m/s). Its use in combination with hydrocarbons, pentaborane, and beryllium hydride is quite promising. The hydrogen peroxide/kerosene combination has particular advantages that make it convenient to use in rockets, especially when thrust control in a wide range is required. Its exceptional advantages are as follows: among various liquid fuel combinations, the hydrogen peroxide/kerosene combination is characterized by one of the highest fuel densities (approx. 1,270 kg/m³); besides, hydrogen peroxide tanks can be made of aluminum alloys, which significantly reduces their weight. Hydrogen peroxide is quite easy to handle since, unlike other oxidizers, it does not emit toxic vapors when stored and does not release toxic substances after combustion. The maximum permissible concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapors in the air of the working area is 0.3 mg/m³. Hazard class—2 according to GOST 12.1.007. From an environmental perspective, this fuel combination is comparable to the liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen fuel. The need to install control engines for small satellites (e.g. Cubesat) is currently becoming a pressing issue. The use of neutral gases as a working fluid for control systems in such cases cannot compete with the use of, for example, hydrogen peroxide. At the same time, the creation of electric engines for small satellites is limited by the low available electrical power.