Abstract: A liquid mixture of tetrafluorammonium bifluoride in anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride in the liquid and/or gaseous decomposed state serves as an oxidizer for fuels. Tetrafluorammonium bifluoride is present in the liquid in an amount up to about 50 mole percent.

Abstract: In a gas generator system, a process for producing gases from hydrazine type monopropellants by the ignition of said propellants by silver nitrate or a mixture of silver nitrate with copper chromite for the decomposition of said propellants to their gaseous end products.

Abstract: A catalyst bed containing alumina pellets on which an active catalyst metal selected from iridium, nickel, niobium, and molybdenium has been deposited is employed to decompose a compound selected from deuterohydrazine, deuteroammonia, hydrazine, and ammonia to yield ammonia free deuterium and nitrogen or hydrogen and nitrogen at a temperature required for immediate use in a DF or HF laser which uses F atoms as the fuel. The decomposition temperature of the catalyst bed is maintained by a hypergolic reaction produced from reacting a fuel selected from the group consisting of hydrazine, methylhydrazine, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, and blends of the same with an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of inhibited red fuming nitric acid, dinitrogen tetroxide, chlorine trifluoride, and chlorine pentafluoride. A laser employing ammonia free decomposition products of hydrazine and ammonia produced at a temperature between about 500.degree. C. and 900.degree. C. operates at a higher power output. When NH.sub.

Abstract: 1. A catalyst for hydrazine decomposition consisting essentially of a carrier having a pore volume of at least 0.1 cubic centimeters per gram and a specific surface area, measured in square meters per gram, equal to 195 (C.sub.p + 0.013 + 0.736 V.sub.p) where C.sub.p is the specific heat capacity of the carrier at about 25.degree. C in calories per gram per degree and V.sub.p is the pore volume of the carrier in cubic centimeters per gram and metal of the group consisting of iridium, and mixtures consisting of iridium and ruthenium deposited on said carrier in an amount between 20% and about 40% by weight of the catalyst and distributed through the pores thereof in discrete particles sufficiently separated from each other so that they do not sinter or fuse together when the catalyst is at hydrazine decomposition temperature.

Abstract: This invention relates to the catalytic decomposition of hydrazine, catalysts useful for this decomposition and other reactions, and to reactions in hydrogen atmospheres generally using carbon-containing catalysts.

Abstract: A composite catalyst bed comprising a foam metal matrix packed with a plurality of catalyst particles. The foam metal matrix is a three dimensional, structurally rigid network of interconnected ligaments which define a plurality of interconnected pores filled by particles of a suitable catalyst, such as Shell 405. The composite structure is made by first filling the foam metal matrix with the catalyst particles and then compressing the same so that the catalyst particles become packed tightly in the matrix, with some of the catalyst particles being formed into the ligaments of the matrix. The composite catalyst bed is shown in a monopropellant reactor to decompose hydrazine based monopropellants, and also in a catalytic muffler to oxidize exhaust combustion products from an internal combustion engine. The foam metal matrix retains the catalyst particles in place to alleviate attrition of the particles, and also provides good thermal conductivity to improve performance of the catalyst.

Abstract: Tetracene, H.sub.2 N.C(:NH).NH.NH.N:N.C(:NH).NH.NH.NO (C.sub.2 H.sub.8 N..10 O), that is pelletized by dead pressing at 10,000-30,000 psia is employed as a preferred gas generant for near-neutral combustion products. The chemical, tetracene, is almost completely nitrogen-containing, and has only negligible amounts of carbon or oxygen which results in producing dominant combustion products of nitrogen. Tetracene is employed as a gas generant in a method which produces near-neutral combustion products that are compatible with a variety of oxidizers (e.g., IRFNA, ClF.sub.3, ClF.sub.5, etc.) and a variety of fuels (e.g., UDMH, MHF, etc.). Contact of the combustion products with the oxidizers or fuels does not interfere with their normal functioning.

Abstract: A gas generator producing usable power from a solid reactant which is sublimed as required to produce vapors and the vapors are chemically reacted to release stored energy and convert same to useful work.

Abstract: The use of methoxylamine hydrochloride (CH.sub.3 ONH.sub.2. HCl) as an adive to exothermally decomposing liquid monopropellants such as hydrazine and hydrazine water mixtures to lower the freezing point of the monopropellants and thereby render the monopropellants usable in gas generators at very low temperatures.

Abstract: The use of methoxylamine perchlorate (CH.sub.3 ONH.sub.2.HClO.sub.4) as an dditive to exothermally decomposing liquid monopropellants such as hydrazine and hydrazine water mixtures to maintain energetic monopropellants and at the same time lower the freezing point of the monopropellants, thereby rendering the monopropellants usable in gas generators at very low temperatures.