Potassium Nitrate Sorbitol Propellant

Experimental Investigation of Solid Propellant Characteristics

Master thesis (2019)

Authors

M.C. Olde Aerospace Engineering

Contributors

EKA Gill Space Engineering (mentor)
R Noomen (graduation committee member)
B.V.S. Jyoti (graduation committee member)
Faculty
Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace Engineering
Copyright: © 2019 Martin Olde
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Published Date

30-04-2019

Language

English

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Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Abstract

KNO3-Sugar propellants, also known as rocket candy, form a group of simple, cheap and safe solid propellants that are used extensively in student and amateur rocketry communities. One of the most frequently used compositions is KNO3-sorbitol (KNSB) with a typical 65/35 ratio by mass. This composition is used extensively by Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering (DARE) for small experimental launches including the record-breaking flight of Stratos I in 2009 to 12.3 km altitude. However, KNSB propellant quality has been inconsistent: propellant density is occasionally below 85% in combination with large surface defects. Besides a very high grain rejection rate this has resulted in several explosive failures of new experimental motors in recent years.

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