combustion catalysts

kateman

Something made me think today, are there any catalysts for combustion?

I know it depends on the fule (such as hydrocarbons) but I wanted to leave this open to any kind of fule - I was just interested if there are catalysts for combustion and if so, what fule and what are the catalysts???

Thanks

Borek

Fule? Do you mean fuel?

kateman

yes i do, my bad

GCT

Combustion happens quickly and once the initial energy is provided the energy generated from the reaction propagates subsequent ones , why would you envision that a catalyst would be needed? I admit that I do not have much awareness in this area.

Proton Soup

iron oxide is one

kateman

unless your thinking of thermite with the reaction of iron oxide and aluminium (which isn't a catalyst in that situation), what reaction does it catalyse?

Proton Soup

no, not thermite. i'm not a chemist, and i don't know the particulars, only that it is used as a catalyst in a solid rocket propellant. i'm sure you can find more info if you google, i probably shouldn't list the ingredients. one patent even pops up right away.

Borek

Unless I am missing something, iron oxide in this patent is not a catalyst, it rather stabilizes fuel before ignition.

kateman

propellant catalysts , i'd have to be careful as they seem to be used mainly to convert fuels (thanks for pulling me up on that Borek, i did initially write the wrong thing) from solid to gaseous state and i want combustion to be aided but this is an awesome idea of an area to explore!!! Thank you very much!

but still, iam open to anyother ideas/ suggestions

kateman

that was what was kind of bugging me at the back of my mind, a combustion catalyst would make everything more unstable with lower activation energy - which may not always work out for propulsion

thanks Borek

chemisttree

Palladium and platinum have been used as combustion catalysts, especially finely divided ones and those supported on surfaces (alumina, for example). Basically, you could look at any catalyst that works for hydrogenation, isomerization and dehydrogenation and determine if it could survive intact after exposure to direct flame and oxidizing conditions. I would think that limits the field to the noble metals like platinum.

Borek

(bangs head on the wall) Obvious! There are those catalytic hand heaters in which gasoline is burnt without flame.

Proton Soup

yeah, it's not a typical application. i used to have a list of the the ingredients used in the SRBs on the shuttle, and i'm pretty sure iron oxide was listed as a catalyst, but i can't find it atm.

kateman

awesome, thank you chemisttree, thats exactly what iam after! And thank you too, Borek, i had no idea such things existed but i'll look into them.

Also, Proton Soup, thanks for your help and if you ever do find that list, I would be most interested if you could please send it to me in a private message