SOLID PROPELLANT COMPOSITION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE LAUNCH PERFORMANCE OF MODEL ROCKETS

Karimov Mustafo Aminboevich and Berdiyev Usmon Tolib O‘g‘li

GREEN ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT, 2026, vol. 4, issue 7, 93-96

Abstract: This paper analyzes the composition of potassium nitrate–sugar (KNSU/KNSB) solid propellantswidely used in model rocketry and examines catalytic additives that influence their burn rate. Althoughconventional catalysts such as iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃) are well established, this study considers tobacco ash asa potentially cost-effective and environmentally beneficial alternative. Tobacco ash is a waste-derived biomassmaterial containing calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃), and trace amounts of metaloxides. Propellant samples prepared under laboratory conditions were evaluated through static-thrust tests andflight simulations. Under the tested laboratory conditions, the tobacco-ash-containing formulations exhibitedhigher measured burn-rate, thrust, and specific-impulse values than the control and conventionally catalyzedformulations. The observed effect may be associated with the influence of carbonate compounds in the ash onthe thermal decomposition behavior of KNO₃ and the kinetics of the exothermic reaction. The findings suggestthat tobacco ash may serve as a promising burn-rate modifier and waste-derived catalyst for model-rocketpropellants.

Keywords: model rocketry; solid propellant; potassium nitrate–sugar propellant; tobacco ash; biomassderived catalyst; burn rate; specific impulse. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:teu:ged000:v:4:y:2026:i:7:id:11679

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21483441

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