Complex Metal Hydrides. High Energy Fuel Components for Solid Propellant Rocket Motors
Abstract:
During the past 10 years, work was carried out on the preparation of new and unusual simple and complex metal hydrides of the main group elements. Several new hydrides of propellant interest were prepared and the chemistry related to the preparation and reactions of the new hydrides, elucidated. The metals specifically covered in this work were lithium, beryllium, magnesium, zinc, aluminum, boron and copper. An effort was made to establish the fundamental chemistry leading to the preparation of new hydrides as well as the preparations themselves. Indeed, a number of serious errors in the literature were corrected and the basis for the chemistry of main group metal hydrides established. In addition, many new hydrides were prepared and characterized, some of which should have potential as solid rocket propellants, e.g., Li3AlH6, Li2BeH4, Li5BeH4, Li5CuH6, etc.