Thermodynamics of Organic Compounds

The research effort continues to be focussed on high densityhigh energy hydrocarbons. In cooperation with researchers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, heats of combustion are measured for constituents of current ramjet fuels and for finished fuels meanwhile, pure hydrocarbons are synthesized for heat-of-combustion measurement whose unusual steric or strain energies may contribute to design of high energyhigh density fuels of the future. Four pure hydrocarbons studied were selected among the alkylnaphthalenes and indans that may exhibit unusual steric energies. One unusual hydrocarbon, with very high density and a cage-like molecular structure, was also studied. This substance is undergoing preliminary testing as an experimental fuel. Synthesis and purification of hydrocarbons for future study are in progress at Oklahoma State University. New equipment and procedures were developed for application of the differential scanning calorimeter on measurements of heat capacity of fuels and their constituents. Preparation is underway to study the heat of combustion of several special liquid hydrocarbon fuels.