Huge safety Gulf from UK to States

[najaB]

Solid fuels can very much be explosive! If we're just talking about propellants, then of course it is desirable that they burn in a controlled manner - this is a matter of design rather than nature.

And that's precisely what was being discussed: a solid fuel used as a propellant. Of course you can take the chemicals used in solid fuel rockets and make an explosion, but it will be due to overpressure of the container rather that the substance being explosive.

A proper explosive detonates which would be a bad characteristic in a solid fuelled rocket - try building me a RDX or C4 powered rocket (just tell me when you're igniting it and I'll come watch from a safe distance!)

 

[Carlisle]

And there's me been thinking all these years railways aren't rocket science

 

[LexyBoy]

And that's precisely what was being discussed: a solid fuel used as a propellant. Of course you can take the chemicals used in solid fuel rockets and make an explosion, but it will be due to overpressure of the container rather that the substance being explosive.

A proper explosive detonates which would be a bad characteristic in a solid fuelled rocket - try building me a RDX or C4 powered rocket (just tell me when you're igniting it and I'll come watch from a safe distance!)

OK I was being pedantic, but the point stands - a propellant can explode under the right conditions, and some can detonate (e.g. AN mixtures). The latter tend not to be used for obvious reasons.

Explosives don't have to detonate - black powder was a pretty successful explosive for mining and maiming until Nobel came along. And detonable materials don't have to detonate - with careful design I'd say you could build an RDX powered rocket (it wouldn't be very efficient though as you'd have to limit the confinement to avoid a deflagration to detonation transition).

 

[najaB]

OK I was being pedantic...

Aren't we both?

...with careful design I'd say you could build an RDX powered rocket (it wouldn't be very efficient though as you'd have to limit the confinement to avoid a deflagration to detonation transition).

Like I said, let me know when and I'll come watch from a safe distance! It'll be like a mini-Orion.

 

[LexyBoy]

I would, but work might get suspicious if I start making RDX... Well, probably not actually but still .

I'd be in the bunker with you!

 

[dysonsphere]

And that's precisely what was being discussed: a solid fuel used as a propellant. Of course you can take the chemicals used in solid fuel rockets and make an explosion, but it will be due to overpressure of the container rather that the substance being explosive.

A proper explosive detonates which would be a bad characteristic in a solid fuelled rocket - try building me a RDX or C4 powered rocket (just tell me when you're igniting it and I'll come watch from a safe distance!)

I just remind you about the Orion project. that involved nuc explosives.

 

[najaB]

Hence my 'mini-Orion' comment above.

 

[dysonsphere]

Hence my 'mini-Orion' comment above.

Sorry missed you comment about Orion.

 

[HSTEd]

And detonable materials don't have to detonate - with careful design I'd say you could build an RDX powered rocket (it wouldn't be very efficient though as you'd have to limit the confinement to avoid a deflagration to detonation transition).

They actually use RDX as an additive in various missile propellant mixtures these days.