Simple Solid Rocket Propellant

by Eric Jacob in Workshop > Science

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Simple Solid Rocket Propellant

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Easy to make solid rocket propellant from sugar and potassium nitrate. More commonly known as rocket candy.

As are most things that involve fire - Be Careful and do this outside with safety protection!

Materials

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Granulated Sugar or Confectioners Sugar
Potassium Nitrate aka Saltpeter

A portable electric burner (your not going to do this inside right?)
An old pot or pan (yeah, your not going to want to eat of it afterward, plus if the stuff lights prematurely the pot will be toast.)
A spoon
Something to put propellant into (the rocket maybe?)

Mix Ingredients

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Mix it at 60% potassium nitrate and 40% sugar by weight. Easy.

Slowly Add Heat

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Slowly add heat and continually stir. After a few minutes the sugar will begin to melt and get soupy.

Don't burn it!!!! This is why you do this outside. If it lights, the whole thing is going up in flames. Wear safety protection. Geez.

Once it gets soupy, as in the last photo, it is ready to pour.

Pour Into the Mold

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In this case I simply poured it into a glass container (which isn't a good idea as it turns out as you'll see in the final video.)

At this point you would pour the solution into whatever mold you'd like. Have it ready to go, the solution will harden quickly.

Add any wicks before it hardens.

I also made a small solid rocket motor which you'll see in the final video.

Light It Up.

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Light the fuse and get back. The glass will explode from the sudden temperature change, that is why I recommend not doing that. Check out the video.