Chemistry Involved In Aerospace
Jayash Pande
What is Aerospace?
What Aerospace Includes:
Development of aircrafts and spacecrafts.
Organizations research, design, manufacture and operate spacecrafts.
Chemical processes behind spacecrafts to ensure a safe journey.
What Is A Rocket?
A rocket is a any spacecraft that obtains thrust from a rocket engine.
A propellent is carried within a rocket which causes the rocket engine to produce a thrust.
The thrust is useful for the initial launch and to keep the rocket moving.
Unit #1: Matter, Chemical Trends, and Chemical Bonding
Process 1: Elements and Alloys
Elements
Metals are used to make the parts of the rocket.
Wings, fuselage, engine, etc.
Aerospace engineers design spacecrafts such as rockets, satellites and missiles.
Many blueprints/prototypes are created before a spacecraft is launched.
Alloys
An alloy is a metal made by combining two or more metallic elements.
Alloys are created to give the new substance more strength and to make them less corrosive.
Aluminum alloys (6061 Aluminium = Mg+Si+Al) is used to make various parts of the rocket.
The engine, the shell and the frame of the rockets are usually made from 6061 aluminum.
Alloys Contd.
Ti-6Al-4V (6% aluminium and 4% vanadium), a titanium alloy is also used to make shell and the frame downl
Titanium alloys are very light.
Copper/brass alloys are used to make the outer plates of the rocket.
Copper/brass alloys can withstand extreme temperatures.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel has various uses in a spacecraft.
It is used to make shafts and gears in rocket.
Alloy 321 (Ti+Ni+Cr) is a the most commonly used stainless steel alloy in a spacecraft.
Alloy 321 is strong and can withstand temperatures up to 1500 degrees farehinite.
It is used to make ducts, flanges and jet engine parts.
Stainless Steel Contd.
Alloy 316 is also used to make parts of a spacecraft.
Alloy 316 is resistant to corrosion.
Alloy 316 can also withstand temperatures up to 1600 degrees farehetine.
Process 2: Composites and Application Of Other Elements
Composites
A composite is a substance that is made by physically combining two or more materials.
Composites combine properties of the substances to make a newer, better substance.
Composites are used in the automobile industry, marine industry, and most importantly the aeronautical industry.
Composites Used In Aerospace
Aluminum matrix composites are common in aerospace.
They are made of aluminum alloys reinforced with wires or fibres.
Fiberglass or carbon fibres commonly reinforce alloys.
Composites are stronger than steel parts. However, they are usually 50% lighter.
Nickel: Ni
Helps in making plates.
Makes alloys stronger.
Makes alloy non-corrosive.
Helps in creating stainless steel (Alloy 321).
Makes stainless steel malleable.
Chromium: Cr
Helps in making alloys
Hard and strong element
Makes stainless steel hard
Manganese: Mn
Used in production of stainless steel
Helps in creating manganese steel: an alloy in which 13% manganese is present
Vanadium: V
Strong and hard
Resistant to corrosion
Usually mixed with aluminum and titanium to create alloys which are used for airframes and jet engines.
How Does this all Relate To Chemistry?
Elements in the periodic table (mostly metals) play a huge role in creating parts and the structure of a rocket
Without these elements, it would be impossible to travel to space
All the alloys are made of metals: elements with the most metallic properties are suitable to make parts for spacecrafts
Unit #2: Chemical Reactions
Process 1: Combustion Of Propellent
Types of Propellent:
There are 2 types of propellants/fuels.
A high oxygen containing fuel: also known as solid rocket engine.
A fuel plus oxidant: also known as liquid rocket engine.
Solid Rocket Engine:
Liquid Rocket Engine:
Combustion of Liquid Hydrogen:
The modern day rocket uses the liquid rocket engine to power.
The liquid hydrogen (LOH) fuel burns in the presence of oxygen (LOX) to create a thrust that causes the rocket to gain momentum and launch.
The balanced chemical equation for this launch is:
2H2 (L) + O2 (L) = 2H2O (G)
Stoichiometry
Balanced chemical equation: 2H2 (L) + O2 (L) = 2H2O (G)
H2M= 3g and O2 M= 3g
Find the limiting reagent
1. H2N= 3/2.02
= 1.48 mol
2. O2N= 16/2.02
= 7.92 mol
Stoichiometry Contd.
3. Calculating moles produced
H2:
2/1.48=2/x
x= 1.48 mol (limiting reagent)
O2:
1/7.92=2/x
x= 15.84 mol (excess reagent)
What Does This Mean?
Liquid oxygen (oxidant) is the excess reagent.
Liquid hydrogen (propellent) is the limiting reagent.
Therefore companies need to calculate the amount that they need to purchase as liquid hydrogen is much more expensive than liquid oxygen.
Why Liquid Hydrogen?
Liquid hydrogen is the cleanest fuel available.
There is no carbon emission during the combustion of liquid hydrogen.
Liquid hydrogen extraction is simple and it can be made naturally unlike other fossil fuels.
Process 2: Newton's 3rd Law
Understanding Thrust
The rocket gains velocity due to the force exerted by the thrust
To calculate thrust (F), you need:
Mass flow rate (M)
Exit velocity (Ve)
Exit pressure (Pe)
Area (Ae)
Free steam pressure (Po)
Thrust
The water vapour and hydrogen expand exponentially, creating a great amount of energy which causes the rocket to accelerate at a very fast rate.
The expansion of the gases is what creates a “thrustâ€
The reaction is so intense that it heats up to almost 5000 degrees fahrenheit
Newton’s Third Law
Newton's 3rd law of motion states that every force has an equal and opposite reaction
The energy in the rocket stays constant. No energy is lost during the launch of the rocket.
This ties in with the law of conservation of mass: the mass in the reaction stays constant, therefore, no energy is lost.
Unit #3: Gases and Atmospheric Chemistry
Process 1: Gas Laws
Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics involves the energy of a system and its work.
The rocket uses the first law of thermodynamics which discusses the different types of energy: kinetic and potential energy
Both kinetic and potential energy can be used to transfer heat (energy)
Thermodynamics Contd.
The second law of thermodynamics states that the total entropy of a system and its environment cannot decrease.
It can either be constant (reversible process) or it will keep increasing (irreversible process)
The zeroth law discusses thermodynamic equilibrium
Specific Heat Capacity
Q= C T
Q= Amount of heat transferred
T= Change in temperature
C= Specific heat capacity
The value of Q will never decrease and will keep increasing as combustion is an irreversible process
Opposite of picture shown is happening in a rocket
Gases and Their Application
Hydrogen is used as a propellent in a rocket. Without hydrogen gas (liquified in a chamber), space travel would be impossible
Argon, an inert gas, can be used in the production of lasers. Many bulbs also have argon filaments as argon does not react (full octet). Argon is used as a heating agent
Nitrogen helps in creating lightweight and strong materials that can be used in wind tunnels. Nitrogen also helps in cutting.
Process 2: Atmospheric Pressure
Turbulence
The rocket moves at a very high speed
It encounters turbulence on the way (force applied by air/wind)
The rocket encounters a lot of turbulence, therefore its frame is strong and sturdy: it’s made to withstand harsh conditions
The rocket is also lightweight so it can be as efficient as possible
Gas Sensors
Turbulence is dangerous as rockets travel at high speeds
They can hit other aircrafts in their vicitnity, injunitrring and possibly killing hunders of peeople.
Gas sensors can detect percentages oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, nitrogen oxides and even hydrocarbons.
The reading on the sensors are a good indication of the kind of environment/terrain the rocket is going to come across.
Gas Sensors Contd.
Gas sensors work in all temperatures and gas conditions
The sensors use a technology called MEMS
MEMS reduces weight and size. It also increases the efficiency of the device.
Careers Related To Aerospace:
Astronautics Engineer
Aerospace Engineer
Civil Engineer
Chemist
Mechanical Engineer
Nuclear Engineer
Works Cited (APA Format):
Juhl, D. D. (2010, February 1). Anodizing for Aerospace: 101. In Materials Today. Retrieved June 1, 2018, from http://www.materialstoday.com/metal-finishing/features/anodizing-for-aerospace-101/
Marks, P. (2005, June 9). Aviation – The shape of wings to come. In New Scientist. Retrieved June 1, 2018, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7552-aviation-the-shape-of-wings-to-come/
Laukkonen, J. (2013, September 27). What's a Radiator. In Crankshaft. Retrieved June 1, 2018, from http://www.crankshift.com/radiator/
Rocketology: NASA’s Space Launch System. In NASA. Retrieved June 1, 2018, from https://blogs.nasa.gov/Rocketology/2016/05/06/next-generation-wants-its-mars-shot/
Works Cited (APA Format):
CUBESAT. (n.d.). In Canadian Space Agency. Retrieved June 1, 2018, from http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/cubesat/default.as
ASM Material Data Sheet. (n.d.). In ASM Aerospace Specification Metals Inc.. Retrieved June 1, 2018, from http://asm.matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?bassnum=MTP641http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/
Marks, P. (2005, June 9). Aviation – The shape of wings to come. In New Scientist. Retrieved June 1, 2018, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7552-aviation-the-shape-of-wings-to-come/
Works Cited (APA Format):
Fundamentals of Combustion. (n.d.). In NPTEL. Retrieved June 1, 2018, from http://nptel.ac.in/courses/101104014/8
https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-reaction. (2017, January 1). Chemical Reaction. In Britannica. Retrieved June 1, 2018, from https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-reaction
David Hitt, Martin Burkey. (2016, April 21). Rocketology: NASA’s Space Launch System. In NASA. Retrieved June 1, 2018, from https://blogs.nasa.gov/Rocketology/2016/05/06/next-generation-wants-its-mars-shot/
The End
By: Jayash Pande