Author Topic: TEA-TEB rocket motor (Read 5318 times)

daspaceguy · « **on:** 12/06/2022 08:34 pm »

After an exhaustive search, I haven't been able to find any rocket motors that use TEA-TEB + LOX (or any other oxidizer) as a primary for OMS/RCS engines. Why is that? My assumption is that it must have a terrible ISP, but I can't seem to find any answer for that. All that I can find is using TEA-TEB for igniting primary rocket engines with kerolox. Plenty of other rocket motors use hydrazine for OMS or RCS engines, but none that I can see use TEA-TEB + oxidizer.

whitelancer64 · « **Reply #1 on:** 12/06/2022 08:52 pm »

Nobody would do that because it would be insane. A TEA-TEB rocket engine would be an absolute nightmare to work with.

Hydrazine is super dangerous but you can at least work with it with reasonable safety precautions.

TEB will ignite on contact with the air. Both TEB and its combustion byproducts are highly toxic. TEB is also extremely corrosive.

TEA also ignites on contact with the air. It reacts violently with oxygen, water, alcohols, carbon dioxide, and a wide variety of hydrocarbons. It's one of the few materials that will ignite when mixed with liquid oxygen. TEA is slightly less toxic, but is still extremely hazardous. It is very harmful if absorbed through the skin or inhaled.

Gliderflyer · « **Reply #2 on:** 12/07/2022 12:13 am »

TEA also leaves a bunch of crap behind when it burns (aluminum oxide crystals). It coats everything and plugs orifices. I shudder to think of an entire engine running on it.

rpapo · « **Reply #3 on:** 12/07/2022 10:32 am »

Apart from the hazards to everyone nearby and to the rocket itself, I imagine it is far more expensive than (say) RP-1 and LOX.

edzieba · « **Reply #4 on:** 12/07/2022 11:01 am »

Quote from: Gliderflyer on 12/07/2022 12:13 am

TEA also leaves a bunch of crap behind when it burns (aluminum oxide crystals). It coats everything and plugs orifices. I shudder to think of an entire engine running on it.

Also, the B in TEB is for Boron, meaning you have some lovely hot Boron Carbides sandblasting your engine from the inside out. In general, any time Borated ('Zip') fuels are proposed should be ringing alarm bells and flashing the "good idea" warning sign.

Barley · « **Reply #5 on:** 12/07/2022 03:09 pm »

Sometimes it seems the attraction of the space program is not to get to space but an excuse to do the most insane chemistry (or physics) they can imagine. The insanity is not a bug, it's a feature.

Tommyboy · « **Reply #6 on:** 12/07/2022 05:12 pm »

Quote from: Barley on 12/07/2022 03:09 pm

Sometimes it seems the attraction of the space program is not to get to space but an excuse to do the most insane chemistry (or physics) they can imagine. The insanity is not a bug, it's a feature.

Excellent summary of the book Ignition! By John D. Clark. Highly recommended.