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C-Stoff ([t͡seː ʃtɔf]; "substance C") was a reductant used in bipropellant rocket fuels (as a fuel itself) developed by Hellmuth Walter Kommanditgesellschaft in Germany during World War II. It was developed for use with T-Stoff (a high-test peroxide) as an oxidizer, which together with C-Stoff as the fuel, forms a hypergolic mixture.
| Methanol | CH3OH | ~57% by weight |
| Hydrazine hydrate | N2H4 · H2O | ~30% by weight |
| Water | H2O | ~13% by weight |
| Catalyst 431 | K3[Cu(CN)4] | potassium tetracyanocuprate(I) |
The proportions of the components in C-Stoff were developed to catalyse the decomposition of T-Stoff, promote combustion with the oxygen released by the decomposition, and sustain uniform combustion through sufficient quantity of the highly reactive hydrazine. The combination of the C-Stoff, used as a rocket fuel, with the T-Stoff used as the oxidizer, often resulted in spontaneous explosion from their combined nature as a hypergolic fuel combination, necessitating strict hygiene in fueling operations; there were numerous catastrophic explosions of the Messerschmitt Me 163 aircraft that employed this fuel system. Another hazard was toxicity to humans of each of the propellants.[1]
C-fuel
editAfter the war, Allied studies into rocket propellants continued with engines such as the Armstrong Siddeley Beta, under the name "C-fuel".[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Stüwe, Botho (1998). Peene Münde West: die Erprobungsstelle der Luftwaffe für geheime Fernlenkwaffen und deren Entwicklungsgeschichte (in German). Munich: Bechtermünz im Weltbild Verlag. p. 220. ISBN 3-8289-0294-4.
- ^ "United Kingdom Aerospace and Weapons Projects: Rocket Engines". Skomer. Archived from the original on 2008-04-22.