Analysis of thermal, chemical and physical properties of paraffin and beeswax blended fuels for hybrid rocket applications
1Department of Aerospace Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
J Ther Eng - DOI: 10.14744/thermal.0001074

Abstract

Fuels made of paraffin and beeswax was created for hybrid rocket engines, and carbon, boron, and aluminium powders were added. Scientists used Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for study of these fuels' thermal, chemical, and physical properties. The fuels were found to form homogeneous mixtures, and key chemical structures were identified. In tests, a beeswax-based fuel blend provided a 15% greater heat of fusion and 10% greater thermal stability than the pure paraffin-based fuels, and improved mechanical and combustion performance compared to the same properties of the paraffin fuels, providing an increase of specific impulse of up to 12%. The results indicate that paraffin / beeswax combinations show promise as a green, convenient and high performance fuel in a hybrid rocket.