Date of Award
12-1995
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Department of Engineering Physics
First Advisor
Larry W. Burggraf, PhD
Abstract
Solid Rocket (SRMs) that power Titan IV rockets and Space Shuttles, exhaust large quantities of potentially ozone damaging pollutants directly into the stratosphere, while in powered flight. In the past, studies on potential stratospheric impact of the exhaust products from aluminum/ammonium perchlorate based SRMs have focused on the effect of gaseous HCl from SRMs on the stratosphere. Until recently, the impact of heterogeneous chemistry on stratospheric ozone was believed to be relatively insignificant. This research investigates the potential heterogeneous process of CFC-12 dissociative chemisorption on alumina surfaces and the release of reactive halogen species known to destroy ozone. Through a PM3 semi-empirical computational study of small alumina surface 'clusters,' dissociative chemisorption and desorption of CFC-12 was investigated. It was determined that CFC-12 does chemisorb but does not dissociate or desorb thermally based on our models. Follow-on work involving larger alumina structures should be investigated.
AFIT Designator
AFIT-GEE-ENP-95D-6
DTIC Accession Number
ADA306260
Recommended Citation
Lund, Gary E., "Model of Chlorocarbon (CFC-12) Chemisorption on Solid Rocket Motor Alumina Exhaust Particles" (1995). Theses and Dissertations. 6161.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/6161