Recent developments in ceramic microthrusters and the potential applications with green propellants: a review

Kalaimani Markandan, Jit Kai Chin, Kean How Cheah, Michelle T.T. Tan

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Conventional chemical propellants such as hydrazine and ammonium perchlorate have been used within the realm of contemporary space propulsion devices and are well established owing to their rich heritage. However, their limitations such as toxicity, difficulty in operational handling and environmental impacts have raised concerns. In view of these limitations, the significance of green propellants such as hydroxylammonium nitrate, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ammonium dinitramide has become more pronounced. In this paper, recent developments in ceramic microthrusters and the associated ceramic microfabrication techniques are reviewed. The characteristics of green propellants are examined, followed by the evaluation of previous attempts to incorporate green propellants into ceramic microthrusters. This has further unveiled the possibilities of green and clean space missions in the future.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1941-1950
Number of pages10
JournalClean Technologies and Environmental Policy
Volume20
Issue number9
Early online date21 Jul 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2018
Externally publishedYes

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