Stagnation Test Research Articles

Study of Chemical Surface Reactions in a High Temperature Flow System With Arc Heated Gases

Experimental techniques are described for the evaluation of the chemical factors involved in the deterioration of rocket engine materials . The chemical gas-solid reactions are studied in a flow sys tem at atmospheric pressure and wi th gas temperatures u p to 7500°R or more. The corrosive gases commonly present in rocket engines may be employed singly or in any desired combinat ion . Heat transfer rates of 2000 Btu / sec f t 2 and convective mass transfer coefficients of 0.67 lb /secf t 2 can be obtained wi th a stagnation test configuration. An investigation of graphite showed tha t t h e rate of i ts chemical deterioration in a synthet ic rocket exhaust was controlled by the rate of transfer of the reagents to its surface.