NITRIDE AND CARBIDE OF MOLYBDENUM AND TUNGSTEN AS SUBSTITUTES OF IRIDIUM FOR THE CATALYSTS USED FOR SPACE-COMMUNICATION

Citation
Jaj. Rodrigues et al., NITRIDE AND CARBIDE OF MOLYBDENUM AND TUNGSTEN AS SUBSTITUTES OF IRIDIUM FOR THE CATALYSTS USED FOR SPACE-COMMUNICATION, Catalysis letters, 45(1-2), 1997, pp. 1-3
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Chemistry Physical
Journal title
ISSN journal
1011372X
Volume
45
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
1997
Pages
1 - 3
Database
ISI
SICI code
1011-372X(1997)45:1-2<1:NACOMA>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
Satellites are equipped with microthrusters that control their orbit a nd attitude. The thrust is achieved by the catalytic decomposition of hydrazine by iridium supported on alumina. As nitrides and carbides of molybdenum and tungsten behave like noble metals in many catalytic re actions, they were tried in a 2 newton hydrazine microthruster. Their performance was similar to that of the iridium catalyst, with respect to ignition delay and thrust. Their mechanical resistance appears high er than that of iridium-based catalyst. This application is the first practical one for nitrides and carbides of early transition metals as substitutes of noble metals, a possibility first reported in 1973.