Surface tensions of propellants

Abstract

An apparatus is described for determining the surface tension of propellants by measuring the maximum bubble pressure using two capillaries of different bores. The innovation is the use of a pressure transducer coupled to a bridge supply and a strip chart recorder for registering the development of the pressure difference as the bubble is formed and released. This enables the measurements to be made under controlled atmospheres and to be remotely operated. Preliminary experiments were done on propellant-grade hydrazine and monomethylhydrazine, and on purified hydrazine, at temperatures between 275.4 and 353.2 K. Straight-line expressions and logarithmic expressions reproduce equally well the variation of surface tension with temperature. Contaminated hydrazine, pre-exposed to coupons of 6Al-4V titanium alloy for long periods, gives slightly higher values of surface tension.