Extended Morpholine/TEA Blend Testing

Extended testing of the morpholine/TEA blend was conducted to evaluate performance over longer burn times. A 20-second burn was achieved with stable decomposition efficiency of 82-85%. The amine-based catalyst approach had shown promise in initial short tests, but extended duration performance needed verification.

Test Configuration

The test setup used the improved thruster design with the reinforced catalyst bed support from earlier HTP work. The catalyst system combined a manganese dioxide catalyst bed with post-bed morpholine/TEA injection. The morpholine/TEA blend was pre-mixed in a 70/30 ratio by volume. HTP feed was 85% pure from the vacuum distillation process. The test was conducted on the ground test stand with full instrumentation.

Test Results and Performance

The thruster ignited cleanly and produced steady thrust. The burn time was 20 seconds, much longer than initial tests. Chamber pressure remained stable throughout the burn. Decomposition efficiency stayed at 82-85% from start to finish—no degradation. The catalyst bed support performed flawlessly with no vibration or instability. Data recorded at 1 kHz sampling rate showed consistent thruster performance.

Chamber pressure was steady, thrust was consistent, and all parameters remained within expected ranges. Exhaust temperature was around 850-900 degrees Celsius, consistent with HTP decomposition chemistry. The morpholine/TEA blend maintained stable combustion characteristics throughout the entire burn duration.

Implications and Future Work

This success demonstrates that the morpholine/TEA system is reliable for extended burns. The amine catalysts maintain activity over 20 seconds without decomposition or performance loss. The combination of solid catalyst bed and amine injection proved more effective than either approach alone. Performance is consistent and predictable.

With optimization of injection timing and blend ratios, even better results should be achievable. This opens new possibilities for improved thruster performance and reliability over the long term.