Porous nickel mesh screen catalyst bed produces gas evolution in hydrogen peroxide thrust chambers used for attitude control of space vehicles. The nickel wire mesh disks in the catalyst bed are plated in rugose form with a silver-gold coating

Sill, M.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

SH 2 02 Dis
October 1965	 Brief 65-10321 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued by the Technology Utilization Division to summarize specific 
technical innovations derived from the space program. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia, 22151. 
JIi	 i:?:T- 
Plated Nickel Wire Mesh Makes Superior Catalyst Bed 
Catalyst Bed Chamber 
Catalyst Bed Unit 
The problem: In using 90% hydrogen peroxide 
thrust chambers for attitude control of vehicles above 
the operational limit of aerodynamic surfaces, repeat-
ability, longevity, and fast response of the control de-
vice are measures of its effectiveness. Catalyst beds 
presently used to achieve gas evolution in these thrust 
chambers suffer fusing and attrition related to poor 
surface area-to-volume ratios. This condition results 
in excessive response times and short overall life that 
limits repeatability. 
The solution: A catalyst bed of porous nickel mesh 
screen whose open surfaces are plated in rugose form 
with a coating of 99% silver and 1% gold. 
How its done: The thrust chamber contains 6 
catalyst bed units, a blast dispersion plate, and a 
thrust nozzle. Each catalyst bed unit consists of a 
stainless-steel cup holding a stack of nickel wire mesh
disks each of which is plated with a 0.0015-inch coat-
ing of 99% silver and 1% gold. Plating by vapor dep-
osition or by electroplating are equally effective in 
this application. The unique feature of the chamber 
lies in its catalyst bed units; all other features are 
standard. 
Note: This catalyst bed would be useful wherever a 
catalyst is required to decompose hydrogen peroxide. 
Patent status: Title to this invention has been 
waived under the provisions of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Act (42 U.S.C. 2457 (f)), to the Bell 
Aerosystems Company, Niagara Falls Boulevard, Buf-
falo 5, New York. 
Source: MacDonald Sill of Bell Aerosystems 
Company under contract to Manned
Spacecraft Center
(MSC-216)
Category 03 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19650000319 2020-03-11T17:21:26+00:00Z


Plated nickel wire mesh makes superior catalyst bed

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server