Radiation stability of high test peroxide (HTP)

Highlights: • The radiolytic efficiency of O₂ evolution from 98% H₂O₂ was determined. • The gas chromatography (GC) method was compared with the weight method. • Gas chromatography allows to determine yields for much smaller doses. • GC allows to calculate corrections for thermal decomposition of H₂O₂. • Test results were used to estimate the potential radiolysis of rocket fuel. The effect of gamma radiation on the phenomenon of 90% and 98% hydrogen peroxide decomposition is described. Oxygen is the main gaseous product of radiolysis. A study conducted with the intention of using HTP as rocket - propellant. The results obtained by the gravimetric method (dose range from 500 Gy to 5 kGy) and by gas chromatography (dose range from 20 Gy to 5 kGy) were compared. Dependencies of the amount of postradiation oxygen released as a function of dose size are presented. Gas chromatography using a packed column and a thermal conductivity detector is a convenient method for testing the stability of HTP-based rocket - propellant.