Solid Propellant Composition And Its Effect On The Launch Performance Of Model Rockets

This paper analyzes the composition of potassium nitrate–sugar (KNSU/KNSB) solid propellantswidely used in model rocketry and examines catalytic additives that influence their burn rate. Althoughconventional catalysts such as iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃) are well established, this study considers tobacco ash asa potentially cost-effective and environmentally beneficial alternative. Tobacco ash is a waste-derived biomassmaterial containing calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃), and trace amounts of metaloxides. Propellant samples prepared under laboratory conditions were evaluated through static-thrust tests andflight simulations. Under the tested laboratory conditions, the tobacco-ash-containing formulations exhibitedhigher measured burn-rate, thrust, and specific-impulse values than the control and conventionally catalyzedformulations. The observed effect may be associated with the influence of carbonate compounds in the ash onthe thermal decomposition behavior of KNO₃ and the kinetics of the exothermic reaction. The findings suggestthat tobacco ash may serve as a promising burn-rate modifier and waste-derived catalyst for model-rocketpropellants.