An activated catalyst for the rapid decomposition of H2O2
is provided wherein a porous high surface area catalyst base, e.g. a zeolite molecular
sieve (ZMS) is impregnated or doped with a solution of metal cation salts and an
ionic promoter, dried and calcined to form an activated catalyst. Such activated
catalyst, in the form of a porous monolith or chunks, extrudate, pieces, pellets,
or spheres, can be poured into and confined, in a tight pack, in a cavity of a
rocket housing, downstream of a pressurized H2O2 tank. The
H2O2 is flowed through the catalyst and undergoes rapid decomposition
into steam and O2 and flows out the propellant nozzle of such rocket.
Advantages of such activated catalyst are that it can be employed to rapidly decompose
H2O2 to propel a) a mono-propellant rocket, b) a bipropellant
rocket (having fuel and a combustion chamber) and c) a hybrid rocket (powered by
H2O2 and fuel grain) and can also be used for a starter cartridge
decomposition catalyst, a gas generator decomposition catalyst and the like. Another
benefit of the activated catalyst of the invention is its low weight which is highly
suitable in small flightweight rocket systems.