Isopropyl nitrate
Encyclopedia
Isopropyl nitrate is a colorless liquid monopropellant
. It is used as a diesel cetane
improver. IPN is a low-sensitivity explosive, with a detonation velocity
of approximately 5400 m/s.
Isopropyl nitrate was previously used in a jet engine
starting system, and was known as AVPIN. It has also been used as a fuel
for power supply and actuation in guided weapons, notably in the British Royal Navy
.
Isopropyl nitrate is extremely flammable and burns with practically invisible flame. This presents unique hazards in its handling. The flame is significantly less luminous than hydrogen or methanol flame and is only visible due to the turbulent hot air it generates.
Monopropellant
Monopropellants are propellants composed of chemicals or mixtures of chemicals which can be stored in a single container with some degree of safety. While stable under defined storage conditions, they react very rapidly under certain other conditions to produce a large volume of energetic gases...
. It is used as a diesel cetane
Cetane number
Cetane number or CN is a measurement of the combustion quality of diesel fuel during compression ignition. It is a significant expression of diesel fuel quality among a number of other measurements that determine overall diesel fuel quality.- Definition :...
improver. IPN is a low-sensitivity explosive, with a detonation velocity
Explosive velocity
Explosive velocity, also known as detonation velocity or velocity of detonation , is the velocity at which the shock wave front travels through a detonated explosive. The data listed for a specific substance is usually a rough prediction based upon gas behavior theory , as in practice it is...
of approximately 5400 m/s.
Isopropyl nitrate was previously used in a jet engine
Jet engine
A jet engine is a reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet to generate thrust by jet propulsion and in accordance with Newton's laws of motion. This broad definition of jet engines includes turbojets, turbofans, rockets, ramjets, pulse jets...
starting system, and was known as AVPIN. It has also been used as a fuel
Fuel
Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air...
for power supply and actuation in guided weapons, notably in the British Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Isopropyl nitrate is extremely flammable and burns with practically invisible flame. This presents unique hazards in its handling. The flame is significantly less luminous than hydrogen or methanol flame and is only visible due to the turbulent hot air it generates.