The hypergolic interaction between N,N,N 0 ,N 0 -tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA, (CH 3 ) 2 NCH 2 CH 2 -N(CH 3 ) 2 ) and nitric acid was studied by several different experimental techniques. The gaseous species from condensed-and gas-phase reactions between TMEDA and nitric acid (90% HNO 3 ) were analyzed by a confined interaction setup, coupled with a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The species identified include TMEDA dinitrate, dimethylnitrosamine (CH 3 ) 2 NNO, dimethylformamide (CH 3 ) 2 -NCHO, CH 2 O, H 2 O, NO 2 , HONO, NO, CO 2 , N 2 O, and CO. The solid residue from the condensed-phase reactions between TMEDA and 90% HNO 3 was studied by using a confined rapid thermolysis (CRT) coupled with FTIR spectroscopy and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. On the basis of the product analysis, the preignition reactions between TMEDA and nitric acid are discussed. The initiation reaction is a condensed-phase, exothermic salt formation reaction. At elevated temperatures, the thermal decomposition of nitric acid produces NO 2 , which abstracts a hydrogen atom from TMEDA and causes a series of further reactions involving the formation of dimethylnitrosamine and aldehydes. The acid-catalyzed decomposition of TMEDA dinitrate also plays an important role in the preignition reactions. High-speed videos were acquired to visualize the preignition, ignition and postignition events in a drop test when a fuel drop impinged on a pool of 90% HNO 3 . In addition, temperature profiles were obtained in gas and condensed phases using coated fine-wire thermocouples.
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