ok, so i just got in a huge argument on a rocket board. this guy keeps telling me that sugar has a much higher impulse than BP and is a lot more predictable...is there any truth to this argument?

Well

 

Sugar+KNO3 does work better for rockets.

But i see no reason not to use BP as a core burner for rocket engines

it depends on the grain type. a highly compressed BP grain is far superior in impulse.

the sugar types give off steam, if it`s not sufficient pressed into a grain then the burn propogation will be "dampening" the next bit of fuel to burn, lowering it burn rate and in turn its impulse.

 

but for the home user/experimenteer, a sugar or "candy" rocket is much safer and works quite well considering

thanks...

non needed

 

it`s more predictable for a home caster of grains as it`s almost idiot proof, BP casting isn`t difficult if you have a 1 Tonne press at your disposal

not many have! LOL

 

if taken that BOTH are cast perfectly, he`s well wrong about the impulse being greater, it`s simple not the case (and many companies like Estes for example prolly wish it were though!).

i know...i told him that if sugar was FAR superior(as he states) then estes would gladly use it, as it would be cheaper to manufacture. every sugar powder i've ever made has never come CLOSE to performing as good as BP.