Serving Experimental & Professional Rocketry Since 1995

RCS News (Click here to view the news archive page)

10/8/07
RCS Adds 1 Gallon E 744 Curative, Iron Oxide to Products List
In response to customer requests, RCS has added Desmodur E 744 Isocyanate curative in 1 gallon packaging (P/N E7441G) and Iron Oxide (P/N FEO100G) to its products list.

E 744 has become the preferred room temperature curative for Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB). It provides plenty of pot life and good physical properties. Pot life is 2 - 3 hours, cure time is 3 - 5 days at room temperature.

Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) is a moderate burn rate catalyst with a red color that increases the high pressure burn rate of Ammonium Perchlorate oxidized propellants. Our Iron Oxide is a sub-micron particle size that generates good burn rate enhancement with typical formulations. Typical concentration level is 0.5 - 3.0% of propellant weight. RCS's Iron Oxide is sold in a 4 oz polystyrene jar containing 100 grams net weight.

An updated RCS order form is now available for download in PDF format from the "Products" and "Contact" pages.

8/8/07
RCS Offers Kosdon by AeroTech and KBA "Animal-Compatible" Motor Parts for Research Applications
RCS is offering parts used in the recently-introduced and upcoming Kosdon by AeroTech™ (KBA™) and KBA Animal-Compatible™ motors to its research customers.

The parts include 38, 54 & 75mm casting tubes, pre-cut paper and phenolic liners for 29-150, 29-250, 38-640, 54-2550 and 75-7600 motors, silicone o-rings and other parts, all at competitive prices.

Specifications and prices of the new parts are as follows:

Casting Tubes
38mm, P/N K03186, 1.225" O.D. X 1.175" I.D. X 26.58", $3.00 ea.
54mm, P/N K03188, 1.823" O.D. X 1.753" I.D. X 24.47", $4.00 ea.
75mm, P/N K03190, 2.605" O.D. X 2.505" I.D. X 18.31", $5.00 ea.

Paper Liners
29-150, P/N K04010-1, .985" O.D. X .943" I.D. X 5.00", $.50 ea.
29-250, P/N K04010-2, .985" O.D. X .943" I.D. X 8.34", $.70 ea.
38-640, P/N K03200-2, 1.298" O.D. X 1.231" I.D. X 12.50", $1.50 ea.

Spiral-Wound Phenolic Liners
54-2550, P/N K03205, 1.915" O.D. X 1.835" I.D. X 25.97", $5.00 ea.
75-7600, P/N K03210, 2.730" O.D. X 2.615" I.D. X 37.03", $9.00 ea.

O-Rings
29 & 38mm delay, Buna-N, P/N K00001, 22.5mm O.D. X 15mm I.D., $.50 ea.
29mm nozzle & bulkhead, silicone, P/N K00117, 1" O.D. X 13/16" I.D., $.50 ea.
38mm nozzle & bulkhead, silicone, P/N K00121, 1-1/4" O.D. X 1-1/16" I.D., $.50 ea.
54mm nozzle & bulkhead, silicone, P/N K00223, 1-7/8" O.D. X 1-1/2" I.D., $.75 ea.
75mm nozzle & bulkhead, silicone, P/N K00229, 2-5/8" O.D. X 2-3/8" I.D., $1.00 ea.

Other Parts
38mm KBA Animal-Compatible forward delay adapter, K03215, $.15 ea.
29 & 38mm KBA delay insulator, K06005, $.30 ea.

See the RCS "Products" page for complete part specifications. An updated RCS order form which includes the new KBA and KBA Animal-Compatible motor parts is now available for download in PDF format from the "Products" and "Contact" pages.

5/26/07
Users Page Updated
The RCS "Users" page has been updated with "Simple Green" and "Purple" propellant formulation submissions, provided by one of our customers.

12/7/06
RCS Releases Four EMK™ Experimental Motor Kits™
RCS is making four different "EMK" motor kits available to the research rocket community.

Over the past few years, a number of customers have been requesting that RCS produce experimental motor designs in kit form. After considering several options, it was decided to release an initial line of products based on a variety of popular single-use motor configurations.

These include 60 newton-second (part no. EMK2960SC) and 80 newton-second (part no. EMK2980SC) 'F'-class motors and two different 'G' designs (part nos. EMK29120C and EMK29120S). The 'G' kits are different only in the thickness of the paper liner that is packaged with each kit. The 'C' version uses a thin liner for core-burning designs while the 'S' kit includes a thicker liner which is best suited for longer-burning slotted grains. The two 'F' class kits use the thicker liner that may be used with either cored or slotted grains.

The new RCS EMKs use a one-piece phenolic case that includes an integral molded nozzle. The case has been tested to over 1,000 PSI but is recommended for motors running in the 500-600 PSI range. The nozzle throat and exit cone may be easily drilled to accommodate a wide array of grain designs and propellant formulations. The bulkhead end of the case is threaded to accept an included matching molded forward closure which can be bonded to the case with 5-minute epoxy.

The kits contain universal delay charge components such as an o-ring, delay insulator and an ejection charge cap. Users can separately purchase RCS propellant and delay casting tubes that are specified in the EMK "assembly guides" which are packaged with each motor kit. Alternatively, the guides suggest that the customer purchase AeroTech "RDK" pre-manufactured delay elements for use with the kits. The assembly guides have a detailed assembly drawing on the reverse side which portrays a typical motor configuration. A bondable aft thrust ring is also provided for the user's convenience.

EMK prices range from $8.00 each for the 60 N-sec kit to $10.00 each for the 'G' motor kits. Customers should note that RCS EMKs contain no hazardous materials since the propellant, igniter, delay, delay spacer and ejection charge are not included. Please see the "Products" page and the current RCS order form for more information. In addition, all four EMK assembly guides may be downloaded in PDF format from the "Resources" page.

11/9/06
RCS Introduces AP Blends™
RCS is releasing three new blends of Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) oxidizer for the research rocket community: APB200, APB400 and APB400200.

RCS AP Blends use a combination of coarse and fine AP in optimum particle size ratios and weight distributions to help achieve a high level of processability and castability with HTPB composite propellants. Experimenters will be able to formulate castable propellant with up to 88 weight % solids using these AP blends.

RCS part no. APB200 is a blend of 200 micron and ground AP intended for medium to fast burning rate propellant compositions. APB400 is a blend of 400 micron and ground AP designed for slower burning propellant formulations. APB400200 is a blend of 400 micron, 200 micron and ground AP for extremely high performance and high solids compositions.

In addition, RCS will be offering "standard" 200 and 400 micron AP w/TCP anti-caking agent.

All standard AP and AP Blends will be shipped in 2-gallon UN1H2 poly buckets containing 20 pounds net weight each. Please see the current RCS order form for more information including prices, shipping costs and hazmat fees.

8/11/06
ATF Issues Final Rule, Proposes Amendment of PAD Definition
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has published a "final rule" in the Federal Register limiting the propellant weight of rocket motors permitted to be sold without federal licensing and storage requirements. Only those rocket motors "containing no more than 62.5 grams of total propellant weight, and designed as single-use motors or as reload kits capable of reloading no more than 62.5 grams of propellant into a reusable motor casing" will be exempt. The rule will be effective October 10, 2006. The full text of the final rule may be downloaded in PDF format by clicking here.

In addition, the ATF has proposed an amendment to the definition of "Propellant Actuated Device" (PAD) to clarify that it no longer includes rocket motors of any kind. The full text of the proposed amended definition may be downloaded in PDF format by clicking here. Comments on the proposed amendment must be submitted on or before November 9, 2006. Written comments should be sent to: James P. Ficaretta, Program Manager; Room 5250; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; P.O. Box 50221; Washington, DC 20091–0221; ATTN: ATF 9P. Written comments must include your mailing address and be signed, and may be of any length.

Comments may also be submitted electronically to ATF at nprm@atf.gov or to http://www.regulations.gov by using the electronic comment form provided on that site. You may also view an electronic version of this proposed rule at the http://www.regulations.gov site. Comments submitted electronically must contain your name, mailing address and, if submitted by e-mail, your e-mail address. They must also reference the document docket number, as noted above, and be legible when printed on 81⁄2″ x 11″ paper. ATF will treat comments submitted electronically as originals and ATF will not acknowledge receipt of comments submitted electronically.

3/24/06
18mm Phenolic Casing In Stock
RCS has added convolute-wound phenolic casing part no. 01930L to the "Products" page and RCS order form. This casing is .703" O.D. X .625" I.D. X 48" long and may be used to construct motors designed to fit standard 18mm motor mount tubes. Nozzle part nos. 01000 and 01500, casting tube part no. 03156L and o-ring part no. 00014 are intended for use with this casing.

12/8/05
New Nozzles Available
RCS has added nozzle part nos. 01000 and 01050 (single-throat nozzles for 18mm motors), 01770 (single throat nozzle for 75mm motors) and 01800-3 (large single-throat nozzle for 98mm motors) to the "Products" page and RCS order form. The 18mm nozzles are available now, while the 75mm and 98mm nozzles are expected to be available in January. The 18mm nozzles are priced at $1.50 each and the 75mm and 98mm nozzles are priced at $43.95 each. Drawings for all nozzles in PDF format can be downloaded from the link below the corresponding part number on the "Products" page.

Wanted: Your Input
If there is something you'd like RCS to offer that we haven't mentioned, please email us at orders@rocketmotorparts.com. Every suggestion will be given serious consideration.