- White fuming nitric acid
White fuming nitric acid (WFNA) is a storable liquid
oxidizer used with kerosene and hydrazinerocket fuel . It consists of nearly purenitric acid (hydrogennitrogenoxygen3). WFNA is commonly specified as containing no more than 2%water and less than 0.5% dissolvednitrogen dioxide ordinitrogen tetroxide .WFNA was sometimes used with an inhibitor compound to reduce corrosiveness, often
hydrogen fluoride . Without inhibitors, WFNA will corrode nearly all structural metals. Inhibited WFNA is often called IWFNA. The hydrogen fluoride addition causes formation of protective layer of fluoride on the metal surfaces.WFNA as an oxidizer has somewhat less performance than
red fuming nitric acid but is considerably safer (though extremelycorrosive ), as it has little to no dissolvednitrogen tetroxide , which is an extremely toxic and volatile chemical. If not inhibited, it will form nitrogen tetroxide on contact with most metal and some organic materials.WFNA and IWFNA are considered
hypergolic with a long list of other propellants, including:
*UDMH
*Hydrazine
*Furfuryl alcohol
*Gasoline
*Aniline External links
* [http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/65.html National Pollutant Inventory - Nitric Acid Fact Sheet]
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