The state of technology of rocket propellants has taken great strides in the last decade. Developments of new materials and new processes for manufacturing rocket engines are many important contributions by chemical investigators and engineers.
This review deals with the major functional constituents for preparing composite and double-base solid propellants, and discusses the general trends of liquid and hybrid proplellants. The trend to higher combustion temperatures and chamber pressures has emerged as a result of higher energy propellants. Considerable progress has been made to improve the combustion stability by formulating new materials.
A new growing branch of rocket propellants for use in microrocket or microthrust engines is also described.
