Alice Motors

[CarlNGraham]

Does anybody know anything about aluminium water ice rocket motors (ALICE)

I am using them in a science fiction book for launch vehicles, but in a few places I have found references to them having a problem with slag.

Is this worse than with other metal based rocket fuels?

[Cyberia]

Basically the use the same principle as dust explosions for their explosive force (propulsion). Aluminium and water are going to form aluminium hydroxide, some of which will be lost in the explosive heat as it denatures at 180.C. AH is used as an antacid, a white chalky stuff, so imagine that slowly building up in your ignition chamber.

 

Since heat can help get rid of it, possibly heated chamber walls?

 

If I were experimenting I would be tempted to try hydrogen peroxide instead of water (which will feed more oxygen into the burning aluminium). Or add a little alcohol to the water. But with such things you have to be very careful in case you end up with a super-heated explosion (as in keep a safe distance from the launch site).