Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine - Uses

Uses

UDMH is often used in hypergolic rocket fuels as a bipropellant in combination with the oxidizer nitrogen tetroxide and less frequently with IRFNA (red fuming nitric acid) or liquid oxygen. UDMH is a derivative of hydrazine and is sometimes referred to as a hydrazine. As a fuel, it is described in specification MIL-PRF-25604.

UDMH is stable and can be kept loaded in rocket fuel systems for long periods, which makes it appealing for use in many liquid rocket engines, despite its high density and cost. In some applications, such as the OMS in the Space Shuttle or maneuvering engines, monomethylhydrazine is used instead due to its slightly higher specific impulse. In some kerosene fueled rockets, UDMH functions as a starter fuel to start combustion and warm the rocket engine prior to switching to kerosene. UDMH has higher stability than hydrazine, especially at elevated temperatures, and can be used as its replacement or together in a mixture. UDMH is used in many European, Russian, Indian, and Chinese rocket designs. The Russian Proton and Kosmos-3M are the most notable users of UDMH. The Titan, GSLV, and Delta rocket families use a mixture of 50% hydrazine and 50% UDMH, called Aerozine 50, in different stages.

Apart from its use as rocket fuel, UDMH is a nitrogen source in metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy thin-film deposition. UDMH is a contaminant, metabolite, and breakdown product of daminozide.