US Patent 7735311 Pulsed detonation engines manufactured from materials having low thermal stability

Pulsed detonation engines (PDEs), or various components thereof, such as the detonation chamber and/or nozzle, can be economically constructed from materials having low thermal stability, such as plastics, composites, and light metals. During operation, the intermittent injection and detonation of reactants produces a motive force (e.g., thrust) over relatively short intervals useful in orbit control and the like. The relatively short intervals of operation prevent temperatures of the PDE components from reaching temperatures that would result in their dimensional failure.