DRDO and University of Hyderabad Secure Solid Rocket Fuel Patent

The Indian Patent Office granted Patent No. 599900 on 2 September 2026 to the Chairman of the Defence Research & Development Organisation and the Advanced Centre of Research in High Energy Materials at the University of Hyderabad. The patent covers a next-generation solid rocket propellant fuel with the chemical designation N1,N1,N1,N4,N4,N4-hexaethylbut-2-yne-1,4-diaminiumdodecaborane and the energetic compound name BAM-H24.

Patent and Inventors

The patent application number was 202211074244, and it was filed on 21 December 2022. The invention was credited to Dr. Muddamarri Hanumantha Rao of ACRHEM and Prof. Muralidharan Krishnamurthi of ACRHEM and the School of Chemistry at the University of Hyderabad.

Composition and Functional Use

BAM-H24 is a boron-, hydrogen- and nitrogen-rich energetic compound. The material is designed for use as a solid rocket fuel, a fuel additive, or a burn-rate accelerator in propulsion systems.

The compound belongs to the class of energetic materials used in rocket propulsion and missile systems. Solid propellants are commonly used in tactical missiles and space launch vehicles because they can be stored in a ready-to-use form.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Researchers described BAM-H24 as chemically and thermally stable. The compound also has high insensitivity to impact and friction, which is a standard safety parameter for energetic materials.

The propellant is non-hygroscopic, which means it resists water absorption in humid conditions. This property is relevant for storage, transport, and long-term performance of propellant formulations.

The compound is associated with high specific impulse and reduced ignition delay time. Specific impulse is a standard measure of rocket propellant efficiency, expressed in seconds.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Indian Patent Office is the statutory authority for granting patents in India under the Patents Act, 1970.
• Solid rocket propellants are used in missiles, launch vehicles, and space boosters.
• Boron, hydrogen, and nitrogen are common elements in high-energy compounds used in propulsion chemistry.
• Non-hygroscopic materials resist moisture absorption and are useful in humid storage conditions.

Defence and Space Applications

The patented fuel is intended for indigenous use in defence propulsion systems and space launch vehicles. The patent adds to India’s portfolio of high-energy materials developed for strategic applications.