Titanium Tetrachloride is rated at a 2 for reactivity (Undergoes violent chemical change at elevated temperatures and pressures, reacts violently with water, or may form explosive mixtures with water (e.g. white phosphorus, potassium, sodium)), 0 for flammability (Materials that will not burn under typical fire conditions (e.g. Carbon tetrachloride), including intrinsically noncombustible materials such as concrete, stone and sand (Materials that will not burn in air when exposed to a temperature of 820 °C (1,500 °F) for a period of 5 minutes)), and 3 for health (Short exposure could cause serious, temporary or moderate residual injury (e.g. liquid hydrogen, carbon monoxide)). It is also rated as "Reacts with water in an unusual or dangerous manner (e.g. caesium, sodium, sulfuric acid)."
~From the Internet
The NAR low power code says "No flammable or explosive payloads". This is open to interpretation, Tickle (TiCl4; Ti+Cl sounds like Tickle... hee hee) is not flammable, nor explosive (explosive defined as capable of detonating), rather it reacts with water producing Titanium Dioxide and Hydrochloric Acid. It reacts on contact, since water is needed in the reaction, rather than as an initiator. However, in terms of skating on the edge with technicalities, not gonna risk it. I don't think the high power code mentions use of flammable or explosive payloads.
The Tripoli High Power Safety code says no payloads
intended to be flammable or explosive.
This works, I don't
intend for the Nike Smoke to blow up or burn.
In any case, I'm mostly concerned with the health issues concerning Tickle, since it reacts... unpleasantly with living things. If I ever do launch it, I'll have to find a way to get it to the launch site safely and into the rocket safely.
No or minimal release can happen on the ground, in addition to safety gear. I think it could work if an amount of Titanium Tetrachloride less than the capacity of the rocket was sealed in a container with 2 valves with a lead pipe each. The rocket set on its side with the spigot facing upwards and the Tickle container is raised above it, then the Tickle discharge is linked to the 'fill port' (on the actual Nike Smoke) while the spigot with the nozzle is attached to the second port of the filling tank. The air intake is plugged or capped off for the time being. This creates a sealed system where Tickle will drain completely from the original container to the rocket. Then, standing upwind and in protective gear, the spigot tube is replaced with a plug and the Tickle discharge pipe is disconnected from the fill port (which is also above the tickle's surface level, and protected from leakage by 2 check valves) and a small machined stainless steel plate with a rubber stopper with a shoulder and sized to seal the fill port and lie flush with the surface attached to it. The stainless steel plate is screwed onto the nose cone, which should prevent any leakage during the boost. The release pipe and intake are still sealed. At this point, the rocket is ready for flight... oh wait. Range Safety Officer.
So we find a way to get past them...
Kidding. Only to be launched in the outskirts of civilization at a research launch. Away pads...
At the launch pad, a wire cable is attached to an eyelet on the spigot plug, and pulled taut enough that the rocket will pull it off when it launches but not so taut as to get pulled off when the rocket rotates in the wind. The intake plug is removed. When the rocket launches, it pulls out the spigot plug, then leaves the launch rail (so not much effect on direction.) Then it performs like a real Nike Smoke. Etc.
After recovery (still need to work recovery out since this is a problably going to be a near minimum diameter and also short rocket) a recovery crew consisting of me and some other stupid or brave people park unwind of the rocket. Brought out is a large container of a water and baking sofa (neutralizing) solution probably around 2-3 times what the tank capacity is. After suiting up, all but one person go out (the first stays in the truck) and hook up the tank, which is connected to a pump, which has a tube leading out, to the air intake pipe on the rocket. The nose cone is placed on a stand which is secured to the earth with tent pegs and secured down. Then the bicarbonate solution is pumped slowly into the tank, reacting the Titanium Tetrachloride and neutralizing the HCl produced by the reaction. The tank is run to 1/4 full, at which point there should be minimal Tickle or HCl left in the tank. The rest of the rocket is then hosed down, especially on the side where the tank vents, the fins, and the nose cone. A cloth saturated in the solution is also used to wipe the tube and rear of the rocket. The chutes are disconnected and put in sealed containers; they shouldn't have Tickle on them but just in case some Tickle vented during recovery...
I know you're thinking "this is going overboard with safety" You're problably right. That's why I came up with a "oh shoot the wind is blowing our way" plan. One person on the outside of the truck has an extra car key. If such an event happens, he honks the horn of the car, alerting the driver to drive off. The tubing disconnects. The people outside are wearing protective apparel, so they'll step way back and wait. This is because HCl and trucks are generally not comparable.
Also, I'd rather be overly cautious and ridiculed than underly cautious and responsible... for someone's livelihood.
Beforhand, tests with inert fluid will have to be done to determine whether the Tickle will drain completely during the coasting phase. A camera will be mounted above the spigot. Unfortunately, this means I'll have to buy 2 giant motors... How many people would support a kickstarter for this...?
Also note, this is just speculation. I'm writing it down here to remember and also, I'll problably come back and read this again and think: "That'll actually work... In getting me arrested..."
Also please point out flaws in my plan because there are almost definitely some.
-Tony