Does aerospace engineering involve chemistry?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Does aerospace engineering involve chemistry? If so, how much, what kind of chemistry and for what purposes?</p>

2

<p>Thermodynamics involves chemistry, and a subset of aerospace engineering involves thermodynamics. Furthermore, there is a discipline within aerodynamics called aerothermochemistry or aerochemistry. This primarily focuses on molecular interactions at typically high Mach Numbers ( > 3), such as that seen in a combustion chamber of a rocket or that of a reentry vehicle. </p>

<p>Other than this, I’d say chemistry in aerospace engineering is very limited. Materials Science, sometimes an aerospace application, also can involve chemistry.</p>

<p>Any particular motivation behind asking this question?</p>

3

<p>I used to be a chemist at a large aerospace corporation. Anything involving materials and processes also involves chemistry. I worked on failure analyis of microcircuit packaging, contaminant analysis, corrosion problems, electroplating and conversion coating problems, paint adhesion problems, thermoset polymer failures, evaluation of rheological and thermal properties of prepregs, adhesives, laminates and radar absorbing coatings, soldering problems, firing pin failures, surface cleaning, alloy analysis, and process tank analysis.</p>

4

<p>Also don’t forget that combustion is an integral part of propulsion.</p>