hypergolic
/ˌhaɪpərˈɡɒlɪk/
adjective
- Describing a fuel or propellant that ignites automatically when it comes into contact with another substance, without needing a spark.
- The engineers tested a hypergolic mixture for the new rocket engine.
- Safety protocols for handling hypergolic chemicals are very strict.
- Hypergolic fuels are often used in spacecraft because they ignite reliably in a vacuum.