Z-Stoff

Z-Stoff (pronounced zed-stoff or zee-stoff) was a name for calcium permanganate or potassium permanganate mixed in water. It was normally used as a catalyst for T-Stoff (high test peroxide) in military rocket programs by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Z-Stoff was used in eg. Messerschmitt Me 163 airplane and in several early guided missiles. T-Stoff decomposed by Z-Stoff was commonly used by WW2 German military to generate steam for powering of fuel pumps in airplanes and rockets.

The reaction produces manganese dioxide, which tends to clog the steam generators. Later generations used solid-state catalyst instead of its water solution.