RE Rocket Propellant:
Now that I have not heard... why in the world would they do that???
Apparently it was developed to be reflective and helped reduced heat absorption. They just hadn’t discovered its explosive properties until after it was too late.
I guess the jury is still out on the metallic coating factor.
http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/hindenburg-disaster/