Combined evaluation of nitrocellulose-based propellants: toxicity, performance, and erosivity

Mendonça-Filho, Letivan Gonçalves de; Rodrigues, Rodrigo Leonard Barboza; Rosato, Rogério; Galante, Erick; Nichele, Jakler

doi:10.1080/07370652.2019.1606867

Cited by 25 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The most used stabilizers are diphenylamine (DPA), methyl centralite, ethyl centralite, akardite I and akardite II [2,5,7,8,[11][12][13]. Diphenylamine, ethyl centralite, and akardite II generate toxic products with mutagenic potential while acting as stabilizers [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Part of the curcumin molecule (Figure 1) has a guaiacol-type structure [6], which suggests similar behavior and mechanism. Investigations of curcumin as a stabilizer are recent [3,5] compared to the most used stabilizers [2,7,[11][12][13]16]. Even for the widely used DPA, the stabilization process is complex, and the nature of the captured nitro compounds might be considered "speculative" in some sense [8,17,18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Density functional theory investigation of green stabilizer reactions: curcumin in nitrocellulose-based propellants

Mossri

Rodrigues²,

Nichele

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Stabilizers are molecules used in the composition of nitrocellulose-based propellants for inhibiting the autocatalytic degradation process that produces nitrous gases and free nitric acids. Curcumin – (1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione – is a promising green stabilizer in new formulations of environmental and health-friendly single-base propellants. This work investigates reactions between curcumin and nitrogen dioxide NO2 using density functional theory to unveil their mechanisms. For this purpose, we obtained optimized geometries of equilibrium and transition states, minimum energy paths, and thermochemical data for aromatic ring nitration and hydrogen release reactions. The results indicate that nitration of the aromatic ring of curcumin and the formation of a curcumin-based free radical are viable. The computed Gibbs free activation energy (∆‡G°) and activation enthalpy (∆‡H°) for two different temperatures, 298.15 K (room temperature) and 363.15 K (a typical temperature used in aging tests), are respectively 43.64 kcal/mol and 44.78 kcal/mol for the first reaction, and 31.54 kcal/mol and 35.31 kcal/mol for the second. Therefore, the radical-based mechanism is kinetically favored.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Density functional theory investigation of green stabilizer reactions: curcumin in nitrocellulose-based propellants

Mossri

Rodrigues²,

Nichele

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The amounts of DBP used in powders exceed this value significantly (usually above 3 %) [27][28][29]. Therefore, new non-toxic plasticizers have been proposed, i. e. acetyl triethyl citrate (ATEC), tributyl citrate (TBC) [30]. The citrates similarly to phthalates are liquid esters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of citrate plasticizers on the properties of nitrocellulose granules

Gańczyk-Specjalska

Cieślak

Jakubczak

et al. 2023

Propellants Explo Pyrotec

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nitrocellulose granules containing the proposed new eco‐friendly inert plasticizers, substitutes for phthalate derivatives, such as acetyl triethyl nitrate (ATEC) and tributyl citrate (TBC) were obtained. The single‐base propellants were obtained using safe granulation process (water method). Diethylene glycol dinitrate (DEGDN) was used as an energetic modifier in obtained propellants. It was found that the addition of citrate plasticizers reduced the heat of combustion and dynamic vivacity of powders. At the same time DEGDN increased the heat of combustion of tested materials. Citrate derivatives did not affect the density and thermal decomposition of granules. It was concluded based on pyrostatic analysis that the TBC plasticizer influenced the kinetics of nitrocellulose gelatinization by DEGDN. The kinetic model [nth order with autocatalysis (CnB) reaction] was adjusted based on the process of thermal decomposition. The presence of DEGDN in granules reduces the activation energy and increases the constant heat cumulative rate. The prepared propellants are characterized by excellent thermal stability in accordance with the STANAG 4582 standard. The obtained propellants can be potentially used in small calibre ammunition.

show abstract

“…For small and medium caliber weapons, the deterring strategy that is infiltrating the deterring agent into the surface of the gun propellant, can improve combustion progressivity of the gun propellant and realize high muzzle velocity and low chamber pressure for weapon [3,4]. Nevertheless, the introduction of deterring agents, such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP) [5,6], dioctyl phthalate (DOP) [7], camphor [8], dinitrotoluene (DNT) [9,10] and so on, causes a low oxygen balance of the gun propellant, thereby generating more combustible gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen because of the incompletely oxidized for the carbon and hydrogen elements during the combustion process. These hightemperature combustible gases are mixed with the muzzle air, leading to a series of chain reactions and generating the flame [11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface denitration structure on dynamic combustion performance and muzzle flame of mixed nitrate gun propellant

Chen

Liu

et al. 2023

Propellants Explo Pyrotec

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The gun propellant is an inaccessible energy and fuel for projectile to achieve destructive capability in a weapon system. Nitrocellulose/nitroglycerine/triethylene glycol dinitrate(NC/NG/TEGDN) based gun propellant with higher energy level than single‐based gun propellant can meet the demands of modern warfare. Currently, deterring strategy is commonly used to improve the combustion progressivity of NC/NG/TEGDN based gun propellant, together with aggravating the harmful emission phenomena such as muzzle smoke and flame. Therefore, it is essential to design and fabricate NC/NG/TEGDN based gun propellant with both good combustion progressivity and low characteristic signal. In this work, a gradiently denitrated NC/NG/TEGDN based gun propellant was successfully prepared by denitration strategy, whose structure was confirmed by FT‐IR, Raman and SEM. Here, closed bomb vessel test and interior ballistic test were conducted. The results showed that the gradiently denitrated NC/NG/TEGDN based gun propellant exhibited better combustion progressivity and interior ballistic performance than raw gun propellant, and these properties can be controlled by modulating the degree of denitration. Meanwhile, the change laws of the muzzle smoke and flame of the gradiently denitrated NC/NG/TEGDN based gun propellant were investigated by the smoke box method and high‐speed photography. Furthermore, a lower characteristic signal for the gradiently denitrated NC/NG/TEGDN based gun propellant was found compared to the deterred gun propellant by theoretical calculations. This work provides a new idea for preparing and applying a gun propellant with excellent comprehensive performance, including high energy, good combustion progressivity and low characteristic signal.

show abstract

Combined evaluation of nitrocellulose-based propellants: toxicity, performance, and erosivity

Cited by 25 publications

References 23 publications

Density functional theory investigation of green stabilizer reactions: curcumin in nitrocellulose-based propellants

Density functional theory investigation of green stabilizer reactions: curcumin in nitrocellulose-based propellants

The effect of citrate plasticizers on the properties of nitrocellulose granules

Surface denitration structure on dynamic combustion performance and muzzle flame of mixed nitrate gun propellant

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About