Linear Burning Rate and Erosivity Properties of Nitrocellulose Propellant Formulations Plasticized by Glycidyl Azide Polymer and Nitroglycerine

Abstract

The performance of the extruded cord geometry of nitrocellulose (NC) propellants plasticized by glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) and nitroglycerine (NG) has been evaluated using both closed and erosion vented vessel techniques in order to obtain the linear burning rate and the relative erosivity of these propellants. The closed vessel experiments performed at −46, 21 and 63 °C demonstrate that the measured maximum pressure is in accordance with the calculation obtained using the CHEETAH V2 thermochemical code. From the closed vessel analysis, the linear burning rates show that it is on average 89±3 % that of the 21 °C propellant when fired at −46 °C. and 112±4 % when fired at 63 °C. The addition of either GAP or NG increases the linear burning rate when compared to the neat NC formulation. Relative erosion data obtained in the erosion vented vessel are in agreement with the Arisawa‐Kimura models and it is found that the ratio of CO/CO2 concentration in combustion gases is a better erosivity indicator than N2/CO ratio.

The effect of citrate plasticizers on the properties of nitrocellulose granules

“…Reduce the temperature of combustion Nitroguanidine (NQ) [13] Improve ballistic properties Hexogen (RDX), octogen (HMX) [14,15] Plasticizers Reduce the level of mixture viscosity, decrease the glass temperature, improve the mechanical properties Nitroglycerin (NG), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), diethylene glycol dinitrate (DEGDN), triethylene glycol dinitrate (TEGDN), trimethylethane trinitrate (TMETN), butanetriol trinitrate (BTTN) [6,[16][17][18][19][20][21] Inert additives Stabilizers of NC Centralit I (CI), centralit II (CII), acardite I (AkaI), acardite II (AkaII), diphenylamine (DPA), triphenylamine (TPA), 2-nitrodiphenylamine (2-NDPA) [1,22] Antistatic and anti-adhesive agent Graphite [1,22] Reduce the burn rate Oxamide [1,22] Reduce the temperature of combustion Potassium nitrate, potassium sulphate [1,22] Stabilizing combustion Zirconium carbide [1,22] T A B L E 2 Melting point, oxygen balance and density of ATEC, TBC, DBP and DEP.…”

“…The propellants can be divided into nitrocellulose powders and rocket propellants. Nitrocellulose powders, with regard to their composition and function, can be divided into singlebase, double-base, triple-base, Insensitive Munition (IM) and Low Vulnerability Ammunition (LOVA) [2][3][4][5][6]. IM and LOVA demonstrate low vulnerability or sensitivity to mechanical and thermal impact.…”

Azide Ionic Liquids for Safe, Green, and Highly‐Efficient Azidation Reactions to Produce Azide Polymers

“…[5] Taking advantage of the photo-induced production of highly reactive nitrene radicals to readily insert CÀ H or C=C bonds, they can also be applied as photo-crosslinkable materials, [6] or polymer photoresists for photolithography. [7] Moreover, due to their considerable formation enthalpy and rapid release of nitrogen gas upon pyrolysis, [8] azide polymers are considered the most promising candidates for high-energy-density binders for propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics. [9] Despite their wide applications and outstanding performance, the synthesis of azide polymers always requires harsh conditions.…”