GB1605352A - A Nitrocellulose-free propellant powder - Google Patents

A Nitrocellulose-free propellant powder Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1605352A
GB1605352A GB4080077A GB4080077A GB1605352A GB 1605352 A GB1605352 A GB 1605352A GB 4080077 A GB4080077 A GB 4080077A GB 4080077 A GB4080077 A GB 4080077A GB 1605352 A GB1605352 A GB 1605352A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
propellent
powder
binder
propellent powder
explosive
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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GB4080077A
Inventor
G Marondel
W Siegelin
H Penner
W Spranger
I Schmidt
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Dynamit Nobel AG
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Dynamit Nobel AG
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Publication of GB1605352A publication Critical patent/GB1605352A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
    • C06B45/00—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product
    • C06B45/04—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product comprising solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix not used for explosives where the matrix consists essentially of nitrated carbohydrates or a low molecular organic explosive
    • C06B45/06—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product comprising solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix not used for explosives where the matrix consists essentially of nitrated carbohydrates or a low molecular organic explosive the solid solution or matrix containing an organic component
    • C06B45/10—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product comprising solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix not used for explosives where the matrix consists essentially of nitrated carbohydrates or a low molecular organic explosive the solid solution or matrix containing an organic component the organic component containing a resin
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
    • C06B25/00—Compositions containing a nitrated organic compound
    • C06B25/34—Compositions containing a nitrated organic compound the compound being a nitrated acyclic, alicyclic or heterocyclic amine

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
  • Adhesives Or Adhesive Processes (AREA)
  • Paints Or Removers (AREA)

Abstract

Propellent charge powder free from nitrocellulose, which exhibits autoignition temperatures higher than 200 DEG C. The mixture consists of 70 to 95 % by weight of HMX and from 5 to 30 % by weight of a binder. The powder can take the form of porous moulded bodies.

Description

(54) A IsJlTROCELLULOSE-FREE PROPELLENT POWDER VWe DYNAMrr NOBEL AKTIENGESULSCHAF, a German Company, of 521 Troisdorf, Near Cologne, Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which I/we pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is lo be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to nitrocellulose-free propellent powders.
Propellent powders containing a high percentage of nitrocellulose have found general use hitheno in ammunition used in conventional firc-arms. Propellent powders of this type possess, however, the following disadvantages: their self-ignition temperature, at around 175"C, is so low that the propellent powder of a cartridge newly introduced into the cartridge chamber may be spontaneously ignited if the cartridge chamber is sufficiently hot from a previous firing. This applies in particular to machine guns with a high repeating rate and in which the cartridge chamber becomes very hot after only a short time as a result of the high firing rate.This self-ignition results for example in irregularities or excessive increases in the gas pressure and hence in an unacceptable, uncontrollable effect upon the intemal ballistics of the powder and, in tum, upon the automatic functioning of the wcapon. As a result, there is an increased risk of accidents.
In order to obviate these disadvantages, attempts have alrcady been made to use, as propellent powders, certain explosive substances having a high self-ignition temperature, the explosive substances being used together with dcscnsitising binders. Examples of Lhcse explosive substances are hexogen, guanidine nitrate, hexanitrodiphenylamine, dipicryl sulphone, hexanitrostilbene and teuanivo- bcnzl, 3a4, 6a-tetra-aza-pentalene.
Unfortunatcly, these explosive substance binder mixtures are not practical replacements for nitrocellulose/propellent mixtures as do not propellent powders because they do not even remotely approach the favourable interiorballistic properties of nitrocellulose/propellent mixtures. When explosive substancc/binder mixtures have hitherto becn used as propellent powders, the following particular problems have been observed.
In the absence of binders or in the prcsence of only very small quantities of binders, the combustion process results in detonation-like reactions in crystalline subregions of the explosive although the interior-ballistic bum-up rate is too slow. This results in an undesirable, irregular build-up of pressure. Another disadvantage encountered where small quantities of binders are added is that the powders are inadequately bound.
If the proportion of binder in explosive substance/binder mixtures is increased, the combustion process is in danger of coming to an almost complete standstill because of the then too desensitising effect of the binder, with the result that there is no reasonable build-up of pressure in the cartridge chamber. Another disadvantage of explosive substance/binder mixtures of the type in question is that unacceptable quantities of sunburnt reaction products, for example carbon, are left both in the cartridge chamber and also in the barrel cf the firearm. Such unburnt reaction products are present because the calorific value and oxygen value of the propellent are reduced very considerably by increased quantities of binder.
According to the present invention there is provided a nitrocellulose-free propellent powder having a self-ignition temperature above 200"C., which powder contains from 5 to 30% by weight of a binder and from 70 to 95% by weight of an explosive component at least 50% by weight of which consists of a-octogen, and the remainder of which, if any, consists of one or more other explosive substances having a sclf-ignition temperature above 200"C.
A propellent powder composition embodying this invention is based on non-temperaturesensitive explosive substances and binders and has a self-ignition temperature above 200"C.
The propellent powder possesscs interiorballistic burn-up properties at least equivalent to those of nitrocellulose powder.
A propellent powder embodying this invention essentially contains octogen used in the form of its a-modification. By virtue of the form in which a-octogen crystallises, it is possible to use with it small quantities of binders whose principal function is merely to desensitise the explosive powder and allow a solid composition to be produced from it. The quantity in which the explosive component is preferably used amounts to from 80 to 90% by weight, based on the propellent powder as a whole.
The a-modification of octogen crystallises in the form of orthorhombic needles which, during the shaping process to form a propellent charge for a cartridge form a tangled mat which is merely supponed by the addition of binders.
The a-modification of octogen bums at a considerably higher rate than the hitheno employed explosive-substance binder mixtures.
The combustion process takes place uniformly, even where very small quantities of binder are added.
The pressure which builds up when aoctogen is used, corresponds to the pressure build-up obtained when nitrocellulosecontaining propellent powders are used.
Because of the particular desirable properties of a-octogen, up to 50% by weight of the explosive of the propellent powder may be constituted by one or more other explosives having self-ignition temperatures above 200"C.
In this way. particular control of the combustion process may be achieved. Examples of these other explosives include in particular, ss- octogen, although it is also possible to use the above-mentioned explosive substances, that is hexogen, guanidine nitrate etc.
Any synthetic resin may be employed. Since the function of the binder, apart from reducing the sensitivity of the explosive substance to detonation, is to form a solid body from the crystal powder, the binder must have particularly good adhesive properties and must be dimensionally stable at the usual handling and storage temperatures, that is from 400C to +70"C. In addition, the binder should be substantially free from halogens and as far as possible should form no solid or readily condensible combustion products.
Examples of suitable binders are polyurethanes, polyacrylates and polymethacrylates, and polyvinyl acetals. In some cases, organo-silicon binders may also be used.
Binders which have proved to be particularly suitable are binders based on acetalated polyvinyl alcohol, acetalation having been carried out with C,-C -aldehydes and being either partial or compete. Examples of binders of this type are the commercially available polyvinyl butyral resins.
The binders may of course contain the plasticisers, lubricants or stabilisers commonly employed lo improve their properties.
A propellent powder embodying this invention may be produced by conventional mixing and processing techniques and may be employed in granulated form or processed into shaped structures.
Shaping of the propellent powder into tubules, lakes strips, beads or tablets may be carried out in conventional manner either in prcsses or in other suitable shaping apparatus.
In order further to control the inlemal- ballistics of propellent powders embodying this invention such powders may be converted lo a porous form after shaping. This porous texture may be obtained for example by washing out of incorporated elutable substances.
Elutability presupposes a low binder content to ensure that the elutable substances are not completely enclosed by the hinder. This requirement is satisfied with powders of the present invention because of the small amount of binder which may be used therein.
The internal-ballistics of the propellent powder may be even further controlled by subjecting the propellent powder grains to surface coating, by methods known per se. For example, the ignitability of the powder grains can be considerably increased by coating with igniting agents.
The following Example illustrates this invention: EXAMPLE A propellent powder was produced from approximately 83% by weight of a-octogen and approximately 17% by weight of polyvinyl butyral containing approximately 2% of plasticiser. Ballistic tests carried out with this powder and with comparison powders produced the following results:
Propellent Maximum Muzzle Self powder pressure velocity ignition bars m/s temperature C According to According to 4 approx. 250 the invention Conventional, 4200 925 approx. 175 containing nitrocellulose Containing 1000 400 approx. 250 other known high temperature resistant explosives, but otherwise similar to the propellent powder according to the invention All these results were obtained using an infantry rine model which had a calibre of 4.7 mm, a barrel length of 550 mm and a shell weight of 3.4 g. The quantity of propellent employed in each case amounted to 1.8 g.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A nitrocellulose-free propellent powder having a self-ignition temperature above 200"C., which powder contains from 5 to 30% by weight of a binder and from 70 to 95% by weight of an explosive component at least 50% by weight of which consists of a-octogen, and the remainder of which, if any, consists of one or more other explosive substances having a self-ignition temperature above 200"C.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (13)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The a-modification of octogen crystallises in the form of orthorhombic needles which, during the shaping process to form a propellent charge for a cartridge form a tangled mat which is merely supponed by the addition of binders. The a-modification of octogen bums at a considerably higher rate than the hitheno employed explosive-substance binder mixtures. The combustion process takes place uniformly, even where very small quantities of binder are added. The pressure which builds up when aoctogen is used, corresponds to the pressure build-up obtained when nitrocellulosecontaining propellent powders are used. Because of the particular desirable properties of a-octogen, up to 50% by weight of the explosive of the propellent powder may be constituted by one or more other explosives having self-ignition temperatures above 200"C. In this way. particular control of the combustion process may be achieved. Examples of these other explosives include in particular, ss- octogen, although it is also possible to use the above-mentioned explosive substances, that is hexogen, guanidine nitrate etc. Any synthetic resin may be employed. Since the function of the binder, apart from reducing the sensitivity of the explosive substance to detonation, is to form a solid body from the crystal powder, the binder must have particularly good adhesive properties and must be dimensionally stable at the usual handling and storage temperatures, that is from 400C to +70"C. In addition, the binder should be substantially free from halogens and as far as possible should form no solid or readily condensible combustion products. Examples of suitable binders are polyurethanes, polyacrylates and polymethacrylates, and polyvinyl acetals. In some cases, organo-silicon binders may also be used. Binders which have proved to be particularly suitable are binders based on acetalated polyvinyl alcohol, acetalation having been carried out with C,-C -aldehydes and being either partial or compete. Examples of binders of this type are the commercially available polyvinyl butyral resins. The binders may of course contain the plasticisers, lubricants or stabilisers commonly employed lo improve their properties. A propellent powder embodying this invention may be produced by conventional mixing and processing techniques and may be employed in granulated form or processed into shaped structures. Shaping of the propellent powder into tubules, lakes strips, beads or tablets may be carried out in conventional manner either in prcsses or in other suitable shaping apparatus. In order further to control the inlemal- ballistics of propellent powders embodying this invention such powders may be converted lo a porous form after shaping. This porous texture may be obtained for example by washing out of incorporated elutable substances. Elutability presupposes a low binder content to ensure that the elutable substances are not completely enclosed by the hinder. This requirement is satisfied with powders of the present invention because of the small amount of binder which may be used therein. The internal-ballistics of the propellent powder may be even further controlled by subjecting the propellent powder grains to surface coating, by methods known per se. For example, the ignitability of the powder grains can be considerably increased by coating with igniting agents. The following Example illustrates this invention: EXAMPLE A propellent powder was produced from approximately 83% by weight of a-octogen and approximately 17% by weight of polyvinyl butyral containing approximately 2% of plasticiser. Ballistic tests carried out with this powder and with comparison powders produced the following results: Propellent Maximum Muzzle Self powder pressure velocity ignition bars m/s temperature C According to According to 4 approx. 250 the invention Conventional, 4200 925 approx. 175 containing nitrocellulose Containing 1000 400 approx. 250 other known high temperature resistant explosives, but otherwise similar to the propellent powder according to the invention All these results were obtained using an infantry rine model which had a calibre of 4.7 mm, a barrel length of 550 mm and a shell weight of 3.4 g. The quantity of propellent employed in each case amounted to 1.8 g. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. A nitrocellulose-free propellent powder having a self-ignition temperature above 200"C., which powder contains from 5 to 30% by weight of a binder and from 70 to 95% by weight of an explosive component at least 50% by weight of which consists of a-octogen, and the remainder of which, if any, consists of one or more other explosive substances having a self-ignition temperature above 200"C.
2. A propellent powder as claimed in claim
1, which contains from 80 to 90% by weight of the explosive component.
3. A propellent powder as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a said other explosive substance having a self-ignition temperature above 2000C is ssectogen.
4. A propellent powder as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a said other explosive substance having a self-ignition temperature above 200"C is hexogen, guanidine nitrate, hexanitrodiphenylamine, dipicryl sulphone, hexanitrostilbene or tetranitrobenzl, 3a4, 6a-tetra-aza-pentalene.
5. A propellent powder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the binder contains a stabiliser and/or plasticiser and/or lubricant.
6. A propellent powder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the binder is an acetalated polyvinyl alcohol.
7. A propellent powder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the binder is a polyvinyl butyral resin.
8. A propellent powder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is in the form of a shaped structure.
9. A propellent powder as claimed in claim 8, which is in the form of tubules, flakes, strips, beads or tablets.
10. A propellent powder as claimed in claim 8 or 9, which is in the form of a porous shaped structure.
11. A propellent powder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is surface coated.
12. A propellent powder as claimed in claim 11, which is surface coated with an ignition agent.
13. A nitrocellulose-free propellent powder as claimed in claim 1, substantially as described in the foregoing Example.
GB4080077A 1976-10-06 1977-09-30 A Nitrocellulose-free propellant powder Expired - Lifetime GB1605352A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19762644987 DE2644987C1 (en) 1976-10-06 1976-10-06 Nitrocellulose-free propellant powder

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GB1605352A true GB1605352A (en) 1993-02-17

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GB4080077A Expired - Lifetime GB1605352A (en) 1976-10-06 1977-09-30 A Nitrocellulose-free propellant powder

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BE (1) BE859466A (en)
DE (1) DE2644987C1 (en)
FR (1) FR2671550B1 (en)
GB (1) GB1605352A (en)
IT (1) IT1235560B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999034873A1 (en) * 1997-12-30 1999-07-15 Dynamit Nobel Gmbh Explosivstoff- Und Systemtechnik Fire extinguishing composition

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4343725A1 (en) * 1993-12-21 1995-06-22 Pyrotechnik Silberhuette Gmbh Binder for pyrotechnic charges
DE19907809C2 (en) * 1999-02-24 2002-10-10 Nitrochemie Gmbh Process for the production of one-, two- or three-base propellant charge powders for gun ammunition

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2959587A (en) * 1943-07-16 1960-11-08 John R Johnson Sensitivity control during purification of crude cyclonite
IT447561A (en) * 1947-09-29
US3268377A (en) * 1965-01-13 1966-08-23 Visnov Martin Extrudable heat-resistant propellants containing polybutadiene-acrylonitrile with triallyl cyanurate
US3386868A (en) * 1966-06-09 1968-06-04 Hercules Inc Heat resistant propellants containing organic oxidizers
US3756874A (en) * 1969-07-01 1973-09-04 Us Navy Temperature resistant propellants containing cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine
US3959042A (en) * 1973-11-21 1976-05-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy High impetus, low flame temperature, composite propellants and method of making
FR2319602A1 (en) * 1975-07-30 1977-02-25 Poudres & Explosifs Ste Nale NEW COMPOSITE EXPLOSIVE THERMOSTABLE MOLD AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999034873A1 (en) * 1997-12-30 1999-07-15 Dynamit Nobel Gmbh Explosivstoff- Und Systemtechnik Fire extinguishing composition

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BE859466A (en) 1993-09-28
FR2671550B1 (en) 1994-01-07
DE2644987C1 (en) 1992-04-30
IT1235560B (en) 1992-09-11
FR2671550A1 (en) 1992-07-17

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