Charcoal-free black powder type granules and method of production

A method of producing an energetic composition comprising the steps of:

• (a) kneading an alkali metal salt of a reaction product of a phenolic compound and phthalic anhydride with sulfur, an alkali metal nitrate selected from potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate and a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, denatured alcohol and mixtures thereof;
• (b) allowing the kneaded product formed in step (c) to dry through evaporation of the solvent used in step (a);
• (c) granulating the dried product formed in step (b);
• and
• (d) further drying the granulated product formed in step (c).

An energetic composition produced by the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) dissolving an alkali metal hydroxide in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, denatured alcohol and mixtures thereof to form an alkali metal hydroxide solution;
• (b) kneading the reaction product of a phenolic compound and phthalic anhydride with sulfur, an alkali metal nitrate selected from potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate and said alkali metal hydroxide solution formed in step (a);
• (c) allowing the kneaded product formed in step (b) to dry through evaporation of the solvent used in step (a);
• (d) granulating the dried product formed in step (c);
• and
• (e) further drying the granulated product formed in step (d).

An energetic composition produced by the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) kneading an alkali metal salt of a reaction product of a phenolic compound and phthalic anhydride with sulfur, an alkali metal nitrate selected from potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate and a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, denatured alcohol and mixtures thereof;
• (b) allowing the kneaded product formed in step (c) to dry through evaporation of the solvent used in step (a);
• (c) granulating the dried product formed in step (b);
• and
• (d) further drying the granulated product formed in step (c).