Ammonium nitrate propellants

Abstract

A propellant with a long shelf life that is smoke-free when combusted. The propellant may have the following composition when the propellant includes a reinforcing agent. ______________________________________ Approximate Percentage Material Range by Weight ______________________________________ Ammonium nitrate 40-85 Binder (with curvative) 4-40 Energetic plasticizer 0-40 Reinforcing agent 0.1-8 ______________________________________ When the reinforcing agent is included in the propellant, a desiccant in the range of 0.02-6% may or may not be included in the propellant. The binder is selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic material such as Finaprene.RTM. or Kraton.RTM. (e.g. thermoplastic elastomers) or a cure-hardening material or a combination thereof. Examples of the energetic plasticizer are trimethylolethane trinitrate, triethyleneglycol dinitrate, and butanetriol trinitrate. The desiccant may be a powdered molecular sieve which removes water from the propellant and increases the mechanical strength of the propellant. The reinforcing agent may be a nitrogen containing compound such as dicyandiamide or oxamide, increasing the mechanical strength and elasticity of the propellant. Alternately or in addition to the reinforcing agent, a time delay may be provided after the addition of the desiccant to the ammonium nitrate and before the mixing of the different ingredients with the ammonium nitrate. This delay also enhances the strength and elasticity of the propellant.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.