Propellant containing a thermoplatic burn rate modifer
AssigneePrimex Technologies, Inc.
InventorsWilliam L. O'Meara, Terry A. Murray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed a propellent having a deterred burn rate. The propellent is a particulate containing an energetic binder base and a thermoplastic burn deterrent. The energetic binder has in impetus (energy) in excess of 200,000 foot pounds per pound (mass) and the thermoplastic burn deterrent is both a solid at room temperature and soluble in an organic solvent. The burn deterrent is gradationally dispersed within the particulate with the greatest concentration of burn deterrent at the particulate periphery.
Claims18
A propellant, comprising:
- a plurality of particulates that burn from a periphery inward, each said particulate containing an energetic binder base having an impetus in excess of 200,000 foot pounds per pound (mass);
- and
- a thermoplastic burn deterrent that is solid at room temperature and selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyisoprene, and mixtures thereof gradationally dispersed in an exterior portion of said particulate, said burn deterrent concentration greatest about the periphery of each said particulate and decreasing inwardly.
A method for the manufacture of a propellant, comprising the steps of:
- a). heating an aqueous suspension containing nitrocellulose particulate, the ratio, by weight, of water to particulate being from about 1:1 to about 20:1;
- b). adding to said aqueous suspension a nonaqueous solution containing a dissolved cellulosic thermoplastic in a concentration of from about 1% to about 50%, by weight;
- c). agitating said nonaqueous/aqueous solution mixture for a time effective for said nonaqueous solution to penetrate at least partially into said particulate;
- d). removing substantially all of a nonaqueous solvent component from said mixture;
- and
- e). removing substantially all of said water thereby producing a cellulosic thermoplastic deterred propellant.
A method for the manufacture of a propellant, comprising the steps of:
- a). heating an aqueous suspension containing an energetic binder particulate, the ratio, by weight, of water to particulate being from about 1:1 to about 20:1;
- b). adding to said aqueous suspension a nonaqueous solution containing a dissolved thermoplastic deterrent in a concentration of from about 1% to about 50%, by weight;
- c). agitating said nonaqueous/aqueous solution mixture for a time effective for said nonaqueous solution to penetrate at least partially into said particulate;
- d). removing substantially all of a nonaqueous solvent component from said mixture;
- and
- e). removing substantially all of said water thereby producing a thermoplastic deterred propellant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.