Abstract: The invention concerns pyrotechnic mixtures generating non-toxic gases characterised in that they essentially consist of a cross-linkable reducing binder based on epoxy resin or silicone resin, an oxidising filler based on ammonium perchlorate and a chlorine scavenger such as sodium nitrate and energetic additives consisting of a cupric compound such as cupric oxide or basic copper nitrate and of a nitrogenated organic compound such as, for example, nitroguanidin or guanidine nitrate. The filler can also contain potassium perchlorate. Said compositions burn at moderate temperatures generating gases rich in nitrogen and poor in nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. They are most suitable as pyrotechnic load for gas generators designed to inflate protective air bags for motor vehicle passengers.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for phosgenation of monohydroxy alcohol's and/or polyols characterised in that it consists of treating alcohol and or polyol, whether in the presence of solvent or not, with a molar excess of phosgene, preferably 2 to 30 times more phosgene than the hydroxyl groups, at temperatures ranging between 0 and 200° C. and at pressure levels ranging between 2 and 60 bar, preferably in the absence of any catalyst. The method is further characterised in that pressure is further used to facilitate the separation of hydrochloric acid from phosgene, in a column external to the reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-contained device for generating high-pressure breathing oxygen, of the type comprising an oxygen-generating chemical candle (3), a gastight confinement chamber composed of a body (1) and of a cover (2), in which chamber the candle is housed, means of igniting the candle, means of percussing the igniter and means of filtering the oxygen generated, characterized in that the igniting means consist of a compressed mixture of titanium and boron and in that the filtering means consist of a mixture of lime or soda lime and of molecular sieve and are distributed, on the one hand, packed in around the candle and, on the other hand, in a cartridge having a generated-oxygen outlet cap.Application to the generation of oxygen in the medical or paramedical field, the aeronautics field and the military field.

Abstract: A solid propellant charge for a propulsion unit (1). The latter includes a casing (2) containing the solid propellant charge (3), in the form of an elongated body having a longitudinal axis (X--X), which charge (3) has, over part of its longitudinal extent, a propellant charge profile (4) of large combustion area and is subdivided, along the longitudinal axis (X--X), into at least two segments abutting one another with their respective mutually confronting faces. The propulsion unit furthermore includes a nozzle (5) and means (6) for igniting said charge. The propellant charge profile (4) of large combustion area is provided in that part of the propellant charge (3) which is intermediate along the longitudinal axis (X--X).

Abstract: Composite spherical projectiles are provided for shotgun cartridges which are environmentally compatible, relatively inexpensive and have ballistic properties similar to lead shot or projectiles and which consist of metal particles dispersed in a biogradable polymeric solid matrix which includes a hydrocarbon binder containing ester functional groups which are linked to C.sub.1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon chains, starch, and titanium dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gas-generating pyrotechnic compositions.The compositions according to the invention contain a small amount of epoxy binder, stabilized ammonium nitrate, optionally potassium perchlorate or an organic oxidant containing nitrogen and, characteristically, a reactive organic nitrogen compound selected from nitroguanidine, guanidinium nitrate and oxamide. This reactive nitrogen compound may advantageously be combined with cupric oxide. The compositions according to the invention produce nitrogen-rich gases with very low levels of nitrogen oxides, and find their preferred application in the form of pellets as pyrotechnic charges in gas generators for pyrotechnic extinguishers, for devices designed to inflate external structures or for devices designed to protect the occupants of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the continuous manufacture of composite pyrotechnic products.A heat-curable liquid binder (3) is mixed with a thickening filler (4) in a mixer (1) so as to obtain a viscous premix (2) which is unreactive at ambient temperature and which can be subsequently mixed with oxidizing fillers (17) to give, after extrusion and chopping, intermediate products (24) which are not yet crosslinked but which have stable geometrical dimensions. The structure of the products (24) is subsequently set by crosslinking the binder in an oven (26).The invention permits the continuous industrial manufacture in series of small crosslinked composite pyrotechnic charges without any "pot life" constraint since the binder does not change at ambient temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to solid propellants with high specific impulse and/or high impulse per unit volume, more particularly so-called "clean" propellants, that is to say containing no constituents whose combustion gives halogen-containing products or liquid or solid products. The solid propellants according to the invention comprise especially a binder, at least one energetic filler and various additives; the energetic filler is chosen essentially from the group of dinitrated bifurazanes consisting of 3,3'-azoxybis (4-nitrofurazane), 3,3'-azobis(4-nitrofurazane) and 3,3'-bis(4-nitrofurazane).

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of acyl isocyanates which consists in reacting oxalyl chloride with an N-trialkylsilylcarboxamide or an N,N-bis(trialkylsilyl)carboxamide.The process makes it possible to obtain acyl isocyanates in good yield, in particular acyl isocyanates derived from aliphatic amides, and under simplified reaction conditions.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of alkyl chlorides, characterized in that:a) in a first stage a primary mono- or polyhydric alcohol, which has a C.sub.4 -C.sub.30 carbon chain which is saturated, substituted or otherwise by one or more chlorine atoms and branched or otherwise and which may comprise one or more C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl groups, is reacted with gaseous hydrochloric acid in the absence of catalyst and at a temperature of between 80.degree. C. and 170.degree. C., until the degree of conversion of the alcohol functional groups is equal to or between 60 and 95 mol %, andb) in a second stage phosgene and a catalyst are introduced into the reaction mixture, the catalyst being chosen from the group consisting of hexaalkylguanidinium halides and their hydrohalides, quaternary ammonium halides, quaternary phosphonium halites, pyridine and pyridines substituted by one or more C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl groups, at a temperature of between 80.degree. C. and 160.degree.C.

Abstract: The invention relates to stabilized ammonium nitrate which no longer exhibits a transition point at 32.degree. C.Its subject-matter is a new process for stabilizing ammonium nitrate and the new stabilized ammonium nitrate thus obtained.The stabilized ammonium nitrate according to the invention includes between 1% and 7% by weight of potassium nitrate and between 0.1% and 1% by weight of an organic dye containing at least one arylsulphonate group chosen from the class consisting of benzenesulphonate groups and naphthalenesulphonate groups.The stabilization of ammonium nitrate is necessary particularly for its use in propellants.

Abstract: A dismountable mechanical core (1) includes a counterform (2) attached to a central mandrel (3,8), the counterform components being able to be handled remotely and with complete safety. These components of the counterform are connected and attached to the central mandrel (3,8) by rod anchoring devices (6). The process of assembly and disassembly of the core is also described. This dismountable mechanical core is used for the molding of the cavity inside the charge of solid rocket fuel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of an explosive ammunition component with controlled fragmentation, comprising a charge of solid explosive contained in a metal casing internally clad with a sleeve externally provided with indentations.A rigid sleeve made of plastic or elastomer, externally provided with indentations and which has a form of a vessel provided with a single opening, is produced first of all, and then this sleeve is introduced, with the bottom first, into a metal casing comprising an opening and whose shape and dimensions are such as to allow the sleeve to clad the casing internally.A pasty or liquid explosive composition is next cast into the sleeve and the composition is then solidified.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of methyl 1,1-dichloromethyl ether or of ethyl 1,1-dichloromethyl ether, according to which methyl formate or ethyl formate is reacted with phosgene, diphosgene, triphosgene or oxalyl chloride or one of their mixtures, at a temperature of between 40.degree. C. and 100.degree. C., in the presence of a catalyst chosen from the group consisting of trisubstituted phosphine oxides and sulphides, trisubstituted phosphine dichlorides, formamides, the products of reaction of formamides with chlorinating agents and mixtures thereof. The 1,1-dichloromethyl ethers are obtained in a high purity. They are useful especially for performing the formylation of aromatic compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for the synthesis of 2,4,6,8-tetranitro-2,4,6,8-tetraazabicyclo-[3.3.0]octane (bicyclo-HMX) by reaction of nitronium tetrafluoroborate with 2,4,6,8-tetraacetyl-2,4,6,8-tetraazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane in the presence of fluoride ions.The process makes it possible to obtain pure bicyclo-HMX in an acceptable yield.Bicyclo-HMX is an explosive which can be employed as explosive or propellent charge in solid pyrotechnic compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for the synthesis of a disubstituted carbodiimide, including a first stage of phosgenation of an N,N'-disubstituted urea in an organic solvent medium.After this first stage ammonia is added to the reaction mixture without preliminary isolation of any intermediate compound.The process is simple, relatively inexpensive and the yield is high.Disubstituted carbodiimides are organic synthesis intermediates used especially in pharmaceutical chemistry as coupling agents in peptide synthesis.

Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of compositions which modify the ballistic properties of solid propellants and in that of the double-base solid propellants containing these compositions. Various lead compounds are known to be effective in this function, but these compounds are toxic; the problem which is solved by the present invention is to replace these lead compounds with nontoxic compounds which furthermore do not impair other properties and the performance values of the propellants. The modifying compounds are chosen from the group consisting of .beta.-resorcylates and .gamma.-resorcylates. The invention also relates to processes for the synthesis of some of these products. Finally, it relates to double-base solid propellants containing these compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for continuous manufacture of pyrotechnic charges containing a silicone binder and to the compositions capable of being used by this process.The following are introduced continuously into an extruder (1):a mixture A of a crosslinkable silicone resin with a crosslinkable silicone gum,a mixture B of oxidizing fillers,a crosslinking agent C which is common to the resin and to the gum.The dough obtained is extruded in the form of fuse strings (3) which are cut into strands (5) which are returned into a second extruder (7) to be extruded and cut into the form of blocks (11) in which the binder is crosslinked in an oven (13).The charges thus obtained find their preferred application in gas pyrotechnic generators for motor vehicle safety.

Abstract: Continuous process for the manufacture of thermoformable composite pyrotechnic products comprising at least one thermoplastic or quasi-thermoplastic binder and an organic or inorganic crystalline oxidizing charge, which are mixed and homogenized on a roll mill consisting of two cylindrical rollers of identical length, with parallel axes situated in the same horizontal plane, the rollers turning in opposite directions to each other with different speeds of rotation and their axes being separated from each other so as to allow a minimum separation to exist between the external surfaces of the two rollers in the plane containing the two axes. The binder is introduced continuously into a feed zone situated at one of the ends of the said rollers, in a pre-formulated solid form containing all the constituents of the binder and being free from solvent so that the binder forms a continuous sheet which covers the faster turning roller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of haloalkylferrocenes, comprising a first stage of reaction, in the presence of AlCl.sub.3 as catalyst and in organic solvent medium, of a carboxylic acid halide or anhydride with ferrocene or an alkylferrocene.After this stage, without prior isolation of the intermediate compound, a metal hydride is added to the reaction mixture.The haloalkylferrocenes are particularly useful as intermediates in the synthesis of combustion catalysts for propellants.