Abstract: A water-in-oil emulsion explosive having a high resistance against dead pressing is obtained by adding a cushioning medium having a high impact energy-absorbing property to a water-in-oil emulsion explosive containing a continuous phase consisting of a carbonaceous fuel, a disperse phase consisting of an aqueous solution of inorganic oxidizer salt and an emulsifier.

Abstract: This invention provides a solid explosive composition comprising a low-water content melt-in-fuel emulsion when prepared at elevated temperature which solidifies on cooling. The emulsion comprises a continuous phase containing water immiscible fuel and emulsifier and a discontinuous phase containing oxidizer salt. A particulate material effective as a nucleating agent is incorporated in the composition to reduce supercooling of the discontinuous phase and to accelerate crystallization of the oxidizer salt.The particulate nucleating agent is preferably colloidal solid particles for example silica or an insoluble salt of aluminium, calcium or barium, which salt may optionally be formed in situ by a double decomposition reaction.The presence of the nucleating agent to accelerate crystallization of the oxidizer enhances the proportion of discrete droplets which remain totally encapsulated in the solidified composition and enables solid products to be obtained from relatively low melting oxidizer salts melts.

Abstract: The incorporation of methyl alcohol into a hydrazine, and hydrazine nitrate uel blend is effective in lowering the freezing point of the combination while enhancing the performance of the monopropellant blend by contributing to the total energy of the monopropellant ternary combination. Hydrazine content varies from about 58 to about 68 weight percent, the hydrazine nitrate varies from about 20 to about 25 weight percent, and the methyl alcohol varies from about 12 to about 17 weight percent. The freezing point of this monopropellant fuel blend has a freezing point from about -29.degree. F. to about -65.degree. F., which renders this monopropellant fuel blend useful as a tactical monopropellant fuel blend over a wide temperature range.

Abstract: The invention relates to propellant powders and specifically to stabilizers for nitrocellulose-based propellant powders.

Abstract: The incorporation of a nitrated pentaerythritol additive selected from the ono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-nitrated pentaerythritols into hydrazine is effective in lowering the freezing point of the combination while enhancing the performance of the monopropellant by contributing to the total energy of the monopropellant combination. Hydrazine content varies from about 65 to 95 weight percent while the additive of a nitrated pentaerythritol varies from about 5 to about 25 weight percent. An optional additional additive of methyl alcohol from about 5 to about 20 weight percent can be employed with a corresponding adjustment in weight percent of hydrazine when said additive of methyl alcohol is employed in addition to said additive of said nitrated pentaerythritol.

Abstract: A gas-retaining agent having a particle size of 177-3,000 .mu.m is effective for improving the safety of water-in-oil emulsion explosive compositions against methane and coal dust and for improving the sympathetic detonability of the explosive compositions without deteriorating their strength.

Abstract: Triaminoguanidinium phosphate is used to improve the performance and flammability characteristics of low vulnerability propellants.

Abstract: Solid reactant hydrogen gas generator formulations which yield greater than 5 weight percent hydrogen of greater than 98 mole percent hydrogen purity are formulated of a primary heat and hydrogen source selected from ammonia borane from about 50 to about 70 weight percent and hydrazine bisborane from about 0-30.00 weight percent, a first hydrogen-containing compound that functions as an auxiliary heat and hydrogen source consisting of ammonium nitrate from about 10.20 to about 17.82 weight percent, and a second hydrogen-containing compound that functions as an auxiliary heat and hydrogen source consisting of (NH.sub.4).sub.2 B.sub.10 H.sub.10 from about 9.80 to about 17.18 weight percent.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the combustion of solid fuel/water slurries by the addition of about 100 to 5,000 ppm of a stable water-soluble explosive, which will detonate early in the combustion process, thereby producing a secondary dispersion of fuel particles, and an 80-65% coal/20-35% water composition suitable for secondary dispersion during combustion containing about 100-5,000 ppm of a water-soluble explosive, preferably selected from at least one member of a group consisting of picric acid; alkali picrates, such as ammonium picrate, sodium picrate, potassium picrate, calcium picrate, etc., and heavy metal picrates, such as iron picrate, lead picrate, zinc picrate, etc.; guanidine and nitroguanidine. The addition of the explosive may be made to the water of make up of the slurry or may be added to the formed slurry.

Abstract: Water-bearing explosives comprising oxidizer, fuel, and sensitizer components in a thickened or gelled continuous aqueous phase are stabilized against the degradation of their thickened or gelled structure by the incorporation therein of iodide and/or iodate ions. Preferably, iodide ion is introduced by dissolving ammonium iodide or an alkali metal iodide in an aqueous liquor or sol containing the oxidizer component. The stabilization method is particularly useful in explosives containing a guar gum thickener and flake aluminum in the sensitizer component.

Abstract: Production of styphnate and azide explosives in situ in explosive devices including both ammunition and detonators particularly, though not exclusively, involving formation of premixes of relatively insensitive materials.

Abstract: 1. A gelled mechanically stable high energy fuel composition comprising a hydrazine selected from the group consisting of hydrazine, unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine and mixtures thereof and an amount of metal platelets effective to produce a mechanically stable gel, said platelets having a diameter of less than about 44 microns and an average diameter of about 1 micron, and said metal platelets being composed of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, beryllium and aluminum-beryllium alloy.

Abstract: In a gas generator system, a process for producing gases from hydrazine type monopropellants by the ignition of said propellants by silver nitrate or a mixture of silver nitrate with copper chromite for the decomposition of said propellants to their gaseous end products.

Abstract: 1. A catalyst for hydrazine decomposition consisting essentially of a carrier having a pore volume of at least 0.1 cubic centimeters per gram and a specific surface area, measured in square meters per gram, equal to 195 (C.sub.p + 0.013 + 0.736 V.sub.p) where C.sub.p is the specific heat capacity of the carrier at about 25.degree. C in calories per gram per degree and V.sub.p is the pore volume of the carrier in cubic centimeters per gram and metal of the group consisting of iridium, and mixtures consisting of iridium and ruthenium deposited on said carrier in an amount between 20% and about 40% by weight of the catalyst and distributed through the pores thereof in discrete particles sufficiently separated from each other so that they do not sinter or fuse together when the catalyst is at hydrazine decomposition temperature.

Abstract: This invention relates to the catalytic decomposition of hydrazine, catalysts useful for this decomposition and other reactions, and to reactions in hydrogen atmospheres generally using carbon-containing catalysts.

Abstract: Bubbles of high gamma gas are incorporated into the liquid component of a quid or slurried explosive to sensitize the explosive.

Abstract: 1. A compound of the formulaAl(ClO.sub.4).sub.3 .multidot.[Mg(ClO.sub.4).sub.2 ].sub.x .multidot. yN.sub.2 H.sub.4wherein x is a member selected from the group consisting of 0 and 1, y is a member selected from the group consisting of 6 and 8 and when x is 0, y is 6; when x is 1, y is 8.

Abstract: A two component field mix explosive composition comprising a first solid component comprising ammonium nitrate or mixtures of ammonium nitrate with ammonium perchlorate, and a second liquid component comprising as a first ingredient hydrazine, a second ingredient which is water, alcohol or a mixture thereof, and as a third ingredient ammonium nitrate in an amount no greater than about one-sixth of the total weight of the second component. At the site of use the liquid component is poured into the solid component to form an explosive composition. This composition is detonable in elongate packages as small as one inch in diameter, by use of a blasting cap.

Abstract: A thixotropic rocket fuel composed of monomethylhydrazine, metallic fuel particles, dimethylurea, and a gellant. The particular thixotropic fuel is particularly characterized by the fact that a low gellant concentration can be used and by the fact that the metallic fuel particles can be suspended with no separation or settling out of the metallic fuel particles in the fuel even when subjected to 500 g's. The particular thixotropic rocket fuel has high density quality and high specific impulse values.

Abstract: Tetracene, H.sub.2 N.C(:NH).NH.NH.N:N.C(:NH).NH.NH.NO (C.sub.2 H.sub.8 N..10 O), that is pelletized by dead pressing at 10,000-30,000 psia is employed as a preferred gas generant for near-neutral combustion products. The chemical, tetracene, is almost completely nitrogen-containing, and has only negligible amounts of carbon or oxygen which results in producing dominant combustion products of nitrogen. Tetracene is employed as a gas generant in a method which produces near-neutral combustion products that are compatible with a variety of oxidizers (e.g., IRFNA, ClF.sub.3, ClF.sub.5, etc.) and a variety of fuels (e.g., UDMH, MHF, etc.). Contact of the combustion products with the oxidizers or fuels does not interfere with their normal functioning.

Abstract: A solid double base propellant comprising from about 5 to about 60 per cent of a specific nitramine oxidizer, from about 5 to about 60 per cent of triaminoguanidinium azide, triaminoguanidinium hydrazinium diazide or mixtures thereof, and from about 35 to about 60 per cent of a plasticized nitrocellulose binder.

Abstract: Gelled or thickened compositions comprising hydrazine, methyl hydrazine, unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine, or mixtures thereof, and hydroxyethyl cellulose.

Abstract: Liquid monomethylhydrazine is converted to a thiotropic gel by dispersing erein a cellulose or hydroxyalkyl-substituted gelling agent. The gel thus obtained can be handled and stored on board a rocket motor without the hazards associated with liquid monomethylhydrazine.

Abstract: A novel polycyano compound and method for the synthesis thereof comprising the reaction of triaminoguanidine with potassium cyanoformate in the presence of a mineral acid.

Abstract: A self-sterilising liquid explosive composition comprising liquid nitroparaffin, for example nitromethane, sensitised with hydrazine and containing diethylenetriamine as a delayed action sterilising agent.

Abstract: A catalyst for initiating the spontaneous decomposition of hydrazine and hydrazine nitrate into ammonia, nitrogen and hydrogen comprises ruthenium supported on high-surface area silica, alumina or silica-alumina substrates promoted with oxides of alkalis, alkaline earths, transition elements and rare earths. The catalyst is particularly useful in monopropellant rocket engines and gas generators and is characterized by: high activity when used in either a pulsed or continuous mode, minimal loss in crush strength or surface area after firing and use of non-strategic materials.

Abstract: A curable homogeneous gas-generating composition composed essentially of oxalyl dihydrazide coolant combined with: (a) a perchlorate oxidizer selected from the group consisting of ammonium perchlorate, the alkali metal perchlorates, and the alkali earth metal perchlorates, (b) a combustible fuel binder, and (c) propellant adjuvants.A process for the preparation of oxalyl dihydrazide is also disclosed.The gas-generating compositions of the present invention have greatly improved combustion characteristics and exhibit reduced flame temperatures.

Abstract: A flame-explosion couple is disclosed which upon ignition burns for a period of time in a relatively stable manner and thereafter explodes to produce fragments which continue to burn for a further period of time. The composition may comprise from 40 to 89 percent by weight of a volatile liquid fuel, from 10 to 50 percent by weight of a secondary explosive or strong metal salt oxidizer and from 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of an explosive primer. It is usually desirable to incorporate a gellant in the composition to give it a jellylike consistency of a desired viscosity. The composition may optionally contain combustible metal powders and combustible polymers.

Abstract: The use of methoxylamine nitrate (CH.sub.3 ONH.sub.2.NHO.sub.3) as an addve to exothermally decomposing liquid monopropellants such as hydrazine and hydrazine water mixtures to lower the freezing points of the monopropellants and thereby render the monopropellants usable in gas generators at very low temperatures.

Abstract: The use of methoxylamine hydrochloride (CH.sub.3 ONH.sub.2. HCl) as an adive to exothermally decomposing liquid monopropellants such as hydrazine and hydrazine water mixtures to lower the freezing point of the monopropellants and thereby render the monopropellants usable in gas generators at very low temperatures.

Abstract: The use of methoxylamine perchlorate (CH.sub.3 ONH.sub.2.HClO.sub.4) as an dditive to exothermally decomposing liquid monopropellants such as hydrazine and hydrazine water mixtures to maintain energetic monopropellants and at the same time lower the freezing point of the monopropellants, thereby rendering the monopropellants usable in gas generators at very low temperatures.