Abstract: Non-asbestos elastomeric insulating materials for rocket motors are disclosed. The insulating materials are low in density (between about 0.035 and 0.050 lb./cubic inch) and comprise 100 parts by weight of a crosslinked elastomer polymer in which are dispersed between about 10 and 100 (preferably 15-75) parts by weight of a char forming organic fiber selected from polyaramide pulps and between about 5 and 75 parts by weight inorganic particulate. The insulating materials issue little smoke, have notable erosion resistance and can be tailored to have thermal, mechanical and other properties of desired character. Ingredients such as phenolics, flame retardants, and liquid polybutadiene can enhance the utility of the insulating materials in certain embodiments.

Abstract: Disclosed are wet filament winding resins that are intimate admixtures consisting essentially of polybutadiene polymers whose functionality resides solely in unsaturation, an unsaturated monomer component, a peroxide free-radical initiator and optionally a block copolymer impact modifier. The resins have long pot lives and cure into low density resin matrices in composite structures. The resin matrices can have select mechanical properties of desired character through ingredient choice.

Abstract: An improved process of preparing hydroxy-terminated aliphatic polyethers having pendant alkyl azide groups is disclosed. The process entails reacting metal azide and hydroxy-terminated aliphatic polyether having pendant haloalkyl groups at elevated temperatures. The improvement comprises using a liquid reaction medium that is relatively non-polar and comprises a polyalkyleneoxide having (a) a molecular weight above about 200 and (b) miscibility with the hydroxy-terminated aliphatic polyether having pendant haloalkyl groups at temperatures greater than about 80.degree. C.

Abstract: Certain urethane compounds containing m-phenylene substituents are useful as stabilizers for composite modified double base (CMDB) propellants. Examples of these novel urethanes are 1,3-bis(N-methoxyphenylurethane)benzene, 1,3-bis(N-m-tolylurethane)benzene, 1,3-bis(N-m-chlorophenylurethane)benzen e, 1,3-bis(N-m-phenylurethane)benzene, 1,3-bis(N-ethylurethane)benzene and bis(m-methoxyphenyl)urethane.

Abstract: Manufacturing gel free nitrocellulose lacquers in shorter time by less hazardous methods is disclosed. A low boiling solvent, miscible with polyol polymer and nitrate ester, is used during the manufacture to provide a lacquer premix comprising the polyol polymer and nitrocellulose. The premix may be a clear solution or an emulsion. Explosive nitrate esters are added to the lacquer premix and the resulting admixture sparged to reduce the water (if present) and low boiling solvent each to below about 0.02% by weight and form the gel free nitrocellulose lacquer.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in filament winding large, hollow, tubular structures having significant axial reinforcement in their thick walls by means including (a) using a hollow, light weight mandrel adapted to expand radially at elevated temperatures and windings of alternate layers of filamentary materials positioned substantially axially and substantially circumferentially relative to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel wherein the alternate layers are preferably in a certain thermosettable resin matrix and wound in certain fashion and (b) heating the filament wound mandrel to cure the thermosettable resin wherein heat from inside and out of the mandrel controls the cure and expansion during the heating step. The thick walls preferably incorporate graphite fibers for significant strength in the reinforcement provided by the filamentary materials.

Abstract: A composite spring comprising coaxially coiled sheet in which filamentary materials spiral about a first rotational axis of the spring in performed resinous convolutes. A method of fabricating a coaxial composite spring having filamentary materials that spiral about a first rotational axis of the spring in preformed resinous convolutes comprising wrapping a plurality of sheets including a release sheet about a mandrel wherein the sheets comprise the filamentary materials and hardenable resin.

Abstract: A slurry casting process is described capable of producing crosslinked double base propellant having improved burning rates and high specific impulse. Such propellants can be formulated to be smokeless. Improved burning rates are achieved by incorporating into a slurry of double base composition, casting powder granules containing 20% to 75% by weight of small particle ammonium perchlorate. The casting powder granules substantially retain their indentity in the cured propellant matrix. The casting powder granules have a high burning rate and are uniformly distributed throughout the propellant. The granules are responsible for increasing the burning rate of the entire crosslinked double base propellant composition of the invention.

Abstract: The azido nitramine 1,5-diazido-3-nitraza pentane and a method of making it are disclosed. The azido nitramine lowers flame temperature in gun and rocket propellants without visual lessening of burning rates. In addition, the azido nitramine produces low molecular weight combustion products.

Abstract: A fuel injector for ducted rocket motors is provided that distributes compressible fluid fuel flowing from an upstream throttle device through discharge ports of a hollow tubular member without losing throttling capacity of the throttle device. The injector has an axial fuel flow passage with a cross-sectional area that decreases stepwise rearward of a radial discharge of the fluid fuel. The dimensions and position of the flow passages of the injector provide desired flow distribution while preserving the smoothness and regularity thereof.

Abstract: A process that captures and destroys organic nitrate esters carried in wastewater effluents which comprises capturing the nitrate esters with a solid adsorbent and then displacing them from the adsorbent with an aqueous regenerating solution that also causes their decomposition and regenerates the adsorbent.

Abstract: A bifoil blade structure useful for various aerodynamic blade applications is disclosed wherein internal support is provided by a unidirectional integrally wound fiber composite channel spar comprising at least two unidirectional fiber composite channels extending from the root end to the tip end of the blade. These channels each contain two unidirectional fiber composite bars joined by a fiber composite channel web.

Abstract: Polychloroprene compounded with large particle, high structure carbon black and finely divided silica especially when combined with certain curants and plasticizer yields, upon curing, articles which exhibit high tear resistance and low compression set and are admirably suited for high temperature, fatigue producing applications as suspension bushings.

Abstract: A method of sintering a shaped green, beta-type alumina body comprising: (A) inserting said body into an open chamber prepared by exposing the interior surface of a container consisting essentially of at least about 50 weight percent of alpha-alumina and a remainder of other refractory material to a sodium oxide or sodium oxide producing environment; (B) sealing the chamber; and heating the chamber with the shaped body encapsulated therein to a temperature and for a time necessary to sinter said body to the desired density. The encapsulation chamber prepared as described above is also claimed.

Abstract: Energetic particles modify favorably deposits from sources as evaporant to yield films that have a reduction in tension or even are in compression and with metals as chromium, an increase in reflectance. Only relatively few energetic particles are required to bring about desired change.

Abstract: Vinyl dispersion coating compositions comprising (A) 10-40 parts by weight particulate vinyl resin; (B) 5-80 parts by weight liquid plasticizer; (C) 1-20 parts by weight adhesion promotor comprising (i) a thermoplastic phenol-formaldehyde condensate made with molar excess of the phenol and (ii) a compound that provides low molecular weight difunctional linking moieties with increase in temperature, wherein the molar ratio of the linking moieties releasable by (ii) to the total of hydrogen substituted ortho and para positions in (i) is at least about 3:4, preferably 1:1 or greater, and the weight ratio of (A) to (C) is about 40:1-1:1. Preferred plastisol sealing compositions can exhibit improvements in adhesion to hydrophilic surfaces such as glass by as much as up to five times or greater than with conventional adhesion promoters.

Abstract: Thermistors comprising transition metal such as iron, rare earth of the lanthanide series or yttrium, and oxygen exhibit sufficient independence to variation in oxygen partial pressure over a range of exhaust gas conditions of internal combustion engines as to make them particularly suitable for temperature compensation of oxygen sensors such as those derived from titania as well as temperature sensing in other oxygen varying environments.

Abstract: Thermistors comprising transition metal such as iron, rare earth of the lanthanide series or yttrium, and oxygen exhibit sufficient independence to variation in oxygen partial pressure over a range of exhaust gas conditions of internal combustion engines as to make them particularly suitable for temperature compensation of oxygen sensors such as those derived from titania as well as temperature sensing in other oxygen varying environments.

Abstract: Electrolyte geometry in alkali metal thermoelectric generator devices that alters the view thereof seen by cooler condenser regions provides an increase in power generating area without undesirably concomitant increase in radiation heat transfer area.

Abstract: Improvements in molded articles which can be converted to porous carbon bodies, improvements in method for making such articles, and sacrificial binders for use in making such articles are disclosed. The sacrificial binders used in this invention comprise block polymers having the structural formulaeAB--AB--.sub..eta. A or X--B(AB).sub..eta. A].sub..eta.'wherein ".eta." is 0 or a positive integer, "A" is a linear or branched polymer that is glassy or crystalline at room temperature and has its softening point in the range of about 80.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C., "B" is a polymer different from "A" that behaves as an elastomer at processing temperatures, ".eta.'" is a positive integer greater than 2, and "X" is a linking group, a plasticizer which may be oil, wax, or oil and wax, and optionally other components.