Abstract: A method of preparing a thermoplastic elastomer having A blocks and at least one B block, wherein said A blocks are crystalline at temperatures below about 60.degree. C. and said B block is amorphous at temperatures above about -20.degree. C., said A blocks each being polyethers derived from monomers of oxetane and its derivatives and/or tetrahydrofuran and its derivatives, the method comprising:providing monofunctional hydroxyl terminated A blocks which are crystalline at temperatures below about 60.degree. C. and separately providing di-, tri- or tetrafunctional hydroxyl terminated B blocks which are amorphous at temperatures above about -20.degree. C.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a path of propellant grain away from a solid rocket motor. The apparatus includes a telescoping arm connected to a rotatable body. A cutting tool having a primary and secondary cutter is connected to a distal end of the telescoping arm. The secondary cutter is disposed adjacent the primary cutter and configured to make cuts through the portion of propellant grain along the path such that the grain is cut away from the rocket motor in a plurality of pieces. The telescoping arm includes a plurality of interconnected extendable concentric cylinders configured with a plurality of ball/spring detents each bearing a resistance load for restraining one of the concentric cylinders such that the innermost unextended of said concentric cylinders extends prior to the extension of any other of said unextended concentric cylinders.

Abstract: A system for providing pitch, yaw, and roll control during the flight of a rocket-propelled vehicle combines a vectorable nozzle with jet vanes. The vectorable nozzle provides yaw and pitch control, while the jet vanes provide roll control. Anti-rotation pins extend from the vehicle housing into longitudinal slots within the vectorable nozzle to allow vectoring movements and prevent rotation of the nozzle. The jet vanes are rotatably mounted on shafts within the nozzle exit cone to receive and guide combustion products passing through the nozzle. The jet vanes may be jettisoned after an initial high-angle-of-attack maneuver is completed and the vehicle gains speed, after which roll control is provided by aerodynamic fins. The jet vanes may also be formed of material which erodes after the initial maneuver, thereby reducing the loss of thrust caused by the jet vanes.

Abstract: A method for making a plurality of stress sensors includes creation of cavities and corresponding diaphragms in a thin metal front plate, preferably by an acid etching process. A thin back plate, preferably comprising metal, is secured to the front plate over the cavities, preferably by welding. A plurality of strain gages is bonded to the diaphragms in the front plate with a layer of bonding agent such as epoxy. The bond layer is of substantially uniform thickness on at least that portion of the front plate where the diaphragms are located. As the bond layer cures, a magnetic force is applied to the diaphragms to reduce their movement toward the back plate, and to thereby assist in creating a bond layer of substantially uniform thickness near the diaphragms. A suitable magnetic force may be applied by positioning a rare earth magnet near the diaphragms. The magnetic force may be supplemented by a mechanical force.

Abstract: A system and method for shattering a launch vehicle into relatively small pieces are described. The launch vehicle includes at least one solid fuel rocket motor having a propellant disposed about a combustion chamber within a rocket motor case. Each rocket motor also includes at least one motor igniter to ignite the propellant and at least one explosive charge adjacent the rocket motor case. A firing unit is capable of generating a motor ignition signal and a charge explosion signal. A first propagator carries the motor ignition signal to the motor igniter so the signal arrives after a propagation time T.sub.ignition and causes ignition of the previously unignited rocket motor. A second propagator carries the charge explosion signal to the explosive charge so the signal arrives after a propagation time T.sub.explosion and causes an explosion against the rocket motor case. The time T.sub.explosion is greater than the time T.sub.ignition by a pressurization time T.sub.

Abstract: A solid composition for generating nitrogen containing gas is provided. The composition includes an oxidizer and a non-azide fuel selected from anhydrous tetrazoles, derivatives, salts, complexes, and mixtures thereof. Preferred tetrazoles include 5-aminotetrazole and bis-(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine, a metal salt, a salt with a nonmetallic cation of a high nitrogen content base or a complex thereof. The salts and complexes are generally metal salts and complexes. The metal can be a transition metal. Metals that have been found to be particularly useful include copper, boron, cobalt, zinc, potassium, sodium, and strontium. The oxidizer is generally a metal oxide or a metal hydroxide. The composition can include certain other components such as secondary oxidizers, burn rate modifiers, slag formers, and binders.

Abstract: A solid composition for generating a nitrogen containing gas is provided. The composition includes an oxidizer and a 5-aminotetrazole fuel selected from anhydrous 5-aminotetrazole derivatives, salts, complexes, and mixtures thereof. The salts and complexes are generally metal salts and complexes. The metal can be a transition metal. Metals that have been found to be particularly useful include copper, boron, cobalt, zinc, potassium, sodium, and strontium. The oxidizer is generally a metal oxide or a metal hydroxide. The composition can include certain other components such as secondary oxidizers, burn rate modifiers, slag formers, and binders.

Abstract: Composite propellant formulations are disclosed having a dinitramide salt oxidizer, such as ammonium dinitramide, an energetic binder, such as poly(glycidyl nitrate), a reactive metal, such as aluminum, and other typical propellant ingredients such as curatives and stabilizers. The disclosed propellant formulations are able to combust aluminum efficiently, possess high burn rates, and produce little or no HCl exhaust gases.

Abstract: 4,10-dinitro-2,6,8,12-tetraoxa-4,10-diazatetracyclo[5.5.0.0.sup.5,9 0.sup.3,11 ]dodecane is synthesized by reacting a diacyl-2,3,5,6-tetraoxypiperazine or tetraoxadiazaisowurtzitane derivative, a strong acid, and a nitrate source, such that an exothermic reaction occurs which proceeds at a temperature above ambient temperature. The reaction product is precipitated by cooling. It may be purified by washing with methanol and/or sodium bicarbonate and by simmering in nitric acid.

Abstract: Thermoplastic elastomeric ablative insulation having low density are disclosed. The ablative insulation is based upon a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer resin containing a polyamide polymer and a maleic anhydride modified EPDM polymer. The ratio of polyamide polymer to maleic anhydride modified EPDM is in the range from about 20:80 to about 40:60. Carefully selected fillers provide suitable charring and ablative insulation performance without unduly increasing the insulation density. Typical fillers include an phosphorus containing compound, such as ammonium polyphosphate, a polyhydric alcohol present, such as pentaerythritol, silicone resin, chopped fibers, an antioxidant, a butadiene polymer, and a peroxide.

Abstract: A continuous extrusion process for manufacturing composite gun propellant is disclosed. The disclosed process is particularly suitable for preparing gun propellant formulations based upon a cellulose ester binder. In the process, the binder ingredients are dissolved in an organic solvent and then pumped directly into a twin-screw extruder. The other ingredients, except the oxidizer, may optionally be dissolved in the organic solvent prior to introduction into the twin-screw extruder. The oxidizer is dried, ground, and also fed dry to the twin-screw extruder. In the extruder, the materials are thoroughly mixed and the solvent is reduced to sufficient level for direct extrusion through the desired dies.

Abstract: Composite propellant formulations containing a novel combination of bonding agent and cure catalyst together with carefully balanced HTPB binder and isocyanate curative may be mixed, cast, and cured at ambient temperature. The NCO/OH ratio is in the range from about 0.8 to about 0.9. The propellant formulations include as typical solid ingredients an oxidizer such as ammonium perchlorate and a reactive metal fuel such as aluminum. A plasticizer may optionally be included in the propellant to improve processing and low temperature properties. The bonding agents used in the present invention include a Schiff base or a combination of Schiff base and hydroxyl or amine functionality.

Abstract: A present method involves preparing an anhydrous gas generant by forming a quantity of granulated anhydrous gas generating material into a shaped charge wherein the gas generating material is an oxidizer and at least one fuel selected from the group consisting of tetrazoles. More particularly, a preferred method involves preparing an anhydrous gas generating composition by preparing a slurry of gas generating material which comprises oxidizer particles larger than 1 micron and fuel particles larger than 1 micron wherein the oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of a metal peroxide, an inorganic nitrate, an inorganic nitrite, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, an inorganic chlorate, an inorganic perchlorate, or a mixture thereof, and the fuel is selected from the group consisting of tetrazoles; granulating the slurry to obtain granules of a selected weight average particle size; drying the granules to an anhydrous condition; and pelletizing the anhydrous granules.

Abstract: A composition is provided which comprises a fuel effective amount of a heterocyclic compound represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein X is a non-metallic cation; and an oxidizing effective amount of an inorganic oxidizer. The oxidizer can be an inorganic nitrite, an inorganic nitrate, a metal peroxide, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, an inorganic perchlorate, or an inorganic chlorate. A binder can be added, if desired. An automotive air bag inflator and a method for generating gas are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for making energetic oxidizer salts and solutions thereof, and in particular relates to processes for making aqueous solutions of hydroxylammonium nitrate in high purity suitable for use in making liquid gun propellants. The present alcohol-free process yields high purity alcohol-free hydroxylammonium nitrate by neutralizing an aqueous nitric acid solution (20-70% wt./wt.) with an alcohol-free aqueous hydroxylamine solution at temperatures ranging from above -50.degree. C. to substantially less than ambient (20.degree. C.) to produce the desired alcohol-free aqueous hydroxylammonium nitrate solution in a usable concentration and in high purity. The process is economical, environmentally acceptable, and facile.

Abstract: Conductive carbon fibrils are incorporated into energetic compositions to enhance the burn rate. The carbon fibrils are grown catalytically from carbon precursors and are substantially free of pyrolytically deposited thermal carbon. The fibrils generally have a length in the range from about 1.mu. to about 10.mu. and a diameter in the range from about 3.5 nanometers to about 75 nanometers. Length to diameter aspect ratios are greater than 5, and typically in the range from about 100:1 to about 1000:1. A 100% improvement in burn rate was observed in compositions containing as little as 0.1 weight percent carbon fibrils. Greater amounts of carbon fibrils (2 weight percent) have increased the burn rate 500%. In most cases, fibril concentration will be in the range from about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent, although greater amounts are possible. The burn rate may be effectively tailored by varying the amount of fibrils added to the composition.

Abstract: Castable high explosive compositions having a binder system containing plastisol grade nitrocellulose (PNC) and an energetic plasticizer are disclosed. The explosive composition also includes a solid high explosive ingredient, such as an explosive nitramine. Reactive metals, such as aluminum, magnesium or titanium, and oxidizers, such as ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, or ammonium dinitramide, are optionally included in the explosive compositions of the present invention. The disclosed explosive compositions have a typical detonation velocities above about 8000 m/s.

Abstract: Methods of preparing bis-(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine (BTA) having improved physical and chemical characteristics are disclosed. In the process, a dicyanamide salt and an azide salt are reacted at high temperature in the presence of an acid reagent. Best yields are obtained when the reaction is allowed to proceed for approximately 48 hours. The dicyanamide salt is preferably present in a stoichiometric excess. The acid reagent has a pK.sub.a in the range from about 3 to about 9. The reaction mixture is acidified to a pH less than 3. Several variations of the acidification step permit control of particle size and morphology. Small, rounded particles are prepared by rapidly cooling the hot crude reaction product coincidentally with acidification. This is preferably accomplished by adding the hot crude reaction product directly to cold concentrated acid. The precipitated particles are isolated to yield BTA.

Abstract: High reaction temperature explosive compositions which provide enhanced air blast and extended reaction times are disclosed. The explosive compositions include a separate acceptor phase and a separate explosive phase. The acceptor phase contains a halogenated polymer and a reactive metal which are capable of reacting at high temperature and pressure. The explosive phase includes a nonmetallized explosive. Suitable explosives produce a detonation pressure in excess of 200 kilobars at the Chapman-Jouget (C-J) condition.In the explosive compositions disclosed herein, at least a portion of the explosive phase surrounds the acceptor phase. In this configuration, detonation of the explosive phase exposes the acceptor phase to high temperatures and pressures which permit the metal and halogenated polymer to efficiently react and produce even greater temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: The energetic salts of 3-nitramino-4-nitrofurazan have a desirable combination of desirable properties such as sufficiently high densities, and low or no hydrogen content. The salts are useful as ingredients in various propellant, explosive, gassifier, and pyrotechnic compositions. 3-Nitramino-4-nitrofurazan is itself a useful energetic compound and is also useful in the synthesis of still further energetic compounds.