Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-layered propellant grain is provided. The method of the present disclosure simplifies the setup necessary to produce multi-layered propellants by using industrial equipment that is more energy and space efficient than the machinery that is conventionally employed for such processes. The method comprises providing a first propellant formulation; providing a die configured to provide a structure having an outer shell and a hollow interior when material is extruded therethrough; extruding the first propellant formulation through said die, to produce a first propellant layer having an outer shell defining a hollow interior in the form channel having open ends; providing a second propellant formulation, said second propellant formulation being of low viscosity; injecting said second propellant formulation into said channel defined by said first propellant layer to form a second propellant layer disposed in said channel; and hardening said second propellant layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to propellant grains having multiple layers consisting of an outer, slow burning, layer composition and an inner, fast burning, layer with desirable progressivity burn rates. The outer, slow burning, layer comprising a first energetic material, a first plasticizer and a first binder and an inner, fast burning, layer comprising a second energetic material, and the same plasticizer as the outer layer, and a second binder. The compositions in the propellant grain provided herein provides for a burn rate energy differential between the outer, slow burning, layer and inner, fast burning, layer of at least 2.

Abstract: A percussion primer composition that comprises an explosive and a sensitizer, the explosive being a moderately insensitive explosive having an impact sensitivity in the range from about 0.3 kp m to about 0.75 kp m. The moderately insensitive explosive may comprise CL-20, PETN, RDX, HMX, or mixtures thereof. The sensitizer may comprise aluminum, titanium, zirconium, magnesium, melamine, styrene, lithium aluminum hydride, or mixtures thereof. In some instances, the percussion primer composition may comprise the moderately insensitive explosive precipitated onto the sensitizer. The percussion primer composition may contain an oxidizer, which in certain situations comprises a conventional oxidizer or a bismuth compound. The bismuth compound is bismuth trioxide, bismuth subnitrate, bismuth tetroxide, bismuth sulfide, or mixtures thereof. A gun cartridge and other primer-containing ordnance assemblies employing the percussion primer composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: PBX compositions and methods for fabricating PBX compositions are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a PBX composition comprises a binder matrix comprising a thermoset resin and an oxidizer comprising octanitrocubane (ONC), the oxidizer homogeneously dispersed within the binder matrix. In another embodiment, a method for fabricating a PBX composition comprises providing an oxidizer comprising octanitrocubane (ONC) and blending the oxidizer with a prepolymer that, upon cure, forms a thermoset resin.

Abstract: A percussion primer composition including at least one explosive, at least one nano-size non-coated fuel particle having natural surface oxides thereon, at least one oxidizer, optionally at least one sensitizer, optionally at least one buffer, and to methods of preparing the same.

Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one polyoxymethylene structural support member. The polyoxymethylene structural support member includes a polyoxymethylene component that is a propellant that provides thrust to the vehicle upon pyrolysis or combustion of the polyoxymethylene component of the product of pyrolysis of the polyoxymethylene component. The vehicle can be a satellite or other type of spacecraft.

Abstract: A nitrate ester plasticized energetic composition in which the binder is made of, prior to curing, lower alkylene glycol prepolymer blocks end-capped with ethylene glycol monomers and/or oligomers. The end-capped prepolymer blocks are preferably difunctional or trifunctional. The lower alkylene glycol are preferably propylene glycol, butylene glycol, and/or copolymers thereof. The difunctional end-capped alkylene glycol prepolymer blocks are cured with a diisocyanate or polyisocyanate. In the case of a trifunctional (or higher functional) end-capped alkylene glycol prepolymer block, preferably a diisocyanate is used to effect crosslinking.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of protecting the occupants of a motor vehicle by an inflatable airbag.The invention relates to a process consisting in inflating an airbag (1) by a pyrotechnic generator (2) containing a double-composition charge (9) formed around a main charge having a linear burning rate V.sub.1 and at least part of the ignition faces of which are covered with a skin of moderate pyrotechnic composition having a linear burning rate V.sub.2 satisfying the relationship:0.05 V.sub.1 .ltoreq.V.sub.2 .ltoreq.0.5 V.sub.1.The invention thus makes it possible to inflate the airbag gradually during the first milliseconds of deployment of the latter.

Abstract: The invention is an insensitive energetic composition that is an explosive and the related articles and systems. The composition has HMX or RDX as an energetic filler, a nonenergetic binder and an energetic plasticizer. The plasticizer is a nitrato-nitramine or a liquid nitrate ester. This provides a matrix with a glass transition temperature below minus 45 degrees Centigrade. In another variation, the composition can also include aluminum powder. Generally, the materials have particularly strong blast effects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of propellent charges for small and medium calibre arms.The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of fragmentable propellent charges, which consists in a first stage in coating powder particles with a mixture of dinitropolystyrene and of a compound of the polyvinyl nitrate and/or polyvinyl acetate type and, in a second stage, in compressing at between 100.degree. C. and 140.degree. C. the powder particles thus obtained.The invention also relates to the fragmentable charges obtained by the process and to the coated particulate powders obtained at the end of the first stage of the process.The fragmentable charges according to the invention exhibit a temperature behaviour which is superior to that of traditional fragmentable charges and are suitable for cartridgeless ammunition intended for arms with a high rate of fire.

Abstract: Method and coating composition for promoting ignition of deterrent-coated smokeless propellant by applying thereto a nitrocellulose-based igniter component as an overcoat.

Abstract: An adhesive medium for the bonding of surfaces in ammunition which contains explosive charges. The adhesive medium essentially consists of: 14 to 46% by weight of a binding resin non-hardening in oxygen, having a softening point below the melting point of the explosive; 6 to 26% by weight of a pigment composition; and 24 to 66% by weight of a polymeric solvent composition.

Abstract: The present invention falls in the field of propellant charges for ballistic ammunitions which have combustible or a non-combustible casing. According to the invention, the ammunition is constituted by a casing 2 placed around a shell 1 and closed by a portion 3 which carries the primer 4. The casing contains a mixed charge constituted on one hand by fragmentable balls 5 and on the other hand, by grains 6 of propellant powder. The balls 5 are constituted by agglomerated propellant powder. The charges according to the invention may be prepared on an industrial scale very easily and in a very reproducible manner and they permit an appreciable increase of the coefficient of filling of the casing.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of combustible objects used in weaponry and in particular to the field of combustible cartridge cases.The combustible objects according to the invention are covered with a thin layer of varnish, based on an organic binder, containing hollow microbeads, the said varnish being based on a binder chosen from the group comprising chlorinated rubbers, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulosic binders, glycero-phthalic binders, polyurethane resins and polyepoxy resins. The varnish contains between 5 and 20% by weight, preferably about 10%, of hollow microspheres, relative to the dissolved polymer, and optionally between 2 and 15% by weight of an energy-producing charge having a self-ignition point above 200.degree. C.The combustible objects according to the invention exhibit delayed self-ignition if they are placed in contact with a hot wall, without their thermodynamic properties being adversely affected.

Abstract: Plasticized cellulose polymers comprise a base polymer having a chain of .beta.-anhydroglucose units joined by ether linkages and having ether substituents, with at least one of the units being additionally substituted, by esterification of at least one hydroxyl group, by at least one ester group, which contains at least two carbon atoms and is chemically unreactive.Preferably the ester group contains four or more, most preferably five, carbon atoms. The carbon chains of the ester groups may be straight or branched.These internally plasticized celluloses may be prepared by, for example, reacting the base polymer with a carboxylic acid in xylene or with an acid chloride or anhydride in pyridine. They are useful in particular as inhibitor coatings for rocket motor propellants and in general wherever cellulose polymers are employed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new type of fragmentable charge for weapons of small and medium caliber.The process for the manufacture of fragmentable charges of propellant powder containing nitrocellulose, according to the invention, is characterized in that, in a conventional process for the manufacture of propellant powder containing nitrocellulose, with solvent, a glazing operation is carried out, in which a glazing solution containing at least polyvinyl nitrate and a stabilizer is sprayed onto the grains of powder, and in that, after evaporation of the solvent from the said solution, the grains of powder thus obtained are compressed at between about 80.degree. and 120.degree..The invention also relates to the fragmentable charges obtained by means of this process.

Abstract: The impact resistance of particulate RDX and HMX explosives is increased h a minimum loss of explosive output by admixture of about 1 to 9% of a particulate second explosive of the group 1,3,6,8-tetranitrocarbazole, 2,4,6,2', 4',6'-hexanitrooxanilide and ammonium picrate. Pressable explosive compositions of even greater impact resistance are obtained by coating the particulate dual explosive with 1 to 5% of a binder, such as petrolatum.

Abstract: An explosive composition with enhanced thermal stability and decreased imt sensitivity comprising an explosive material completely surrounded by a layer of guanidinium picrate.

Abstract: Pyrotechnic compositions having a decreased susceptibility to external influences are obtained by suspending pyrotechnic particles in a dilute solution of a coating polymer and adding a second polymer which is more soluble in the solvent, so that microdroplets of the coating polymer are formed, completely enclosing the pyrotechnic particles. The coated particles are hardened by exposure to air, optionally in the presence of a hardening catalyst.