Solid smokeless propellants and pyrotechnic compositions for rocket and gas generation systems

• US 20020195181A1
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atlantic Research Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Research Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scheffee, Robert S., Lundstrom, Norman H.
• Application Number:
  US09/871,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20020195181A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 149/19.91
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 25/34 the compound being a nitrated acyclic, alicyclic or heterocyclic amine
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 31/32 with a nitrated organic compound
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

Solid gas generant compositions produce low particulates of the slightly-soluble or insoluble type when combusted. More specifically the solid gas generants and/or ignition compositions are provided which include an effective combination of phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) as a oxidizer component and azodiformamidine dinitrate (AZODN) as the fuel component. Most preferably, the AN is phase stabilized with a phase stabilizing effective amount of a phase stabilizer selected from potassium perchlorate (KP) and/or potassium nitrate (KN).

Claims

1. A solid gas generant composition comprising azodiformamidine dinitrate (AZODN), and phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN).

2. The gas generant composition as in claim 1, wherein the PSAN includes phase stabilizer selected from potassium nitrate (KN) or potassium perchlorate (KP).

3. The gas generant composition as in claim 1, wherein the phase stabilizer is present in amounts effective to stabilize the ammonium nitrate (AN).

4. The gas generant composition as in claim 3, wherein the phase stabilizer is present in an amount between about 2 wt. % to about 20 wt. %.

5. The gas generant composition as in claim 1, wherein the PSAN is present in an amount effective to achieve between about 20 to about 80 wt. % of AN in the composition.

6. The gas generant composition as in claim 2, wherein the PSAN is present in an amount effective to achieve between about 30 to about 60 wt. % AN in the composition.

7. The gas generant composition of claim 1 or 5, wherein the AZODN is present in an amount between about 30 to about 80 wt. %.

8. The gas generant composition as in claim 7, where the AZODN is present in an amount between about 40 to about 70 wt. %.

9. The gas generant composition as in claim 1, further comprising a binder.

10. The gas generant composition as in claim 9, wherein the binder is at least one selected from polyvinyl alcohols, poly(alkylene) carbonates, and polymethyl methacrylates.

11. The gas generant composition of claim 10, wherein the binder is present in an amount between about 1 wt. % to about 15 wt. %.

12. The gas generant composition of claim 11, wherein the binder is present in an amount between about 3 to about 5 wt. %.

14. A shaped solid structure formed of the gas generant composition of claim 1 or 13.

15. The shaped solid structure of claim 14, in the form of a monolithic grain.

16. The shaped solid structure of claim 14, which is compression-molded, cast or extruded.

17. The gas generant composition of claim 1 or 13 in the form of powders or granules.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein the PSAN includes phase stabilizer selected from potassium nitrate (KN) or potassium perchlorate (KP).

20. The method as in claim 18, wherein the phase stabilizer is present in amounts effective to stabilize the ammonium nitrate (AN).

21. The method as in claim 18, which is practiced to form a solid eutectic solution of said mixture.

22. A method of inflating a gas-inflatable device containing an amount of the gas generant composition as in any one of claims 1-13 in excess of that needed to sufficiently inflate the device, which method comprises combusting under pressure during an inflation event a first portion of the composition so as to generate sufficient amount of gas to inflate the device, and thereafter combusting under atmospheric pressure a remaining portion of the gas generant composition.

13. A solid gas generant composition which comprises, based on total composition weight, of between about 30 to about 80 wt. % of azodiformamidine dinitrate (AZODN), and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) in an amount effective to provide between about 20 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of ammonium nitrate (AN) in the composition, and between about 2 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of a phase stabilizer selected from potassium perchlorate (KP) or potassium nitrate (KN), and between about 1 to about 15 wt. % of a binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, poly(alkylene) carbonates and polymethyl methacrylates.

18. A method of making a solid gas generant composition comprising forming a mixture of azodiformamidine dinitrate (AZODN), and phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN).