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Silicon as high performance fuel additive for ammonium nitrate propellant formulations

  • US 5,500,061 A
  • Filed: 03/21/1994
  • Issued: 03/19/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An ammonium nitrate propellant composition selected from an ammonium nitrate propellant composition containing an inert polymer binder as defined under composition (A) hereinbelow or an ammonium nitrate propellant composition containing an energetic polymer binder as defined under composition (B) and composition (C) hereinbelow, said compositions (A), (B), and (C), consisting in weight percents of the ingredients with functions specified as follows:

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    space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Composition A;

    Inert polymer binder, polyglycoladipate 6.47 Butanetriol trinitrate - plasticizer 18.79 Trimethylolethane trinitrate - plasticizer 12.59 Ammonium nitrate - oxidizer 60.00-54.40 N-methyl para nitroaniline - stabilizer 0.50 Hexamethylene diisocyanate - curing agent 1.22, Composition B;

    Energetic nitramine polymer binder 8.00 Butanediol trinitrate - plasticizer 17.86 Trimethylolethane trinitrate - plasticizer 11.90 Ammonium nitrate - oxidizer 59.60-54.00 N-methyl para nitroaniline - stabilizer 0.50 Triphenylbismuth - cure agent 0.03 Triisocyanate curing agent 1.71, and Composition C;

    Energetic glycidyl azide polymer binder 8.00 Butanetriol trinitrate - plasticizer 18.42 Trimethylolethane trinitrate - plasticizer 12.28 Ammonium nitrate - oxidizer 59.60-54.00 N-methyl para nitroaniline - stabilizer 0.50 hexamethylene diisocyanate - curing agent 0.77 Triphenylbismuth - cure catalyst 0.30, ______________________________________ said compositions (A), (B), and (C) additionally consisting of a silicon powder additive to achieve an improvement in propellant performance Isp, combustion temperature, and combustion efficiency, said silicon powder additive incorporated into said ammonium nitrate propellant composition during propellant mixing in an amount from about 0.40 to about 6.00 weight percent of said silicon powder having a particle size of less than 5 microns average particle size, said improvement based on comparisons of measured specific impulses, density specific impulse, propellant burn temperatures in (degK.), and percent transmittances as determined in signature analysis of exhaust plumes of said ammonium nitrate composition containing said silicon powder as compared with said ammonium nitrate composition containing carbon black additive but no silicon powder, said composition (A) having burn temperatures of 2593 degK. and 2790 degK. with the incorporation of said silicon powder in weight percent of 1 and 6 weight percent, respectively, as compared with 2553 degK. with 0% silicon powder, said composition (B) having burn temperatures of 2660 degK. and 2850 degK. with the incorporation of said silicon powder in weight percent of 1 and 6 weight percent, respectively, as compared with 2620 degK. with 0% silicon powder, and said composition (C) having burn temperatures of 2744 degK. and 2921 degK. with the incorporation of said silicon powder in weight percent of 1 and 6 weight percent, respectively, as compared with 2706 degK. with 0% silicon powder.

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