Ballistic modification and solventless double base propellant, and process thereof

• US 8,828,161 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Stiles, Stephen N., McCool, Paul R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koslow, Carol M
• Application Number:
  US11/345,682
• Time in Patent Office: 3,144 Days
• Field of Search: 149/19.8, 149/19.93, 149/19.7, 149/19.92, 149/110
• US Class Current: 149/19.8
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 23/007 Ballistic modifiers, burning rate catalysts, burning rate depressing agents, e.g. for gas generating

Abstract

A double base propellant modifier uses a lead-tin component with a defined amount of lead and a copper component with a defined surface area to effect super-rate burning of double base propellants with defined plateau and mesa burning rate characteristics.

Claims

1. A double base propellant modifier, comprising in combination:

a lead-tin component including a lead amount in a range of greater than 0 to less than 100 wt %; and

,

a copper component including a surface area value,

wherein the lead-tin component is comprised of PbSnO₂ and Pb₃SnO₄.

2. The double base propellant modifier of claim 1, wherein the lead amount is from about 40 wt % to about 70 wt % of a mass of the lead-tin component.

3. The double base propellant modifier of claim 1, wherein the lead amount is from about 50 wt % to about 60 wt % of a mass of the lead-tin component.

4. The double base propellant modifier of claim 3, wherein the lead amount is from about 52 wt % to about 57 wt % of a mass of the lead-tin component.

5. The double base propellant modifier of claim 1, wherein the copper component is selected from at least one of CuO and Cu₂O.

6. The double base propellant modifier of claim 1, wherein the copper component is comprised of CuO.

7. The double base propellant modifier of claim 6, wherein the CuO includes said surface area value is from about 20 m²/g to about 40 m²/g.

8. The double base propellant modifier of claim 6, wherein the CuO includes said surface area value is from about 25 m²/g to about 35 m²/g.

9. The double base propellant modifier of claim 6, wherein the CuO includes said surface area value is about 30 m²/g.

10. The double base propellant modifier of claim 1, wherein the lead amount is from about 52 wt % to about 57 wt % of a mass of the lead-tin component, and the surface area value is from about 25 m²/g to about 35 m²/g.

11. A double base propellant, comprising:

the double base propellant modifier of claim 1.

12. A method for defining burn rate characteristics of a double base propellant, comprising:

providing a double base propellant modifier including a lead-tin component and a copper component;

providing a double base propellant,

wherein the double base propellant is a paste double base propellant;

drying the double base propellant to a minimum moisture content of 12%;

integrating the double base propellant modifier into the double base propellant; and

,

burning the double base propellant.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the double base propellant modifier is a ballistic modifier.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the copper component includes a particle size in a range from about 41 nanometers to about 30 microns.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the lead-tin component includes a lead content of at least about 40%.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the copper component includes a component purity of at least about 70%.