Novel aspects for thermal stability studies and shelf life assessment of modified double-base propellants

Modified DB propellants, based on energetic nitramine(RDX) were manufactured by solventless extrusion process. Thermal stability and shelf life assessment of modified DB propellant were investigated. Shelf life assessment was evaluated using Van’t Hoff’s formula and artificial aging at 70℃ up to120 days. Quantification of total heat released and heat flow with aging time was conducted using differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and thermal activity monitoring(TAMIII) respectively. Modified DB formulation based on 20 wt % RDX demonstrated enhanced thermal stability in terms of controlled heat flow, and slow decomposition reactions at elevated temperature. This formulation demonstrated extended service life up to 56 years compared with reference formulation. These novel finding was ascribed to the high thermal stability of RDX and its compatibility with DB constituents. This manuscript shaded the light on novel and effective approach for thermal stability via monitoring thermal activity with aging.

Chemical stability, thermal behavior, and shelf life assessment of extruded modified double-base propellants

Double base propellant suffers from lack of chemical stability; this could result in self ignition during storing. Modified double base(MDB) propellant based on stoichiometric binary mixture of oxidizermetal fuel(Ammonium perchlorate/Aluminum), and energetic nitramines(HMX) offered enhanced thrust as well as combustion characteristics. This study is devoted to evaluate the impact of such energetic additives on thermal behavior, chemical stability, and shelf life. Extruded MDB formulations were manufactured by extrusion process. Artificial aging at 80℃ for 28 days was conducted. Shelf life assessment was performed using Van't Hoff's equation. Quantification of evolved NOxgases with aging time was performed using quantitative stability tests. MDB formulation based on HMX demonstrated extended service life of 16 years compared with(AP/Al)-MDB which demonstrated 9 years. This finding was ascribed to the reactivity of AP with nitroglycerin with the formation of perchloric acid. Thermal behavior of aged MDB, exhibited an increase in heat released with time; this was ascribed to the autocatalytic thermal degradation during artificial aging. The increase in released heat by 31% was found to be equivalent to evolved NOx gases of 6.2 cm^3/5 g and 2.5 cm^3/1 g for Bergmann-Junk test, and Vacuum stability test respectively. This manuscript shaded the light on a novel approach to quantify evolved NOx gases to heat released with aging time. MDB based on HMX offered balanced ballistic performance,chemical stability, and service life.

Novel yellow colored flame compositions with superior spectral performance

The production of colored flames is the primary purpose of military signaling, projectile tracing, and illuminating devices. Certain elements and compounds when heated to high temperature have the unique property of emitting lines or narrow bands in the visible region(380-780 nm). This study, reports on the development of novel yellow colored flame compositions with enhanced spectral performance in terms of luminous intensity, and color quality to standard Russian yellow tracer. The light intensity and the imprint spectra of developed yellow flares were measured using digital luxmeter and UV e Vis. spectrometer respectively. The main giving of this study is that the light intensity, and color quality of Russian yellow tracer were improved by 287%, and 170% respectively. This was accomplished by means of optimizing the ratio of novel binder to color source using aluminum metal fuel. Aluminumbased formulations were found to maximize the formation of yellow reactive emitting specimens, and to eliminate any interfering incandescent emission resulted from Mg O. Quantification of yellow color emitting specimens in the combustion gaseous products was achieved using chemical equilibrium thermodynamic code named ICT(Institute of Chemical Technology in Germany, Virgin 2008); in an attempt to judge the light quality. This improvement in yellow flare performance established the rule that the emission intensity increases as the reaction temperature increases. In the meantime upper limit of temperature was avoided to maximize the color quality.

Spectrally adapted red flare tracers with superior spectral performance

The production of bright light, with vivid color, is the primary purpose of signaling, illuminating devices,and fire control purposes. This study, reports on the development of red flame compositions with enhanced performance in terms of luminous intensity, and color quality. The light intensity and the imprint spectra of developed red flame compositions to standard NATO red tracer(R-284 NATO) were measured using digital luxmeter, and UV-Vis. spectrometer. The main giving of this study is that the light intensity of standard NATO red tracer was increased by 72%, the color quality was also improved by60%(over the red band from 650 to 780 nm). This enhanced spectral performance was achieved by means of deriving the combustion process to maximize the formation of red color emitting species in the combustion flame. Thanks to the optimum ratio of color source to color intensifier using aluminum metal fuel; this approach offered the highest intensity and color quality. Upon combustion, aluminum was found to maximize the formation SrCL(the main reactive red color emitting species) and to minimize the interfering incandescent emission resulted from MgO and SrO. Quantification of active red color emitting species in the combustion flame was conducted using chemical equilibrium thermodynamic code named ICT. The improvement in red flare performance, established the rule that the color intensifier should be in the range from 10 to 15 Wt % of the total composition.

Novel colored flames via chromaticity of essential colors

Colored flame compositions have distinctive variety of applications ranging from military signaling,rocket tracking, and illuminating devices. Certain elements and compounds when heated to high temperature are able to emit unique wavelengths in the visible region. This study, reports on the development of novel colored flames that cannot be generated by emitting atomic/molecular species. This was achieved by using chromaticity of basic colored flames. Mixing of high quality primary colored flames including Blue, Yellow, and Red in proper ratio was conducted; any interfering incandescent emission resulted from MgO was eliminated using Al metal fuel. The spectral characteristics in terms of luminous intensity, and color quality were evaluated using digital luxmeter and UV-Vis. spectrometer respectively.High quality mixed colored flames include violet, sweet pink, and marigold were developed. This study shaded the light on the state of the art for the real development of novel colored flame compositions and chromaticity of basic colored flames.