Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
7 ~
O. rlhl~ ~ALLY NEUTRAL KhrU~crlU~ATION OF
MILITARY EXPLOSIVES AND PROPELLANTS
Backgrol]nd of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reformulating polymer or
wax bound military explosives and propellants into a useful form.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
A number of explosive ~ _ ~c used in military
explosives and propellants possess properties that are not desired
in military warheads and in other military applications. To
improve their properties, highly brisant explosives are often
embedded in or coated with a curable plastic material or with a
15 wax. When the explosive or propellant i5 coated with a wax the
process is called phlegmati~ation. Other materials such as rubber
can be added to impart specified r~-hAnil-~l properties like
elasticity. The term plastic includes gelatinized liquid
nitrocompounds of plasticine-like consistency.
Waste military explosives and propellants are a growing
~icp~c~l problem as a result of world demilitarization. In the
past, they have been ~ rQc~ of by deep sea burial, open burning,
open detonation or incineration.
For example, rocket motors have been dumped into the
ocean off the continental shelf where the high specific gravity of
the solid propellant causes the motors to sink rapidly. The rate
at which the propellant leaches out under oceanic conditions is
30 unknown, as are the likely products of hydrolysis. The
environmental impact of deep sea burial and the cumulative effect
of dumping large tonnages of explosives and propellants is
theref ore unknown .
2~ ~7~9
'
In open burning, loose explosive or propellant materials
or a complete rocket motor, for example, i8 placed on the ground or
in a tray or pit which may be lined with a concrete pad. An
explosive train leading to the material i5 used to initiate
5 burning. The burning explosive or propellant creates a large
updraft dispersing a plume of combustion products into the
ai ~ 'ere.
The combustion products of open detonation are similar to
10 those produced during open burning. Incineration is cleaner but
requires special incinerators and safety considerations since
explosives and propellants can burn with intense heat and some can
explode. Emissions of HCl, N0x and HCN and particulates such as
aluminum oxides, requires expensive air pollution control devices.
15 The combustion products may be highly corrosive, thus affecting
capital and maintenance costs.
other ~1;CPOCA1 methods for destroying explosives or
propellants include converting them into a less noxious form
20 through chemical conversion, biodegradation, electrorhPm;~Al
oxidation, supercritical oxidation and so forth. All of these
tl;RrOSAl methods involve high investment costs and/or may result in
the same or different regulatory or environmental problems as deep
sea burial, open burning, etc. In addition, destruction of the
25 explosive or propellant (including conversion into a less noxious
form for ~ PO~A1 ) is contrary to the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA).
Reclamation of the explosives or propellants as opposed
30 to destroying them is in compliance with RCRA but reclamation
requires the identification of a solvent which will dissolve the
explosive or propellant out of the materials that are added to
improve its properties. When the explosive or propellant is
polymer bound, reclamation may not be possible when the polymer is
35 too highly cross-linked.
2ls7as~
.
One such reclamation method uses waterjets to wash out
the explosive or propellant from the warhead or the like. The
washed out material is passed over a vibrating screen which
separates solids and liquids. Solid materials are placed in
5 containers such as f iber drums and ~ pos~ of by open burning .
~he solvent is recirculated until the re~l A;- ' explosive or
propellant reaches a level at which the solvent is discharged into
an open evapuL ation basin or treated in some other way ( i . e .,
crystallization, etc.). In addition to the r~clAi~^1 material, the
10 above reclamation process results an explosive-contaminated binder
and an explosive-contaminated solvent, giving rise to a host of
other ~l;cposAl problems. Moreover, there i6 no guarantee that the
r~c~ A;r?d material will requalify to meet military specifications
and in some case6 it has no other legitimate customer.
There is a need for a process where the military
explosive or propellant could be used without reclaiming it from
the materials added to improve its properties. One proposed
process uses military explosives or propellants as an extender in
20 commercial explosives. In an oxygen-balanced explosive, the amount
of oxygen present is ~ust sufficient to oxidize all carbon to Co2
and all ~IydL-~y~ll to H20 and any metals to their oxides with a
minimum production of toxic NOx, Co and HCN. If there is
insufficient oxygen to do this, the oxygen balance is negative.
25 ExcessiVe amounts of oxygen should be avoided because the amount of
energy liberated is greatest at a slightly negative oxygen balance
with explosives, for example, containing only C, H, N and O. Most
military explosives and propellants, however, are oxygen deficient
so that the full energetic potential of the material is not
30 achieved when a military explosive or propellant is used as an
extender. In addition, the mixture gives rise to toxic fumes such
as Cû, NOx and HCN when it is detonated and any chlorine in the
explosiVe or propellant may end up in the form of chlorinated
dibenzo~ Y;nc or dibenzofurans.
. ` 2~70~9
SummarY of the Invçntion
In view of the above, it is an object of the present
invention to provide an environmentally neutral process for
reformulating military explosives and propellants into a useful
5 form for which there is a ready market. It is another object to
provide a method for reformulating military polymer bound
explosives and solid rocket propellants in a form which does not
waste the energetic potential of the explosive or propellant and
which minimizes the production of toxic fumes. Other objects and
10 features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part
pointed out hereinafter.
A process for reformulating explosives and propellants in
accordance with the present invention and the products thereof
15 includes the steps of selecting an oxygen def icient polymer or wax
bound military explosive or propellant and detPnmin;n~ its
empirical formula. An oxidizing agent is then selected and the
amount of the oxidizing agent necessary to oxygen balance the
explosive is determined. That amount of oxidizing agent is added
20 to the explosive whereby the energetic potential of the explosive
is maximized and the production of toxic fumes minimized when the
reformulated explosive is detonated. Gas and heat modifying agents
such as urea may be added to modify the explosive power. Mixtures
of eYplosives and propellants reformulated in accordance with the
25 present invention may be used to modify the power or the
sensitivity of the reformulated mixture to initiation.
The invention summarized above comprises the processes
and products hereinafter described, the scope of the invention
30 being indicated in the subjoined claims.
Det~ i 1 ed Description of the Invention
Explosives are materials that, when properly initiated,
undergo very rapid self-propagating decomposition or reaction of
35 ingredients, with the consequent formation of more stable materials
21~7~59
(mostly gaseous) and the liberation of considerable heat. The
products of explosion occupy a much greater volume than that of the
explosive material. Fur~h~ e, the liberated heat expands the
gaseous products, thereby developing a high pressure that can be
5 applied to doing work. The work done (or energy liberated~ depends
primarily on the amount of heat given off during the explosion and
quantity of gases generated.
Explosives may consist of a single explosive chemical
10 compound, a formulation of such compounds, or a formulation of one
or more explosive compounds with nonexplosive material. Each
explosive product has unique and important individual
characteristics that determine its potential usefulness to specific
applications. These include sensitivity, strength, power,
15 brisance, stability, hygroscopicity, volatility, reactivity and
toxicity .
Industrial Ex~losives
Industrial explosives compose a large group of explosive
20 compositions designed to perform mechanical work such as quarrying,
ore dislodgement, ditching and excavation with a low expenditure of
time and money. They are categorized as either high explosives or
blasting agents; the principal distinction being their sensitivity
to initiation. High explosives are cap-sensitive (i.e., can be
25 detonated with a No. 8 blasting cap), but blasting agents cannot,
and therefore require a primer for initiation.
Industrial high explosives include dynamites, cap-
sensitive water gels and emulsion slurries, cast primers and
30 boosters. "Permissible" explosives are grades of high explosives
tested by the U. 5 . Bureau of Mines and approved by the Mine Safety
and E~ealth Administration for use, in a prescribed manner, in
Und~I~L-JUlld coal mines where the presence of flammable gases and
dust makes other explosives hazardous.
0~9
Blasting agents are insensitive to commercial detonators
or blasting caps. Most blasting agents are essentially mixtures of
ammonium nitrate (AN) plus a fuel. Free-flowing mixtures of AN
(usually in the form of low-density prills) and fuel oil called
5 ANF0 and bulk-mixed water gels and emulsion slurries are used
extensively. AN blasting agents dominate the industrial market.
MilitarY Exl~losives
Military explosives include propellants and high
10 explosives. Propellants are explosive materials formulated in a
manner permitting the generation of large volumes of hot gas at
highly controlled predetPrm;nPd rates. The major use of
propellants is for launching projectiles from guns, rockets and
missile systems. There are composite propellants, double-base
15 propellants and composite modified double-base propellants.
Composite propellants consist primarily of a binder
material such as polybutadiene and a finely ground solid fuel (such
as aluminum) and an oxidizer (such a6 ammonium perchlorate).
20 Double-base propellants consist primarily of stabilized
nitrocellulose (NC) and nitroglycerine (NG). Composite modified
double-base propellants use a double-base propellant for a binder,
with the solid f illers commonly found in composite propellants .
A number of binder materials are used in the manufacture
of composite propellants. Among these are asphalt, polysulfides,
polystyrene-polyester and polyurethanes. Propellants of recent
development are prP~ ;n~ntly products of the polybutadiene family
such as carboxy-terminated polybutadiene, hydroxy-terminated
3 0 polybutadiene and carboxy-terminated polybutadiene-acrylonitrile .
In composite propellants, the binder also serves as a fuel so that
the addition of a separate fuel is not always necessary. While the
addition of metallic fuels to the propellant significantly
increase6 the energy of the propellant, it also produces primary
35 ~moke in the form ~f metal oxides. The most commonly added metal
2~7059
is aluminum, but magnesium, beryllium and other metals have been
tried. The commonly used r~ l; 7Pr (which makes up the
preponderance of the weight of the propellant) is ammonium
perchlorate. other oxidizers which have been used include ammonium
5 nitrate, potas6ium nitrate and potassium perchlorate.
Double-base propellants contain nitrocellulose of various
nitration levels, nitroglycerine and a stabilizer. Various inert
plasticizers are added to modify either the flame temperature or
10 the physical properties of the propellant.
Composite modified double-base propellants classically
have contained nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, aluminum, ammonium
perchlorate and the explosive 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-
15 tetraazacyclooctane (HMX) which serves as a fuel, energy source andgas-producing additive.
Military high explosives include binary 2, 4, 6-
trinitrotoluene (TNT)-based formulations, TNT-based aluminized
20 explosives and plastic-bonded explosives. Binary TNT-based
formulations are made by adding a higher melting explosive
,_ ^nt to liquefied TNT. The most widely used binary explosive,
Composition B, is made by adding 1,3,5-trinitro-hexahydro-s-
triazine (RDX) to TNT. Other ~- IFuull ls may be added to decrease
25 sensitivity and to increase the mechanical strength of the cast.
Composition B ~or slightly modified formulations) is used in
loading pro~ectile and warheads and as the starting material for
making ~ m;n; 7ed explosives. other binary military explosive
mixtures include the octols (HMX + TNT), cyclotols (RDX + TNT),
30 pentolites (pentaerythritol tetranitrate ~PETN) + TNT), tetrytols
(tetryl + TNT), amatols (ammonium nitrate + TNT) and picratols
(ammonium picrate + TNT).
TNT-based aluminized explosives are made by the addition
35 of screened, finely divided aluminum particles to a melted, binary
2i~7~59
TNT-based slurry, such as Composition 8 (RDX + TNT). A
desensitizer and calcium chloride may be added to the mixture. The
incorporation of All7m;ml7~ increases the bla5t effect of explosives.
Typical TNT-based all~ ;n;~d explosives are the tritonals (TNT +
5 Al), ; 1~: (TNT + AN + Al) and the torpexes and IBXs (TNT + RDX
+ Al).
If an explosive ~ 7nr7 is too sensitive in its pure
crystalline state to permit press loading, or it lacks the required
10 mechanical propertie5 in its compressed state for subsequent use,
it may be coated with polymeric materials or waxes to form molding
powders. These molding powders are known as plastic-bonded
explosives tPBX). Thorough and uniform coating of the explosive
crystals is required for desensitization. They are generally
15 prepared with 80-95% RDX or .~Y~.
Reformulation of Pro~ellant5 and Hi~h '~Ynlosives
As discussed above, the di5posal of military explosives
and propellants is a growing problem. The Resources Conservation
2 0 and Recovery Act (RCRA) places a premium on waste management
p_o~r al~.~ that recover and use portions (preferably all) of a waste
stream. Processes which do not meet the RCP~A criteria are not
favored by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) .
The avoidance of toxic fumes or fume5 that can give a
secondary explo5ion is not of high importance in the case of
military explosives and propellants so that most are oxygen
deficient. one reason behind this is that the power benefit of
having an oxygen balance may not outweigh the added energy
3 0 requirement of getting the charge to a target . Sensitivity and
formulation problems may be other reasons since, inter alia,
military propellants and high explosives must be transported safely
and stored in rP~';n~s~ sometimes for long periods of time.
2~57~59
.
In accordance with the present invention, an oxygen
deficient military explosive or propellant is selected for
reformulation as a bla6ting agent or the like. The explosive or
propellant is cut, ground or otherwise divided into small particles
5 for example with a high pressure waterjet. Suitable materials for
reformulation include but are not limited to oxygen deficient
polymer bound explosives, oxygen deficient polymer and wax bound
propellants, oxygen deficient nitrocellulose bound propellants and
mixtures thereof.
Some examples of polymer bound explosives tPBX) not
treated in the examples, include, PBX-9010 (90% RDX, 10% Kel-F),
PBX-9011 t90% HMX, 10% estane), PBX-9404-03 (94% HMX, 3% NC and 3%
chloroethylphosphate), PBX-9205 (92% RDX, 6% polystyrene, 2%
15 ethylhexylphthalate), PBX-9501 (92% HMX, 2.5% dinil Lu~Luuy
acrylate-fumarate and 2.5% estane), PBXN-l (68% RDX, 20% aluminum,
12% nylon) and PBXN-2 (95% HMX and 5% nylon). All of these can be
pressed to fill a desired volume. The explosive PBXN-201 (83% RDX,
12% Viton and 5% Teflon) can be extruded while the explosiveiPBXN-
20 102 (59% E~MX, 23% aluminum and 18% Laminac) can be cast. Theexplosive PBXC-303 (80% PETN and 20% Sylgard 183) can be injection
molded. The explosives, Composition C (88.3% RDX and 11.7% non-
explosive plasticizer), Composition C-2 (80% RDX and 20% explosive
plasticizer), Composition C-3 (78% RDX and 22% explosive
25 plasticizer) and Composition C-4 (90% RDX and 10% polyisobutylene)
are some other examples of military explosives generally classified
as plastic explosives.
Alternatively pure explosive compounds may be
30 phlegmatized by adding a phlegmatizer, particularly wax. This is
specially true with the very brisant explosives, RDX, E~MX and PETN.
The addition of a phlegmatizer has the benef it of permitting the
safe compression of the resulting mixture to maximize density and
hence more closely approach the maximum power per unit volume
35 available fro~ the explosive. If the explosives were compressed
~t ~7~59
without the presence of a phlegmatizing agent, there would be
considerable danger of initiation a5 a consequence of the friction
sensitivity of these materials. The added wax serves the dual role
of lubricant and binder. Some examples include Compositions A, A-2
5 and A-3, which are based on RDX and differ by the various kinds of
wax they contain. Compositions B and B-2 are castable mixtures of
RDX and TNT ln the proportion 60:40 and some of these are also
formulated with waxes.
The empirical formula of the selected explosive or
propellant is de~orminod and its oXXgen deficiency calculated.
The empirical formula includes the explosive material and any
materials added to improve or alter its properties as well as any
adventitious organic materials (such as glue which is recovered
15 with the explosive or propellant from a rocket casing, warhead,
etc . ) . An r)~ ; 7 i n~ agent is selected, its empirical f ormula
detorm;nocl and the amount of oxidizing agent needed to bring the
explosive or propellant to near or substantial oxygen balance
calculated .
Suitable oxidizing agents include salts of oxy-acids such
as nitric acid, chloric acid, bromic acid and perchloric acid. The
most common salts are those derived from lithium, sodium,
potassium, magnesium and calcium. In the case of perchloric acid
25 and nitric acid, the related ammonium salts can also be employed.
On the basis of cost, ammonium nitrate is preferred but ~ m
perchlorate, calcium nitrate, calcium nitrate tetrahydrate, calcium
perchlorate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, magnesium
nitrate, r~~nes;l]m perchlorate, potassium nitrate, potassium
30 perchlorate, sodium nitrate, sodium perchlorate and so forth can
also be used. The oxidizing agent is preferably provided in finely
divided form, for example, as small prills, fine crystals or
powders of 8 mesh or f iner .
.
1- 2i~7~59
The oxidizing agent is mixed with the explosive and the
mixture provided in an acceptable form such as a flowable mixture
or as a gel or slurry. In some cases, a gas forming material such
as urea may be added to increase the volume of gases produced and
5 work obtained when the oxygen b ~ ncPd mixture is detonated.
Other materials such as ammonium oxalate, oxamic acid, oxamide,
methyl urea, urea-formaldehyde resins, nitroguanidine, nitrourea,
urea nitrate and nitric acid may be added in place of or in
conjunction with urea for the purpose of modifying the explosive
10 power by regulating the amount of heat and gas liberated. Mixtures
of reformulated military explosives or propellants ~such as PBXN-4
oxygen b~l;9nc~d with AN and PBXN-4 oxygen b~l~ncPd with sodium
perchlorate (SP) ) may also be used to modify the explosive power by
regulating the amount of heat and gas liberated and/or modifying
15 the sensitivity of the reformulated explosive to initiation.
In general, most military propellants and high explosives
reformulated in accordance with the present invention liberate more
energy than commonly used AN blasting agents on a comparable weight
20 basis. This makes possible the use of smaller holes and expanded
blast hole patterns thus reducing drilling costs (on a per-yard-of-
rock basis), leading to a ready market for the reformulated
material .
The following examples illustrate the invention.
il:k le 1
The theoretical explosive potential of several military
explosives were screened based on their chemical composition and
30 density (rho in g/cc) using a Hess Law treatment of the heat of
explosion (Q in cal/g mole) and an estimation of the detonation
pressure (PD in Kbar) and detonation velocity (VD in km/sec)
employing the method of Kamlett and Jacobs (M. J. Kamlett and S . J.
Jacobs, J. Chem, Phvs., 48, 23 (1968) ) . The power factor (PF) was
35 determined by multiplying VD by PD and by 10-Z and normalized
11
~1~7~59
.
against the power ~actor ~or ANF0 ~NPF)- ANF0 is an industrial
explosive containing 94 . 596 by weight ammonium nitrate and 5 . 5% by
weight fuel oil. The results for PBXN-101, PBXN-105, PBXN-106,
PBXN-3, PBXN-4, PBXN-5, PBXN-6 and AFX-108 are reported in Table I
5 below.
TABLE I
Formulation 1~D YD O Rho PF NPF
10PBXN-101 328 8.67 654 1.76 2.84 0.23
PBXN-105 280 7.81 1769 2.01 2.19 0.24
PBXN-106 286 8 .17 1136 1. 69 2 . 34 0 . 26
PBXN--3 260 7.86 740 1.69 2.04 0.28
PBXN-4 206 7 459 1. 7 1. 44 0 . 33
20PBXN--5 398 9.25 1138 1.95 3.68 0.19
PBXN--6 340 8 . 75 1144 1. 82 2 . 98 0 . 22
AFX-108 259 7 . 77 1119 1. 70 2 . 01 0 . 26
PBXN-101 is 82% by weight H~X and 18% by weight
polystyrene and has an elemental composition on a lOOg basis of
approximatelY C2.sz8H3.628NZ.199IZ.199-
PBXN-105 is approximately 26% by weight aluminum, 50% by
weight ammonium perchlorate, 6.5% by weight bis-(2,2-
diniLL~,~ru~yl)acetal (bis-DNPA), 6.5~6 by weight bis-(2,2-
diniL~ JLC)~l') formal (bix-DNPF), 396 by weight PEG, 7% by weight RDX
and 1% by weight TDI. PEG is polyethylene glycol and TDI is
12
21~70~9
toluene diisocyanate. PBXN-105 has an elemental composition on a
O0g basis of approximatelY C0 62H2.73Ho ssz.30Al0.96Cl0.42
PBXN-106 is 9 . 3% by weight bis-DNPA, 9 . 3% by weight bis-
5 DNPF and 75% by weight RDX with the balance being a polyurethanebinder formed from TDI, PEG and 1,l-tris(~lydLuxy tllyl)propane and
has an elemental composition on a lOOg basis of approximately
C1 791H3 270N2 2812 726
PBXN-3 is approximately 86~6 by weight HMX and 14% by
weight nylon ( i . e ., ZYTELtm or ELVAMIDEtm) . It has an elemental
composition on a lOOg basis of approximately C2 ooH3 68N2 4s2 4s
PBXN-4 is 54% by weight DATB and 6% by weight nylon
15 (i . e., ZYTELtm) and has an elemental composition on a lOOg basis of
approximately C2 64H3 29Nl 992.37 DATB is 1, 3-diamino-2, 4, 6-
trinitrobenz ene .
PBXN-5 is 5% by weight copolymer of vinylidene fluoride
20 and hexafluoI-J~L~J~ylene and 95% by weight HMX and has an elemental
composition on a lOOg basis of approximatelY C1 z3H2.672Nz s78o2~578Fo.174~
PBXN-6 is 5% by weight copolymer of vinylidene fluoride
and hexafluoropropylene and 95% by weight RDX and has an elemental
25 composition on a lOOg basis of approximately C1 23H2 672Nz 57s2 57sFo 174
AFX-108 is 82~ by weight RDX, 5% by weight
isodecylpelargonate with the balance being a polyurethane binder
and small quantities of stabilizerS. It has an elemental
30 composition on a lOOg basis of approximate C2 1OH3 8sN2 2s2 48
Exam~le 2
To obtain the maximum amount of energy available from an
explosive, it is n~PC~ry to obtain oxygen balance The military
13
~1~7~59
1
explo6ives in Example 1 are oxygen deficient on a lOOg basis as
shown in Table II.
Table II
5 Fol~mulation OxY~en Def iciency
PBXN-101 4 . 66 gram atoms
PBXN-105 2 . 45
PBXN-106 2 . 70
PBXN--3 4 . 66
15PBXN--4 4 . 55
PBXN-5 1. 13
PBXN--6 1.13
The theoretical explosive potential of bringing the
explosives to oxygen balance by adding the amount of oxygen shown
in Table II as ammonium nitrate was then det~rm;n~d. The results
are given in Table III.
Table III
Formulation PBX Basç AN ~D ~4 0 Rho PF PFN
WED-88 PBXN-101 373 323 8.53 1001 1.8 2.76 4.96
WED--90 PBXN-105 196 350 8 . 74 1322 1. 88 3 . 06 5 . 75
WED--91 PBXN--106 216 399 9.57 1742 1.69 3.82 6.46
35WED-71 PBXN--3 373 311 8.45 1039 1.75 2.63 4.60
14
-
~1~7059
.
WED--72 PBXN--4 364 319 8.45 981 1.79 2.71 4.84
WED--73 PBXN-5 123.5 339 8.74 1151 1.81 2.96 5.36
5 WED-74 PBXN--6 123.5 321 8.58 1153 1.75 2.75 4.82
Exam,ole 3
DATB can be recovered from PBXN-4 by solvent trituration.
The theoretical explosive potential of DATB when it is oxygen
10 balanced with several different oxidizers is given in Table IV.
Table IV
Formulation Q~i ~; 7çr Amount I~D YD !2 Rhp PF PFN
WED-100 AN 214 315 8.51 1131 1.75 2.68 4.69
15 WED--101 AP1 125 . 7 410 9 . 46 1435 1. 9 3 . 88 7 . 37
WED--102 Hp2 177.2 420 9.57 1559 1.9 4.02 7.64
WED--103 LIN3 133.9 451 9.59 835 2.15 4.33 9.30
In the above table, AP1 i8 ammonium perchlorate, Hp2 is
hydrazinium perchlorate and LIN3 is lithium nitrate.
Exam~le 4
Packing density inf luences both detonation velocity and
~SLULe:. The theoretical impact of packing density for PBXN-101
brought to oxygen balance with AN is shown in Table V below.
Table V
3 0 rho ~D ~D PF
0.90 5.54 81 0.45
1 . 00 6 . 04 100 0 . 58
1.10 6.20 120 0.75
1.20 6.54 143 0.94
1.30 6.87 168 1.15
2~70S9
1.40 7.20 195 1.40
1 . 50 7 . 53 224 1 . 69
1 . 60 7 . 86 255 2 . oo
1.70 8.20 288 2.36
5 1.80 8.53 323 2.75
F~r~mrle 5
Samples of formulations based upon the polymer bound
explosives PBXN-3, PBXN-4, PBXN-101, PBXN-105 and AFX-108 and the
10 1.1 solid rocket propellants DDP, VTQ-3 and VTG-5A were oxyyen
b~1 Inl Ptl and packaged in sticks having lengths varying from 7 . 00 to
17.25 inches and diameters from 1.4687 inches to 2.25 inches and
detonated. All sticks detonated. Details are given in Table 6
below.
DDP is a composite double base alllmini~ecl Class 1.1
military solid rocket propellant containing ammonium perchlorate
and having the approximate 100 g empirical formula
C1 KHz 39N1 502 06Alo 78Clo 17 and is approximately 3 . 88 gram atoms of
20 oxygen deficient per 100 grams of propellant.
VTQ-3 is a Class 1.1 solid military rocket propellant
containing nitroglycerin, ammonium perchlorate and aluminum plus
various other C~mrnn~nts. It has an approximate 100 gram empirical
25 formula of C1 07E~2 ~sN1 s2o2 78A10 59clo 07 and is approximately 2.32 gram
atoms of oxygen deficient per loO grams of propellant. VTQ-3 is a
classified propellant, hence the empirical formula and oxygen
def iciency is very approximate .
VTG-5A is a Class 1.1 complex military solid rocket
propellant containing nitroglycerin, aluminum and ammonium
perchlorate and is approximately 1. 64 gram atoms of oxygen
deficient per 100 grams of propellant and with an approximate 100
gram empirical formula of Co.98H2.00N1 49o2.36Alo.72clo o8s
16
2157~59
Table 6
~i~ Militarv Base Q~idizer Weiqht Lenqth Rho
PBXN-4 SP 442.94g 13.31in 1.06
5 2 AFX-108 AN 373 . 56 13 . 25 0 . 897
3 PBXN--4 SP/AN 448 . 90 13 . 34 1. 07
4 PBXN--101 AN 516.12 14.16 1.16
5 PBXN-101 AN/Urea/AN 491.48 12.39 1.11
6 PBXN-101 AN 445 . 78 13 . 02 1. 09
10 7 PBXN-4 SP 513.3i 12.92 1.26
8 PBXN--4 AN 298 . 65 8 . 25 1.15
9 PBXN--101 AN 209 . 00 7 . 00 o . 95
10 PBXN-105 AN/Urea/AN 436.52 13.38 1.04
11 PBXN--101 AN 467 . 44 14 . 56 1. 02
1512 PBXN-101 AN 443 .16 14 . 22 0 . 99
13 DDP AN 402 . 00 14 . 25 1. 02
14 VTQ--3 AN 365 . 00 12 . 75 1. 03
15 PBXN--4 AN/SP 382 . 00 14 . 5 0 . 95
16 VTG--5A AN 422.00 14.5 1.05
2017 AFX--108 AN 358 . 00 13 . 25 0 . 97
18 PBXN--4 AN 347 . 00 13 . 5 0 . 93
19 PBXN--4 SP 402.00 13.25 1.09
20 PBXN-101 AN/Urea 348.60 14.00 0.90
21 DDP AN 307.00 11.5 0.96
2522 PBXN-105 AN/Urea 431. 00 15 . 0 1. 04
23 AFX--108 AN 334 . 00 12 . 25 0 . 98
24 PBXN--3 AN 362.2 14.25 0.92
25 PBXN-3 AN 394 . 81 13 . 75 0 . 90
26 PBXN--3 AN 339.50 13.50 0.91
3027 Mixture 504 . 00 17 . 25 0 . 95
Sticks 1-12 had a cross section of 10. 93 cm2 and a
it -tF~r of 1 15/32 inch. The oxidizer was in the form of powder.
sticks 13-26 had a cro~s 6ection of 12.37 cm2 and a diameter of 1
35 9/16 inch. The oxidizer was in the form of prills. All sticks
17
~705~
with the exception of stick 9 were f illed under a packing thrust of
400 pound6. Stick 9 was filled under a thrust of 450 pounds. All
polymer bound explosives were ground f ine with the exception of
PBXN-105 which was coarse. All 1.1 rocket propellants were coarse.
Each stick was outfitted with a 7g PENTOLITE stinger (a
50:50 pourable mixture of TNT and PETN with a density of 1.65 g/cm3
and a detonation rate of 7400 m/sec) and a No. 8 blasting cap.
Exam~le 6
Samples of formulations based on the polymer explosives
PBXN-101 and PBXN-4 were oxygen balanced and packaged in sticks.
The sticks were provided with a 7g PENTOLITE stinger and a No. 8
blasting cap. The sticks were detonated and the velocity of
15 detonation measured with point ionization probes attached to a VOD
meter. The results are reported in Table 7 below.
Table 7
Stick ~_ PBX Base ~Y; ~ er Weiqht Lenqth Rho
20 1 200J~ PBXN-101 AN 433g 34 . 6 cm O . 99 4
2 300# PBXN--4 SP 519 33.6 1.15 3.78
3 150# PBXN--4 SP 519 33 . 6 1.15 3 . 49
5 loose PBXN-101 AN 105 10 . 2 0 . 95 2 . 42
6 loose PBXN-101 AN 408 39.4 0.95 5.79
25 7 loose PBXN-101 AN 409 39.4 0.95 5.10
As various changes could be made in the above-described
methods and products without departing from the scope of the
inventiOn, it is intended that all matter contained in the above
30 description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be
int~r ~ d as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
18
