Ingredients of LOVA Gun Propellants

2) Binders A binder plays an important role in resisting conductive ignition by hot metal particles. Propellants whose binders decompose endothermically are considered excellent in this context. On the other hand, propellants with exothermically decomposing binders ignite as easily as nitrate ester propellants. Binders can be classified as inert and energetic binders. 

Wise and Rocchio [32] have discussed the processing techniques for LOVA formulations which invariably depend on the type of binder. The polybutadiene-based formulations referred to as cured systems, are processed through a solventless process whereas formulations based on cellulose derivatives and thermoplastic elastomers as binders are processed by a solvent process similar to standard NC propellants. In conclusion, LOVA formulations offer unique propulsion systems for tanks with the potential to offer high energy and low vulnerability. 

The shelf-life of propellants is evaluated from the stabilizer content and is defined by the period of storage (number of years) in which the stabilizer content is reduced to half of the initial value. Gun propellants of low web size 0.2 mm can burn very fast which may lead to mass detonation and accordingly gun propellants with low web size fall under UN Hazard Classification 1.1 whereas others fall under 1.3 (see Chapter 6). 

The leading gun propellant technologists are of the opinion that the conventional solid gun propellants have reached their saturation level in terms of energy 

---