Inhibitor Sleeve Technique

In order to reduce the steps involved during inhibition and make this technique more acceptable to ordnance factories for bulk production, inhibitor sleeve technique wherein most of these steps are eliminated, has been developed by Agrawal et al. [290, 291]. 

The inhibition of composite propellants is somewhat easier than that of DB propellants. The binders used for composite propellants (with or without fillers) have been reported for inhibition of composite propellants. Such inhibition systems possess stronger bonds with composite propellants and prove to be more compatible coupled with better shelf-life of the inhibited propellants. However, epoxy or novolac epoxy resin with or without inert fillers is generally preferred for the inhibition of composite propellants due to a combination of properties possessed by them. The inhibition is usually done by casting technique and inhibition thickness is usually required on higher side in order to make the missions successful. In India, thread winding technique or inhibitor sleeve technique is preferred where 2.5-3.0mm inhibition thickness is sufficient as against 3.5-4.0 mm in case of inhibition by casting technique . 

This technique is universal and the inhibitor sleeve with the use of polyurethane (Formulation HTPB TDI BD 1 3.2 2) as a matrix and rayon thread as a reinforcement may also be similarly made for this purpose [292]. 

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