LOVA gun

E. Schledbauer, "LOVA Gun PropeUants with GAP Binder," in Fifth International Propellant and Propulsion Symposium, ARDEC, Dover, N.J., Nov. 1991. 

Acetyl triethyl citrate (ATEC) Excellent plasticizer for NC and CAB-based propellants. Also imparts desirable nonvulnerability properties and was used in the original XM-39 LOVA gun propellants [167]. 

In the realm of modern, nitric-ester-free - LOVA Gun Propellants, the widely used inert binders consume energy and to some extend have an undesirably high overall phlegmatizing effect on the explosive material. The high filler content of an explosive substance has a detrimental effect on the mechanical strength of this type of propellant. 

Glycidyl azide polymer was originally developed in the USA as an -> Active Binder tor - Composite Propellants. Because this gas-producing component has been shown to have a low explosion temperature, it has been used in recent years as an active binder compound in -> LOVA gun propellant. 

Since 1970, in addition to the various well-known -> Gun Powders, LOVA gun propellants have been developed and used in the production of propellants. The acronym LOVA stands for (LOw Vulnerability Ammunition) which has come to represent a type of gun propellant. 

The product is distinguished by high contents of hydrogen and nitrogen. TAGN serves as an ingredient for LOVA gun propellants with high force but comparable low compustion temperature. It is chemically not stable in connection to nitrate esters and some transition metal compounds, e.g. copper. 

Gun Propellents. Low sensitivity gun propeUants, often referred to as LOVA (low vulnerabUity ammunition), use RDX or HMX as the principal energy components, and desensitizing binders such as ceUulose acetate butyrate or thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) including poly acetal—polyurethane block copolymers, polystyrene—polyacrjiate copolymers, and glycidyl azide polymers (GAP) to provide the required mechanical... 

B. D. Strauss and co-workers, "New Energetic Plasticizers for LOVA PropeUants," in 3rd International Gun Propellant Symposium, Dover, N.J., Oct. 1984. 

In order to reduce this risk, low vulnerability ammunition (popularly known by the acronym LOVA) propellants are attractive alternatives for conventional gun propellants. The incorporation of materials possessing higher ignition temperatures into propellant formulations while maintaining superior energetics, is key to the development of LOVA/insensitive propellants [17, 18]. This is usually done by a judicious combination of energetic oxidizers and suitable binders which are described in the subsequent paragraphs. 

In summary, HAN-based propellants are markedly superior to other liquid propellants and also appear to possess physical properties and a number of other characteristics necessary for their use in a practical gun. Their performance may be further enhanced by the use of some additives. These propellants are also biodegradable so that disposal is not a problem [40, 41]. The data generated as a result of extensive characterization and hazard testing indicate that HAN-based propellants are suitable for military use. The HAN-based liquid propellants also appear to offer low vulnerability characteristics comparable to the LOVA propellants [42-44]. 

Poly(NiMMO) has been used in a variety of applications, not solely in explosives but also in gun and rocket propellants [128]. British scientists have done extensive research on synthesis, characterization and application of poly(NiMMO) as a binder for gun and rocket propellants. A team led by Leach examined a range of composite LOVA propellants based on poly(NiMMO) in combination with various fillers and plasticizers. At the end of their investigation, they concluded that it is possible to formulate propellants with an impetus of up to 1300J g-1 which still show a low response to shaped charge... 

The data reported in the literature suggests that the replacement of DEP by Bu-NENA in the Dense NC/NG+ DEP/AP/AI/RDX-based composite modified double-base (CMDB) propellants results in increase in the burn rate by 18-20% at 70 kg cm pressure. The calorimetric value and percentage elongation also increase significantly. Further, thermal stability and sensitivity of such propellants are comparable with DEP-based CMDB propellants [184]. Bu-NENA is also a component of low vulnerability ammunition (LOVA) propellants [185, 186]. The introduction of butyl-NENA into SB, DB and gun propellants results in improvement of their mechanical properties and energetics and reduction in their sensitivity [187]. 

Mackowiak, H.P. (1991) Recent investigations on gun propellants and formulations for LOVA. Proc. Joint Symposium on Compatibility of Plastics and Other Materials with Explosives, Propellants, Pyrotechnics and Processing of Explosives, Propellants and Ingredients, held at San Diego,... 

Also propellant charges for rockets and guns have also been developed by compounding solid explosives such as nitramines (e.g. -> Cy-clonite) with plastics. Plastic explosives and plastic propellants are of interest, if low thermal and impact sensitivity is needed (- LOVA -> Armor Plate Impact Test -> Friction Sensitivity -> Heat Sensitivity - Impact Sensitivity -> Projectile Impact Sensitifity - Susan Test). 

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