Military commercial applications

In the case of poly(alkoxyphosphazenes) (IV) or poly(aryloxyphos-phazenes) (V) a dramatic change in properties can arise by employing combinations of substituents. Polymers such as (NP CHjCF ) and (NP CgH,).) are semicrystalline thermoplastics (Table I). With the introduction of two or more substituents of sufficiently different size, elastomers are obtained (Figure 4). Another requirement for elastomeric behavior is that the substituents be randomly distributed along the P-N backbone. This principle was first demonstrated by Rose (9), and subsequent work in several industrial laboratories has led to the development of phosphazene elastomers of commercial interest. A phosphazene fluoroelastomer and a phosphazene elastomer with mixed aryloxy side chains are showing promise for military and commercial applications. These elastomers are the subject of another paper in this symposium (10). 

Large quantities of explosives are used every year. In the United States, for example, the annual consumption exceeds over 2 million tonnes. Most are used for commercial purposes and are ammonium nitrate-based formulations. There are less than a dozen chemical explosives that are manufactured in bulk quantities, and most of these were discovered in the 50-year period between 1850 and 1900. New explosives have been synthesized but optimization of the formulations takes decades and is very expensive. Consequently, any new material has to offer very significant advantages, either in terms of unique performance for military applications or in terms of cost and safety for commercial applications. 

Interest in polynitroarylenes has resumed over the past few decades as the demand for thermally stable explosives with a low sensitivity to impact has increased. This is mainly due to advances in military weapons technology but also for thermally demanding commercial applications i.e. oil well exploration, space programmes etc. Explosives like 1,3-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (DATB) (13), l,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) (14), 3,3 -diamino-2,2, 4,4, 6,6 -hexanitrobiphenyl (DIPAM) (15), 2,2, 4,4, 6,6 -hexanitrostilbene(HNS, VOD 7120 m/s, = 1.70 g/cm ) (16) and A,A -bis(l,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-4,4 -diamino-2,2, 3,3, 5,5, 6,6 -octanitroazobenzene (BTDAONAB) (17) fall into this class. TATB is the benchmark for thermal and impact insensitive explosives and finds wide use for military, space and nuclear applications. 

TATP is unique in that it is a material that never received any serious consideration for military or commercial applications. It was studied by numerous groups, but primarily for academic reasons. Minimal literature references exist on it. TATP was first reported by Wolfenstein in 1895 [6], Since that time, numerous recipes have been developed for its preparation. One of the most useful studies of its properties as an explosive was conducted by Rohrlich and Sauermilch [7], They determined that TATP had a TNT equivalency of approximately 88% based on lead block expansion. They prepared a firing train consisting of 0.05 g TATP (pressed at 250 kg/cm2) in contact with pentaerythrital tetranitrate (PETN) to produce reliable blasting caps. Other experiments determined that a 0.16-g portion of the peroxide (density = 1.35 g/cm3) could initiate TNT. 

Under joint sponsorship by the U. S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) and the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), a bench-scale transpiring wall reactor was developed by Sandia National Laboratories, FWDC, and GenCorp Aerojet. The reactor, which uses SCWO, was designed to treat military and other liquid wastes. A commercial application of the technology is in use to destroy munitions, colored smokes, and dyes. SWCO may also provide a viable alternative to incineration for the destruction of chemical weapons. 

The completely substituted product is a white, granular, solid with mw 246 30 and mp 240—45° Its method of prepn was described by Hess Muller (Ref 1). The triethylcellu lose is insol in w and practically insol in methanol, etbanol acetone, but sol in dilf, pyridine, ethylene dichloride, ethyl acetate, carbon tetrachloride and many other organic solvents. This product has, however, no military or commercial application because it lacks strengths flexibility, is not thermoplastic and shows only very limited compatibility... 

Explosives are now widely employed for (i) military applications (ii) commercial applications (iii) space applications (iv) nuclear applications and (v) miscellaneous applications. Military and commercial applications of explosives have been discussed in detail by Dr. Fordham [100] and only salient features are given here. 

In addition to civil and commercial explosives for commercial applications, there are some military explosives and devices which are also being used for commercial applications. The possibilities of using such military explosives for commercial use are described in the following paragraphs. 

In addition to applications of explosives for military, commercial, space and nuclear weapons, they are also reported to play an important role in the following fields. 

This book contains six chapters. While chapter one of this book introduces the subject in terms of salient/fundamental features of explosives, additional requirements for military explosives and their applications (military, commercial, space, nuclear others), chapter 2 highlights the status of current and futuristic explosives in the light of their special characteristics. In addition, the future scope of research in this field has also been brought into focus in this chapter. 

If one recalls that a detonation is a chemically-supported shock it becomes obvious why consideration of shock effects is so important in the design of reliable initiation systems for military as well as commercial applications. Indeed almost all initiation schemes rely on the shock produced by a primer-booster combination to detonate the main charge of an expl device. An initiation system that generates too weak or too brief a shock in the main charge of a bomb will result in a dud, or in a misfire if this system is applied to a commercial blasting charge... 

Medium-molecular-weight PMTFPS with vinyl or hydroxyl end blocks are used for adhesives and sealants. They are cured either at ambient temperature (RTV-room temperature vulcanization) or at elevated temperature. One-part moisture-activated RTV sealants have been available commercially for many years. Because of then-very high resistance to jet engine fuels, excellent flexibility at very low temperatures, and high thermal stability, they have been used in both military and civilian aerospace applications.78 Two-part, heat-cured fluorosilicone sealants have been used in military aircraft applications and for sealing automotive fuel systems.79 Special class of fluorosilicone sealants are channel sealants or groove injection sealants, sticky, puttylike compounds, which do not cure. They are used to seal fuel tanks of military aircraft and missiles.75... 

Bogart, S.L., et al. (2006), Production of Liquid Synthetic Fuels from Carbon, Water and Nuclear Power on Ships and at Shore Bases for Military and Potential Commercial Applications , Proceedings of ICAPP 06, Reno, NV, USA, June, Paper No. 6007. 

So far, most interest has been focused on the dinitramide salts of nitrogen bases, particularly ADN. ADN starts to decompose slowly at 85°C. A vacuum stability test showed that 0.88 ml of gas per gram were evolved from a sample over a period of 40 hours. Despite this instability, it has been demonstrated that ADN-based formulations fulfill the military stability requirements at 80°C. However it is unlikely that ADN could be used in any military or commercial applications above its melting point. The rate of decomposition and its autocatalytic behavior conflict with safety considerations. 

Electrolyzers are today commercially viable only in selected industrial gas applications (excepting various noncommercial military and aerospace applications). Commercial applications include the previously mentioned remote fertilizer market in which natural gas feedstock is not available. The other major commercial market for electrolysis today is the distributed, or merchant, industrial hydrogen market. This merchant market involves hydrogen delivered by truck in various containers. Large containers are referred to as tube trailers. An industrial gas company will deliver a full tube trailer to a customer and take the empty trailer back for refilling. Customers with smaller-scale requirements are served by cylinders that are delivered by truck and literally installed by hand. 

Of particular interest are the potassium and barium salts, both of which are thermally very stable and low -> Initiating Explosive materials. In the categories of impact and friction sensitivity, the potassium-dinitrobenzofuroxan (KDNBF) falls between -> Mercury Fulminate and -< Lead Azide. It has been used mainly in the USA in explosive-initiating compositions for both military and commercial applications since the early 1950s. 

Industrial nations in Europe and North America must rely on a supply of chromium ore from abroad, the US consuming 14% of world output. Because chromium is such a vital metal to the economy, government stockpiles in the US are considered an important strategy to ensure supplies during periods of military activity. Chromium ore is converted to chromium ferroalloys (for stainless steel and other alloys), chromite-containing refractory materials and chromium-based chemicals. The most important commercial applications of the latter are for pigments, leather tanning and wood preservation. 

U.S. Department of Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (ARPA, formerly DARPA), and the advancements under this program are being rapidly commercialized. It is expected that commercial applications will exceed military ones early bythe end of the decade. Applications areas include personal communications, and air-traffic control radar. Several companies have begun the transition from military to commer-... 

Another major utility of these blends are for making diving suits. A few examples are shown in Fig. 15.18. Pro-Am (Fig. 15.18a) is a rubber suit made from NR/EPDM blend. The main features are good stretch characteristics for comfort and three layer construction for durability. It is ideal for sports, military, rescue, and light commercial applications. The Pro-hd (Fig. 15.18b) is tough NR/ EPDM blend rubber suit made to endure the harshest conditions.USIA(Fig. 15.18c) is also a vulcanized rubber suit made from NR/EPDM blend and it is ideal for sports, military, rescue, and light commercial applications. 

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