Missile propellants

A mixture of aluminium powder and PTFE has been evaluated as an underwater missile propellant [1], It is suggested that using PTFE tape to lubricate and seal aluminium screw threads is inadvisable [2],... 

Cyanogen, a colorless gas with an almond-like odor, is used in organic syntheses, as a fumigant, as a fuel gas for welding and cutting heat-resistant metals, and as a rocket and missile propellant with ozone or... 

Uses. Organic synthesis fuel gas for welding and cutting heat-resistant metals rocket and missile propellant fumigant... 

Uses. Oxidant in missile propellant systems Exposure. Inhalation... 

THE MISSILE — propelled by a Teledyne turbojet engine - is 17.5 feet long, weighs 1100 j pounds, and carries a conventional warhead. It flies at wave height under midcourse inertial guidance until the radar seeker locks onto the target. The missile climbs for a brief instant near the target, then dives on it... 

There are several types of propellant which may be broadly classified on the basis of their application and their physical state. Based on their applications, propellants may be classified as gun propellants or rocket and missile propellants and this classification is shown in Figure 4.1. 

Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is made via a stepwise nitration of toluene in the 2, 4, and 6 positions. TNT is a high explosive and missile propellant. 

OTHER COMMENTS used as high energy fuel in military applications, such as rocket fuel and missile propellant also used as fuel for small electrical power generating units useful as an intermediate in chemical syntheses. 

Explosive substances, like nitroglycerine, or isosor-bide-dinitrate. when complexed, can be handled without any danger. The pernitro-yCD complex of the extremely explosive nitramine can be used as a controlled missile propellant. 

Perchloric acid is an extremely strong acid in aqueous solution (see Table 7.3). Although [ 104] (Fig. 17.12b) does form complexes with metal cations, the tendency to do so is less than for other common anions. Consequently, NaC104 solution is a standard medium for the investigation of ionic equilibria in aqueous systems, e.g. it is used as a supporting electrolyte in electrochemical experiments (see Box 8.2). Alkali metal perchlorates can be obtained by disproportionation of chlorates (eq. 17.76) under carefully controlled conditions traces of impurities can catalyse decomposition to chloride and O2. Perchlorate salts are potentially explosive and must be handled with particular care. For example, solid NH4CIO4 decomposes at 298 K according to eq. 17.79, and mixtures of ammonium perchlorate and aluminium are standard missile propellants. 

FUELS, MISSILE. United States Defense Research reports chat aluminum is resistant to many oxidizers and fuels used as missile propellants. Aluminum alloys are used with chlorine trifluoride, ethylene oxide. fluorine, hydrazine, unsymmetrica dimethyl hydrazine, hydrogen pero.tide, liquid oxygen, nitrogen tetroxide (0.1% or less moisture), fuming nitric acid, n-propyl nitrate, liquid nitrogen, alkyl bor-anes, perchloryl fluoride (anhydrous) and liquid hydrogen. Ref Titan II Storable Propellant Handbook—Bell Aerospace Company. New York. Report No. 8111-933003... 

Ammonium perchlorate (AP) has apphcations in munitions, primarily as an oxidizer for solid rocket and missile propellants. It is also used as an air-bag inflator in the automotive industry, in fireworks, and is a contaminant in agricultural fertilizers. Because of these uses and ammonium perchlorate s high solubility, chemical stability, and persistence, it has become distributed widely in surface and ground water systems. There is little information about the effects of perchlorate in these systems or on the aquatic life that inhabits them. However, it is known that perchlorate is an endocrine disrupting chemical that interferes with normal thyroid function and that thyroid dysfunction impacts both growth and development in vertebrates. Because perchlorate competes for iodine binding sites in the thyroid, the addition of iodine to culture water has been examined in order to determine if... 

Explosives—Trinitrotoluene (TNT), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), polymer-bonded explosive (PBXN), Research Department Explosive (RDX) compositions, explosive D, tetryl, fulminate of mercury, black powder, smokeless powder, flashless powder, and rocket and missile propellants. 

To sum up the results of the test work, it has been shown that liquid hydrogen is much safer to handle than many other missile propellants. When accidentally mixed with air under unconfined conditions, it does not detonate, and radiation effects of any fire are less than those of more conventional fuels. On the other hand, its low initiation energy requirements and its wide flammability limits make ignition of any vapor cloud more likely, and for that reason, more care should be taken to remove all potential sources from an area where liquid hydrogen is stored or handled. 

Although we have not conducted any specific studies along this line at Bell Aircraft Corporation, we have compiled considerable data from the literature and have conducted a comprehensive air sampling program in the test area. The Bureau of Ordnance publication entitled, "Safety Regulations for Guided Missile Propellants" states that the maximum concentration for long-time exposure is 3 ppm. Table I lists the threshold limit values for other chemicals. 

Recent new specifications for breathing oxygen liquid (MIL-0-21749 (Aer)] and ammended specifications for liquid oxygen to be used as a missile propellant (MIL-O-25508A-USAF) contain the following maximum limits listed in Table II. 

Rocket or missile propellants (solid) may weigh as much as several thousand pounds per grain and the polymer-oxidizer type may be extremely difficult to ignite at atmospheric pressures. Large size rocket motors for specific systems may be destroyed in accordance with instructions contained in technical manuals or technical bulletins applicable to such systems. 

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