Munitions application

Process Maturity Commercial processes are available to recover basic chemicals from munitions. Applications have been limited to a few special situations due to the low value of the basic ingredients. 

Application of Latest Safety Engineering Concepts to Munition Plant Modernization , Ibid, 353—79 10) B. Jezek, D.J. Katnausis, R.G. 

Casey, Facility Design Reviews Program for Munitions Production Base Modernization and Expansion, Status Report , PATM 2178 (1975) 33) B.W. Jezek et al, Applications of Suppressive Shielding in Hazardous Operation Protection , Rept No EM-TR-76008, Edgewood Arsenal, APG (1975) 34) W.F. Nekevis et... 

The principle small arms application of military pyrotechnics is in tracer munitions, where they serve as incendiaries, spotters and as fire control. A thorough review of tracer munition design was prepared by Frankford Arsenal (Ref 33) ... 

Bangor Naval Submarine Base, on the Hood Canal in the State of Washington, provides fine recreational facilities for service people stationed there, as well as for civilian employees. A proposal to divert runoff from munitions-contaminated areas towards the recreational fishing pond, Cattail Lake, led to a decision to identify hazard levels for the compounds of interest. In addition to trout, there was concern over contamination of bivalves, such as oysters, cockles, and clams, at the pond s outlet to Hood Canal. Bioconcentration factors (BCFs), assumed applicable for both fish and bivalves, were developed for three compounds (Table III). BCFs, together with Uj. values and worst-case levels of fish or bivalve consumption (0.4 kg/day) provided PPLVs for the pond water, according to the equation... 

When considering the use of equipment for detecting and suppressing fires and explosions, munitions manufacturing processes are among the most hazardous. In these applications, little time is available for the system to respond. A reaction time that is only a few milliseconds too slow could result in extensive property damage and even loss of life. 

Applications. The munitions industry has several applications suited for infrared detectors. Conveyor belts passing through large covered ducts and explosive and propellant mixers are examples of the controlled environment necessary for proper application. 

Typical applications for these high speed IR detectors are characterized by strictly controlled, dark environments where a flash fire could originate. While simple high speed infrared systems have been available for several years, modern sensor and filter developments, coupled with state-of-the-art electronics, have resulted in systems tailored for the munitions industry. These systems are more selective within the electromagnetic spectrum, fast in response, and extremely flexible in application to suppression systems. 

In the environmental field, the applications include analysis of explosives and their degradation products in soil and water. These analyses are important because of the toxicity of most explosives and the fact that many areas in the vicinity of explosives and munitions manufacturing plants are contaminated. 

Whilst it is apparent that the gunpowder substitute has been developed for use in munitions, it remains to be seen whether the material can be used to the same extent in hreworks. Obvious applications would be as replacements for quickmatch and piped match, both of which are notoriously prone to dampness during wet or humid conditions. 

In many applications, such as seeking buried munitions, it is not possible to place the X-ray source and the detector on opposite sides of the objects being investigated. In this case techniques have been developed to form images from the X-rays that are scattered back toward the source, or backscattered. 

The issue of buried objects has attracted a great deal of attention, especially the worldwide proliferation of landmines hence, there have been funds for research. This research will have application beyond landmines. Much UXO is buried, some because it was buried for disposal, some because it became buried in the course of the conflict. However, understanding the way the molecules are released and how they migrate after release will also assist in applications where the munitions are not buried but are hidden in various ways. There are also other environments worthy of consideration. 

The technology can be used in agricultural applications, the manufacture or use of herbicides, munitions manufacturing, and in the manufacture and use of pesticides. 

The technology is applicable to wastes that are contaminated with organic compounds and heavy metals and that have significant heat content, which should range from 3000 to 12,000 Btu per pound. The technology also treats soils contaminated with coal tar residues, petroleum refinery wastes, and municipal solid wastes, chemical waste, munitions, and rocket propellants. 

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. 

Common explosives like TNT, RDX and HMX were considered adequate for all weapon applications, but these explosives have now become less attractive due to a number of accidents involving initiation of munitions by impact or shock aboard ships, aircraft carriers and ammunition trains. So there is a trend of current research worldwide to synthesize explosives which have high performance coupled with low sensitivity. 

In the initial stages, the end use of n-Al was largely dominated by defense-related applications. Small caliber primers for defense munitions, additives for solid and hybrid rocket propellants, enhanced lethality explosives and pyrotechnics and thermite-based weapons are some typical military applications of n-Al powder. The use of n-Al powder has also been reported for some civil applications such as fireworks, automotive inflators and airbag initiators as well as drilling and oil exploration. 

One of the widest applications of system analysis in this field has been to provide procedures for selecting the proper weapon and munition for a given target or target complex. 

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