Propellant analysis quantitative

For onsite analysis, the examination of the vast number of samples necessitates the use of quick, reliable, field portable equipment that can rapidly, quantitatively verify the many chemically different types of ammunition, explosives, and pyrotechnics. The most common suite of analytes to detect is large, consisting of very chemically different compounds and usually occurs at trace levels in complex environmental matrices. This suite encompasses smokeless powders, black powders, and numerous propellant and energetic formulations. Detection should also be sought for common decomposition products of these explosives such as the methylanalines, aminonitrotoluenes, nitrotoluenes, mono- and dinitoroglycerines, and the nitrobenzenes under on-site conditions. 

Colorimetric tests for NGu are found in Ref 20, p C418-R, Vol 3 of Encycl under Tests for Propellants Quantitative Analysis of NGu... 

Volatile and gaseous products of propellant combustion remain inside the gun barrel and cartridge case for some time and their detection and quantitative determination by means of gas and liquid chromatographic methods (thermal desorption GC-MS, GC-thermal energy analysis, LC-MS/MS) can help in establishing, whether the gun was fired up to 3 days, 2-3 weeks or more than 3 weeks before examination [19, 20]. 

The determination of the volume and the composition of the combustion products of propellants under constant volume conditions is performed through the ignition of a sample that is placed in a specially equipped closed or calorimetric bomb. After the bomb is cooled down to room temperature, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the combustion products is accomplished. 

It is possible to rapidly perform these types of calculations using a method based on oxidation nnmbers (valences) put forward by Jain. The use of this Pyro Valence method can be of great value in the analysis of a large variety of quantitative problems associated with explosive, propellant, and pyrotechnic systems. 

A chemically pure mustard gas was produced in quantity for needed studies of comparison against the commercial product. Quantitative studies of high energy chemical reactions which gave promise for improved rocket propellants were made for the government. Finally, in collaboration with the Chemistry Department, an extensive study was carried out of methods for analysis and control of production processes separating and TTie methods developed were used in... 

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