Propellants colloid

Dibutylphthalate is used as a solv for aromatic nitrocompds, such as DNT Di-nitroethylbenzene. Silk (Ref 2) patented its use for the coating of NC NG propellants to serve as a deterrant, solvent, plasticizer 8e stabilizer. It is added during the mixing process of the propellant colloid and replaces a portion of the volatile solvent, thus reducing the possibility of the loss of vol solv. It functions in the burning of pro--pellants to cool the of combustion below... 

An attendant requirement is, of course, that the ionized specie be readily produced. Species with low ionization potentials are therefore required. Of the atomic species, cesium with an atomic mass of 133 AMU and an ionization potential of only 3.89 ev has been the favored propellant. Colloidal species can be either solids or liquids. The criterion of selection of the colloidal material is based on the facility with which colloids of uniform mass and charge can be produced. 

Single-base propellants are mixed in a similar fashion by adding the ingredients to the nitrocellulose in the mixer together with the required amounts of ether and alcohol. The mixing time is about one-half hour, and the temperature is kept below 25°C. The pardy colloidal mixture looks like moist cmde sugar. A maceration step may be included to increase homogeneity. 

Proceedings of the Symposium on Kinetics of Propellants, Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemisty, 112th Meeting of theMmerican Chemical Society, New York, 1957, pubHshed ia J. ofPhys. Colloid Chem. 54 (1950). 

A solid propellant is a mechanical (heterogeneous) or a chemical (homogeneous, or colloidal) mixture of solid-state fuel and oxidizer-rich chemicals. Specially-formed charges of solid propellant (grains) arc placed in the combustion chamber of the solid rocket motor (SRM) at a production facility. Once assembled, the engine does not require additional maintenance, making it simple, reliable and easy to use. 

Impeller types usually used with mixing and listed in decreasing order of high volume ability (hence in increasing order of high head ability or requirement) are paddle, turbine, propeller, sawtooth impeller or propeller, cut-out impeller disc (no blades), colloid mill. 

Pollard s Test for Stability of Propellants. This test, proposed in 1924—25, is based upon the action of nitric peroxide on colloidal Ag oxide Procedure. A current of air is passed over a sample of proplnt in storage into a colloidal soln of Ag oxide. If free nitrogen peroxide is present, it reacts with the colloid and decreases the amt of light diffused by it. The larger the decrease, the higher the amt of N02 present, and the more decompd is the proplnt Ref Reilly (1938), 80... 

Single base propellants are basically nitrocellulose which has been made colloidal by the action of solvent. 

Rice, O. K., and Ginell, R., Theory of Burning of Double-Base Rocket Propellants, Journal of Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Vol. 54, No. 5, 1950, pp. 885-917. 

Dr Gustav Schweikert of Bad Godesberg, described in Explosivstoffe 3, 197-200 (1955) and 4, 10-14 (1956) a theory of detonation of condensed-phase explosives, which is based on the assumption that such.detonations follow essentially the same basic laws as the combustion of colloidal propellants, and can be comprehended thru the same molecular and reaction-kinetic theories... 

Accdg to Gorst (Ref 71, p 7), rifled weapons started to be used in Russia Note British and French troops had such weapons already during Crimean War 1860 and After. Cannon Propellants. Up to about 1860 s Black Powder was used exclusively as cannon and rifle propellant. Then attempts were made to replace it with smokeless propints made from incompletely colloided Nitrocellulose. These proplnts were too, fast burning (See... 

M. von Duttenhofer (1843-1903) nitrated brown charcoal (used for prepn of C/82) by Schultze s method to obtain colloided rifle powder RCP (Rottweiler Cellulose Pulver) which was adopted by the German Army in 1884, but its compn was kept secret until 1887 (See also Vol 5 of Encycl, p D1581, under Duttenhofer s Smokeless Propellant ) (Ref 44, p 244)... 

Tavernier (Ref 10) discusses the effects of hygroscopicity (and several other factors) on the ballistic props of colloided double base propellants and incompletely gelatinized oxidizer-containing propellants. The studies of Ficheroulle Kovache (Ref 8) on effects of hygroscopicity (and several other factors) on the potential usefulness of substances as priming explosives should also be mentioned, although NC is not one of the substances examined... 

The strength of alcohol commonly used in the US is 95% (190 proof), while 96% is used in Europe. For prepn of perfumes the 70% alcobol is used. TTie so-called absolute alcobol (200 proof) is at least 99% and its use is restricted. to analytical purposes or research. The so-called industrial alcohol is unfit to drink because it contains up to 5% methanol (wood alcohol) or benzene. Such alcohol is known as denatured and it is briefly described in Vol 3 of Encycl, p D63-R. Denatured alcohol is used as a solvent for expls, rocket fuels, rubbers, detergents, etc. Mixture of 1 part alcobol with 2 parts eth (described in Vol 5 of Encycl as Diethyl Ether) used as a solvent in dehydration of Pyrocellulose in manuf of single-base propint, such as described in Davis (Ref 2) and also on p C399 of Vol 3 of Encycl, under "Colloiding Agents and Colloidal Propellants ... 

Uses of Ether. One of the important applications of ether is in manuf of single-base propellants whece it is used in 2 1 mixture (by wt) with ethanol. The procedure is described in Vol 3 of Encycl, p C399, under Colloiding Agents and Colloidal Propellants... 

Ethylbenzene, Nitrated Derivatives were patented by the late Dr Hale of PicArsn as colloiding agents for NC in manuf of smokeless propellants... 

Most dangerous group Black Powder and colloidal propellants, in bulk placed in boxes, and chlorate explosives, not cartridged. Dynamites with attached caps fuses, detonators, nonelectric at electric and Nitroceiiuioses wetted with at least 25% water. Aromatic nitrocompounds, packed in double containers the inner ones from leather, cardboard, heavy paper envelope., while the outer ones nf wood or copper. The fulminates must be transported in vessels filled with water... 

Gelatinization of NG with NC in prepn of smokeless propellants is described in Vol 3, pp C398-L to C403-L, under "Colloiding Agents and Colloidal Propellants ... 

The key to the successful application of high performance, pourable nitrocellulose plastisols lies in a reasonably priced, high quality source of fine-particle, at least partially colloided, spheroidal nitrocellulose. Here we are speaking of particles much finer than the well-known ball powder, produced by the Olin Mathieson Chemical Co. for small arms for over 30 years (7). Actually, particles on the order of 5-50/x diameter appear to be required to assure a reasonable continuum of uniformly plasticized nitrocellulose binder in a propellant containing 45% or more of combined crystalline oxidizer and powdered metal fuel. Such a continuum of binder is necessary to assure acceptable mechanical properties and reproducible burning characteristics of the finished propellant. Preincorporation of a certain content of the water-insoluble solids within the nitrocellulose microspheres is an effective means of helping to assure this continuum of binder and alleviates the requirements for extremely small ball size. The use of a total of 45% or more of crystalline oxidizer and (generally) metal fuel is essential if the propellant is to be competitive with other modern propellants now in service. 

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