Rocket propellants hazards

Jensen, Chemical Rocket Propellant Hazards. Volume III. Liquid Propellant Handling, Storage and Transportation , CPIA-Pub-194, Contract No NOW-62-0604 (1970) 29) J.A. Letos,... 

Cornell Laboratories 18) Anon, Chemical Rocket/Propellant Hazards , CPI A No 194 (1970), 2-13 19) Ibid, pp 2-3,2-4,2-5 also... 

Chemical Rockets/Propellant Hazards, Vol I, General Safety Engineering Design Criteria, Chemical Propulsion Information Agency Publication 194, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD (1971). 

Grade C, Type II is typical of Hquid oxygen used as a rocket propellant oxidizer. Particulate content is limited because of the critical clearances found in mechanical parts of the rocket engine. In addition to water, acetylene and methane are limited because, on long standing, oxygen evaporation could cause concentration of these combustible contaminants to reach hazardous levels. 

Liquid resoles, chemical shifts of methylene carbons in, 18 775t Liquid rocket propellants, 10 726-727 Liquid rubber technology, 9 563-566 Liquid runaround systems, 10 144 Liquids. See also Nonideal liquid mixtures boiling points of, 24 2841 bulk handling of, 18 5 combustion of, 13 174 degree of fire hazardousness of, 24 284 density of, 24 282... 

Boysen JE Health hazards of selected rocket propellants. Arci Environ Health 7 71-75, 1963... 

The handling of ammonia safely has been discussed by Brandt(Ref 40) and the toxicity of ammonia fumes by inhalation,by Wheatherby (Ref 55) Ohno(Ref 57) noted that the tojcicity of gaseous ammonia was much smaller than that of sulfur dioxide. Both gases produce irritation of mucous membrane and eyes, bronchitis, hyperemia, hemorrage, endema, exudation and pneumonia. Krop(Ref 58) lists the toxiciry and health hazards of ammonia and other substances used as fuels in rocket propellants[Also see Sax(Ref 82) for additional information on the hazards of ammonia]... 

Partridge, Safety Hazards of Rocket Propellants , Report DB-TR-13-58, PicArsn, Nov 1958 4) J. Zinn C.L. Mader, JApplPhys... 

Propellants include both rocket and gun propellants. Most rocket propellants are either Hazard Class 1.3 composites, which are based on a rubber binder, and ammonium perchlorate (AP) oxidizer, and a powdered aluminum (Al) fuel or Hazard Class 1.1 composites, which are based on a nitrate ester, usually nitroglycerine (NG), nitrocellulose (NC), HMX, AP, or polymer-bound NC. If a binder is used, it usually is an isocyanate-cured polyester or polyether. Some propellants contain combustion modifiers, such as lead oxide. 

The energetic nitramines, RDX and HMX, provide excellent impulse and nonsmoky exhaust, but their use gives propellants that may detonate when subjected to shock or impact. The possibility of unwanted violent burning or detonation of propellants during transport or storage has resulted in recent emphasis on the development of insensitive (reduced hazard) rocket propellants for tactical applications. Special attention are required in using these energetic materials.47... 

Hazard Properties. It must be verified that the propellant is sufficiently insensitive to shock, electrostatic discharge, friction, thermal decomposition, or self-heating (in larger quantities) that it does not represent an unwarranted hazard in its intended use. Rocket propellants are energetic compositions and must be formulated so that chance stimulus will not initiate violent reaction. 

Explosives that propagate detonation are listed as Class 1.1 in international transportation regulations and are subject to strict regulations for their transportation 1 11. Rocket propellants are not considered exceptions. Concerning safe handling, safety evaluation tests are being conducted to determine the hazard classification for rocket propellants 171. ... 

Hazard class 1.1 rocket propellant, containing explosives such as NG, NC, and HMX, has been remanufactured into 2 lb booster charges used to initiate ammonium nitrate/fuel oil or slurry explosives. Plastic-bonded explosives have been granulated and reused to make charges for metal bonding and forming applications. 

The volume of solid and liquid wastes other than metal rocket motor casing and fin fragments is expected to be low about 0.9 kg of filter dust and 0.2 m of condensate water and cooler blowdown per shot. Again, the dust from the filter will contain lead and could be defined as a RCRA hazardous waste. Although agent contamination is not an issue, the offgases will require treatment. Their volume and constituents will depend on the materials that are detonated and combusted in the DAVINCH vessel—that is, rocket propellant and, possibly, overpacking materials. 

Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Heated to decomp., burns and emits very toxic fumes of NOx NFPA Health 1, Flammability 1, Reactivity 0 Uses Stabilizer for nitrocellulose-based smokeless powd., in solid rocket propellants plasticizer... 

Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Heated to decomp, emits CO, CO2, NOx, ammonia, traces of organic compds. inc. hydrogen cyanide, nitriles, isocyanates, nitrosamines, amines NFPA Health 3, Flammability 4, Reactivity 0 Uses Intermediate in organic synthesis intermediate for water-gel explosives, accelerators, pharmaceuticals, insecticides, N-methylpyrrolidine, methylalkanolamines, surface active agents, fungicides in tanning component of photographic developers and paint removers fuel additive prod, of dyes polymerization inhibitor rocket propellant See also Methylamine... 

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