US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Vista Outdoor Operations LLC

Alliant Techsystems Inc.

Polymer Processing Institute

Costas George Gogos

Ming-Wan Young

Linjie Zhu

Elbert Caravaca

Niloufar Faridi

Peter Bonnett

Mohamed Elalem

Fei Shen

Dale Conti

Howard Shimm

Joseph Palk, Jr

William J Worrell

Thomas Redden Veariel

Benjamin R Vaughan

Sandra L Case

Drew Lee Goodlin

Rajesh N Dave

Viral Panchal

Chong Peng

Richard Quesenberry

Yuet Meng Chu

Jeffrey Bandel

David Todd

Bainian Qian

Kamalesh K Sirkar

Robert Pfeffer

David B Todd

Marino Xanthos

Philip Abbate

Theodore Davidson

Demosthenis Chaparampopoulos

Nikolaos Ioannidis

Zohar Ophir

Francis Sullivan

Ming Wan Young

Jun Yang

Linje Zhu

William Schepige

Chaiya Chandavasu

The present invention is directed to a continuous process for producing a foamable celluloid product by introducing a solid component (comprising nitrocellulose, chemical blowing agent (CBA), stabilizer and alcohol) and a liquid component (comprising camphor and acetone) into a mixer/devolatilizer machine where the chamber is under atmospheric pressure and having significant overhead space. The chamber is comprised of two zones wherein the first zone has a temperature that is less than the second zone and at least one rotor comprising hollow, temperature-controlled arms having a tilted angle affixed to the rotors. The rotors of the mixer/devolatilizer machine act to mix the solid and liquid components under lower shearing forces, lower mechanical stress and longer residence times than those used by twin-screw extruders.

Continuous process for producing foamable celluloid

Embodiments of an invention disclosed herein relate to devices, processes, and systems for processing one or more polymers.

Devices, systems, and processes for processing polymers

A muzzle loaded ammunition round having a bullet and a consumable cartridge case. The cartridge case is hollow and is filled with at least one propellant composition, the cartridge case being constructed from a consumable material, such as foamed celluloid. The bullet is commonly engaged to the propellant composition at least via the cartridge case, the propellant composition having a charge weight.

Advanced muzzle loader ammunition

An encapsulated propellant charge comprised a sealed combustible container comprised of a consumable material and having a substantially cylindrical shape. The sealed combustible container comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall therebetween. The top wall, the bottom wall and the side wall define a chamber; which contains a propellant composition.

Muzzle loader powder increment using celluloid combustible container

A method of manufacture of foamed celluloid molded products, involving three steps for the manufacture of higher density (0.7 to 1.25 gm/cc) foamed celluloid products or simple geometry lower density (0.2 to 0.7 gm/cc) foamed celluloid products, and four steps for the manufacture of lower density foamed celluloid products of any geometry. The three step process involving: (1) providing small, uniform, pieces of celluloid; (2) presoaking the pieces in a physical blowing agent (PBA) under pressure; and (3) foaming at raised temperature a controlled quantity of the presoaked pieces in a mold&#x2014;to obtain the desired shape and density. For a lower density foamed celluloid product, of any moldable geometry, the steps are to: (1) small pieces of celluloid, that (2) have been presoaked in a PBA, are (3) pre-expanded to an intermediate density, and then (4) foam the desired lower density foamed product in a mold at raised temperature.

Foamed celluloid process using expandable beads

An economical, low residue, mortar increment propellant container manufactured of foamed celluloid, which is composed of 50 to 84% nitrocellulose, having a nitrogen content of from about 10.5 to about 13.5%, and about 15 to about 50% camphor. The burn rate of the foamed celluloid can be enhanced by the addition of energetic additives, such as energetic plasticizers.

Foamed celluloid mortar propellant increment containers

By using generally known chemically, physically, or a combination thereof, means to foam celluloid, a foamed celluloid material is invented with a density of less than about 1.25 gm/cm, which material is relatively low cost, very fast burning, very low residue, easily moldable, and which material exhibits good mechanical strength, and provides a good water barrier. These characteristics make this foamed celluloid a preferred choice for military artillery propellant charge bags, military mortar and civilian fireworks increment charges, combustible cartridges, flare housings, igniter tubes, as well as, closure disks, combustible enclosures and components thereof, among other applications.

Foamed celluloid combustible material

A method for the continuous production of finely ground particulates coated with a barrier, or other desirable film wherein the coated particulates exhibit a diameter of less than 10 microns. In an exemplary embodiment, large coated particulates are introduced into a fluid energy, or jet mill, along with smaller, uncoated particulates. As the particulates collide within the mill they are comminuted, and an amount of coating is transferred from the coated particulates to the uncoated ones such that they become sufficiently coated and size-reduced to a desired size. Alternatively, uncoated particulates are milled and coated during their milling. Still alternatively, uncoated particulates are milled and subsequently directed through an atomized mist of coating material wherein the size of the mist droplets are as large, or larger than the directed particulates.

Continuous high-speed coating of finely ground particulates

Techniques and processes that combine particulate coating processes with particulate handling steps resulting in the formation of free-flowing particulates for introduction into energetic product vessels to affect an in-situ, net-shape manufactured product. The processes involve selecting suitably sized materials, processing such materials such that they are surface-coated and/or locally 'structured' particulates, and pouring, preferably 'dry' pouring, these processed materials into an energetic product vessel and infusing the filled vessel with a polymerizable and surface-compatible monomer or oligomer which flows into the unoccupied volume, followed by polymerization of the monomer, which then becomes the binder giving mechanical integrity to the final, net-shape energetic composition.

Netshape manufacturing processes and compositions

Melt fracture is reduced, without the necessity of polymer processing-aid additives specifically designed to alleviate exit region surface melt fracture phenomenon, by heating at least a portion of the die through which the polymer is extruded. The die exit region is maintained at a temperature above the bulk melt temperature of the polymer extruded through the die exit hole.

Melt fracture reduction

The invention is directed broadly to microporous films prepared from immiscible blends of at least two components, preferably polymers, which are produced via melt processing, a film formed therefrom, for example by extrusion and post-film-forming treatments comprising uniaxial or biaxial cold-stretching and hot-stretching. The films have a three-dimensional reticulated or interconnected network of microcracks or crazing throughout the film, extending from one surface of the film to the other, providing a stable porosity and pore size useful for a variety of filtration and other applications.

Preparation of microporous films from immiscible blends via melt processing and stretching

A rheometer and method for determining rheological characteristics of a composition, the rheometer including: a housing member; a helical flange disposed on an inner surface of the housing member; a rotor disposed concentrically within the helical flange and abutting the helical flange while maintaining sliding contact with the flange, wherein the rotor and the helical flange form a helical channel; a mechanism for rotating the rotor; a mechanism for introducing a sample of the composition into one end of the channel; a mechanism for controlling removal of the sample from the other end of the channel; and a mechanism for measuring a pressure difference of the sample between an upstream location and a downstream location in the channel.

Helical barrel rheometer

Growing community of inventors

Wyckoff, NJ, United States of America

Costas George Gogos