United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Atlantic Research Corporation

Erin G Nieder

William D Stephens

Amorphous boron powder is chemically passivated by treatment with certain alcohols so as to form stable borate esters on the surface so as to render the boron unreactive or compatible with hydroxyl-functional pre-polymers. The treated or passivated boron is used in the manufacture of hydroxyl-terminated poly-butadiene matrix castable solid fuels and propellants.

Chemical passivation of amorphous boron powder

A plasticizer for propellant compositions is 2-hydroxy-3-butoxypropyl oleate. The plasticizer can be incorporated into propellants which conventionally include a binder fuel component, oxidizer component, isocyanate curing agent as well as other conventional components as desired such as bonding agents, curing catalysts and ballistic modifiers. Specifically, a preferred propellant having the internal plasticizer therein includes ammonium perchlorate oxidizer, HTPB binder, aluminum powder fuel, isophorone diisocyanate curing agent, a bonding agent and a delayed quick-cure catalyst. The migration of the plasticizer is substantially reduced so as to extend the shelf-life of rocket motors having the plasticized propellant therein.

Growing community of inventors

Manassas, VA, United States of America

Erin G Nieder