Hercules Corporation

James H Godsey

Robert F Keller

Richard J Legare

James L Jacox

Charles W Hughes

An improved crosslinked double base propellant composition is provided which has an improved binder system. The binder system is based on nitrocellulose (NC) having an intrinsic viscosity of from about 0.4 dl./gram to about 1.5 dl./gram and a polyester polyol or polyether polyol (polyol), in which the weight ratio of NC/polyol is from about 0.03/1 to about 0.8/1. The binder crosslinking agents are diisocyanates, and the ratio of NCO groups of the diisocyanates to combined OH groups of nitrocellulose and polyol is from about 0.7/1 to 1.2/1. Energetic plasticizer such as nitroglycerin comprises from about 68% to about 82% by weight of the binder. The binder contains a stabilizer and is capable of high solids loading, i.e., 70% to 77% solids.

Binder system for crosslinked double base propellant

A high energy rocket propellant can be formed wherein the propellant binder has a cellulose acetate butyrate: polyethylene glycol ratio of about 0.01 to 0.03 on a weight basis.

High energy propellant formulation

Smokeless crosslinked double-base propellant compositions having good mechanical properties over a wide temperature range are provided. The propellant compositions contain nitrocellulose, energetic plasticizer, a crosslinking agent which is a prepolymer of a hydroxy terminated polyester and a diisocyanate, lead salt and carbon black.

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Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

James H Godsey