Thiokol Corporation

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Morton Thiokol Inc.

Cordant Technologies Inc.

Rodney L Willer

Alfred G Stern

Robert S Day

Dennis J Park

David K McGrath

James A Hartwell

Michael L Levinthal

Richard A Biddle

Ronnelle Bridges

Ronald L Atkins

John C Hill

Minn-Shong Chi

Nathan Klein

Robert G Gleeson

Glen T Cunkle

Alan P Marchand

Dennis J Park, Deceased

A family of high performance, large launch vehicle, solid propellants based on polyglycidyl nitrate elastomer binders. A clean, large launch vehicle, solid propellant based on a polyglycidyl nitrate elastomer binder, ammonium nitrate oxidizer and aluminum or magnesium fuel optimizes at low solids levels and produces essentially no HCl or chloride ion in the exhaust.

High performance large launch vehicle solid propellants

A family of high performance, space motor, solid propellants based on polyglycidyl nitrate elastomer binder, ammonium perchlorate oxidizer and beryllium or beryllium hydride fuel which do not require the presence of plasticizers. A high performance, space motor, solid propellant based on a polyglycidyl nitrate elastomer binder, ammonium perchlorate or hydroxy ammonium perchlorate and beryllium or beryllium hydride optimizes performance at low solids levels.

High performance space motor solid propellants

A family of high performance, clean, space motor/gas generator solid propellants based on polyglycidyl nitrate elastomer binder, ammonium nitrate oxidizer and small amounts of aluminum and/or boron and which do not require the presence of plasticizers. A high performance, space motor/gas generator solid propellant based on a polyglycidyl nitrate elastomer binder and ammonium nitrate oxidizer optimizes performance at low solids levels.

Clean space motor/gas generator solid propellants

An energetic binder system useful for making TPE-LOVA propellants and energetic composites comprises at least one thermoplastic elastomer, at least one plasticizer, and nitrocellulose.

Energetic binder and thermoplastic elastomer-based low vulnerability

The present invention concerns a method for making energetic oxidizer salts and solutions thereof, and in particular relates to processes for making aqueous solutions of hydroxylammonium nitrate in high purity suitable for use in making liquid gun propellants. The present alcohol-free process yields high purity alcohol-free hydroxylammonium nitrate by neutralizing an aqueous nitric acid solution (20-70% wt./wt.) with an alcohol-free aqueous hydroxylamine solution at temperatures ranging from above -50.degree. C. to substantially less than ambient (20.degree. C.) to produce the desired alcohol-free aqueous hydroxylammonium nitrate solution in a usable concentration and in high purity. The process is economical, environmentally acceptable, and facile.

Method of making hydroxyamine and products therefrom

The energetic salts of 3-nitramino-4-nitrofurazan have a desirable combination of desirable properties such as sufficiently high densities, and low or no hydrogen content. The salts are useful as ingredients in various propellant, explosive, gassifier, and pyrotechnic compositions. 3-Nitramino-4-nitrofurazan is itself a useful energetic compound and is also useful in the synthesis of still further energetic compounds.

3-nitramino-4-nitrofurazan and salts thereof

This invention is first, a difunctional poly(glycidyl nitrate) oligomer (PGN oligomer), second, nitrated PGN oligomer and third, the use of the nitrated PGN oligomer as a plasticizer, particularly as a plasticizer for binders used in and/or as energetic formulations. Examples of energetic formulations are propellants, pyrotechnics and explosives and other such compositions. More particularly, this invention is a difunctional poly(glycidyl nitrate) oligomer of the formula ##STR1## where n is 0 to 3, having a M.sub.n of from about 304 to about 994. Another embodiment is the nitrated difunctional poly(glycidyl nitrate) oligomer of the formula ##STR2## where n is 0 to 3, having a M.sub.n of from about 394 to about 1084. This invention also comprises a plasticizer for binder compounds, namely, the nitrated PGN oligomer above; preferably the plasticizer above is used wherein the binder compound is used in energetic formulations; and preferably the binder compound is an energetic compound; more preferably the energetic formulation is selected from the group consisting of propellants, pyrotechnics and explosives.

Polyglycidyl nitrate plasticizers

Improved thermoplastic elastomer compositions having improved processing and mechanical characteristics without requiring addition of excessive quantities of plasticizer comprise at least one thermoplastic elastomer loaded with a crystalline modifier having a relatively low melting point. The modifier can be liquid at the processing temperature, resulting in increased ease in handling of the product. An exemplary crystallizable modifier is an alkylated pentacycloundecane dimer.

TPE binder containing crystalline modifiers and solid propellants based

The present invention pertains to a method for making energetic oxidizer salts and solutions thereof, and in particular relates to processes for making aqueous solutions of hydroxylammonium nitrate in high purity suitable for use in making liquid gun propellants. The present alcohol-free process yields high purity alcohol-free hydroxylammonium nitrate in a simple chemical neutralization reaction by combining an aqueous nitric acid solution 120 to 70 wt. %) with an alcohol-free aqueous hydroxylamine solution at temperatures ranging from about -50.degree. C. to above ambient to produce the desired alcohol-free aqueous hydroxylammonium nitrate solution in a usable concentration and in high purity. The process is economical, environmentally acceptable, and facile.

Process for making high purity hydroxylammonium nitrate

Isotactic poly(glycidyl nitrate) useful in solid propellants is produced by polymerizing chiral (R) glycidyl nitrate or its enantiomer, (S) glycidyl nitrate. Chiral (R) glycidyl nitrate or its enantiomer is prepared by sequential treatment of chiral (S) glycidyl tosylate or its enantiomer with nitric acid and sodium hydroxide. Chiral (S) glycidyl tosylate or its enantiomer, (R) glycidyl tosylate, can be produced by Sharpless epoxidation of allyl alcohol or by direct tosylation or commercially available chiral glycidol. Likewise, chiral (R) glycidyl nitrate or its enantiomer, (S) glycidyl nitrate, can be prepared directly via nitration of (S) or (R) glycidol, respectively.

Isotactic poly(glycidyl nitrate) and synthesis thereof

Propellant compositions have an elastomeric binder formed by curing a hydroxyl-terminated polyether or polyester prepolymer with cis-,cis-1,3,5-tri(isocyanatomethyl) cyclohexane. The propellant compositions also include high-energy particulates and high-energy plasticizers. The use of cis-cis-1,3,5-tri(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane increases the energy of the propellant per binder weight and in several cases substantially improves the mechanical characteristics of the propellant composition.

Binders for high-energy composition utilizing

This invention is for new compounds, namely, diethanolammoniummethylcubane nitrates, a composition of diethanolammonium methylcubyl nitrates - hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) solutions and their method of use as aqueous liquid gun propellant ingredients.

Diethanolammoniummethylcubane nitrates hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN)

Isotactic poly(glycidyl nitrate) useful in solid propellants is produced by polymerizing chiral (R) glycidyl nitrate or its enantiomer, (S) glycidyl nitrate. Chiral (R) glycidyl nitrate or its enantiomer is prepared by sequential treatment of chiral (S) glycidyl tosylate or its enantiomer with nitric acid and sodium hydroxide. Chiral (S) glycidyl tosylate or its enantiomer, (R) glycidyl tosylate, can be produced by Sharpless epoxidation of allyl alcohol or by direct tosylation of commercially available chiral glycidol. Likewise, chiral (R) glycidyl nitrate or its enantiomer, (S) glycidyl nitrate, can be prepared direcly via nitration of (S) or (R) glycidol, respectively.

Isotactic poly(glydicyl nitrate) and synthesis thereof

An improved process for producing poly(glycidyl nitrate) having a functionality substantially equivalent to the hydroxy functionality of the initiator employed in which a catalyst-initiator complex is reacted with glycidyl nitrate and wherein the ratio of mols catalyst/mols hydroxyls in the initiator is &lt;1:1, the gylcidyl nitrate monomer is added to the catalyst-initiator complex reaction mixture at a rate in which the monomer is used up (reacted) essentially as fast as it is added, and the reaction temperature is maintained at a temperature within the range of from about 10.degree. to 25.degree. C.

Process for producing improved poly(glycidyl nitrate)

Solid propellants in which the oxidizer is a perchlorate are improved by the inclusion of diaminoglyoxime or diaminofurazan in the propellant compositions.

Growing community of inventors

Newark, DE, United States of America

Rodney L Willer