Influence of energetic materials on the energy-output of gun propellants

A review, with 4 refs. on thermodn. parameters in formulation and prodn. of gun propellants in connection with the application of energetic plasticizers, energetic binders, and new energetic compds. to improve their performance. Thermodn. data for the energy-output of energetic materials such as flame temp., mol no., mean mol. wt., heat of explosion, and specific energy are given. The replacement of conventional plasticizers by several energetic plasticizers is discussed. The thermodn. parameters were calcd. for different propellant formulations. Nitramine propellants with different binder systems such as polybutadiene (PB), glycidylazide polymer (GAP), and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) were investigated in a closed bomb to evaluate the energy-output and the reaction products by gas anal. The performance of the propellants was discussed in connection with heat of formation, O balance, and the kind of polymeric binder system. Energetic compds. such as NTO, CL-20, TNAZ, ANTA, and ammo nium dinitramide (ADN) were calcd. by the ICT thermodyn. code, to assess the energy-output and to improve the performance.