Phase relationships involving RDX and common solid propellant binders
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
The solubilities of the common propellant ingredients acetyl triethyl citrate (ATEC) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) and their effects on RDX (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine) unit cell dimensions were investigated. If there is appreciable solid solubility, solutions will form and will have enthalpies of fusion, melting temperatures, and other characteristics different from those of pure RDX. It is desirable to establish the properties of such mixtures when designing new propellant formulations. Samples were aged at an elevated temperature to speed the formation of solid solutions. A least-squares analysis of X-ray diffraction data was used to obtain the lattice parameters from which unit cell volume and solubility was deduced. Both ATEC and CAB caused an expansion of the unit cell, indicating the formation of a solid solution. The limit of solubility in the ATEC/RDX mixture appeared to be approximately 13 wt% ATEC, while the CAB/RDX limit is above 16 wt% CAB. In both mixes, the cell volume expanded linearly with increasing proportion of binder. The large amount of gas generated and high energy released during combustion make RDX very attractive for both rocket and gun propulsion applications. The absence of HCl in the combustion products makes RDX desirable on an environmental basis as well.
- OSTI ID:
- 248226
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951155-; ISBN 1-55899-321-5; TRN: IM9628%%326
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Fall meeting of the Materials Research Society (MRS), Boston, MA (United States), 27 Nov - 1 Dec 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Decomposition, combustion, and detonation chemistry of energetic materials; Brill, T.B. [ed.] [Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)]; Russell, T.P. [ed.] [Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (United States)]; Tao, W.C. [ed.] [Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)]; Wardle, R.B. [ed.] [Thiokol Corp., Brigham City, UT (United States)]; PB: 469 p.; Materials Research Society symposium proceedings, Volume 418
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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