Particle size reduction of propellants by cryocycling

Technical Report · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/86989· OSTI ID:86989

Whinnery, L; Griffiths, S; Lipkin, J ^[1]

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1. and others

Repeated exposure of a propellant to liquid nitrogen causes thermal stress gradients within the material resulting in cracking and particle size reduction. This process is termed cryocycling. The authors conducted a feasibility study, combining experiments on both inert and live propellants with three modeling approaches. These models provided optimized cycle times, predicted ultimate particle size, and allowed crack behavior to be explored. Process safety evaluations conducted separately indicated that cryocycling does not increase the sensitivity of the propellants examined. The results of this study suggest that cryocycling is a promising technology for the demilitarization of tactical rocket motors.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 86989
• Report Number(s): SAND--95-8227; ON: DE95015266
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
COMMINUTION
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DECOMMISSIONING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FREEZING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
ORDNANCE
PROPELLANTS
SAFETY
THERMAL CYCLING
THERMAL STRESSES
WASTE PROCESSING
WEAPONS