Development and Scale-Up of Nanothermite Composites for Propellant Ignition

The main objective of this proposal SBIR Phase II project is to scale-up and demonstrate the low-cost formation of 15-35 kg/yr of nanothermite-nitrocellulose composite granules for propellant ignition and as additives to explosive materials. All of the reactants used for the energetic composites will be made from United States produced materials. The reactive composites will use a base nanothermite of Al-Fe2O3 with different concentrations of Bi2O3, nitrocellulose or other gas generating additives, and binders to tune the ignition and combustion characteristics and mechanical strength of the energetic composites. The optimized energetic formulations for propellant ignition will be tested in the M125 and M129 primer in a ballistics simulator. If the ballistics simulator tests are successful the material will be tests in the M256 120 mm gun platform as a replacement of Benite.