Direct Plasma Production from Electric Solid Propellant for High Velocity Launch Systems

As an alternative to double-base propellants we propose electric solid propellants (ESP) as a safe, green, higher performance alternative to double-base propellants for high velocity electro thermal chemical (ETC) canons. These new energetic materials are inherently safe, with ignition only possible via the sustained supply of electrical power and not by spark, flame or even bullet impact. A major disadvantage of conventional double-base propellants for ETC use is their extremely low loading densities @ ~0.3g/cm3, required for plasma spreading within the combustion chamber (shell). Unlike those double-base propellants, ESPs can be packaged as a single monolithic grain igniting by one or more inert electrodes and allow 4-5 times greater loading densities. This reduction of parasitic volume of the ETC rounds will allow more ammunition to be transported by the Warfighter in less space.