Nanoinfusion Technology for Advanced Gun Propellants

It has been demonstrated on a small scale that nanoparticles have the potential to improve the performance of high energy density gun propellants. Nanomaterials such as Al, B, AlB, and BNNT have been integrated into gun propellants resulting in increased burning rates and efficiencies. However, significant technical challenges exist with this technology in process scalability, particle agglomeration during mixing, and long term stability of suspended nanoparticles. Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) proposes to integrate nanoinfusion technology into conventional propellant processing techniques. Nanoinfusion is a process that allows for in-situ formation of nanoparticles in polymer matrices. Successful integration of nanoinfusion into propellant processing will replace the current nanoparticle mixing and dispersion phase of gun propellant processing. Nanoinfusion technology is not a liquid dispersion process, so there is no route for agglomeration or nanoparticle phase separation, which will improve long term stability of the nanoparticles in the propellant binder. Nanoinfusion is a highly scalable process and can easily allow for tuning of particle sizes. Advantages resulting from CRG’s proposed concept will allow for enhanced propellant tailorability and scalability leading to significantly improved system performance at a lower cost than current nanoparticle containing propellants.