Insensitive Munitions Solutions for Large Scale Solid Rocket Motors

Under normal conditions, modern munitions are very unlikely to explode or burn accidentally even though they are composed of very hazardous materials. However, the propellants and explosives can be set off by heat or shock and triggered by fire, bullets, or shell fragments; it is this problem that is addressed by the Insensitive Munitions (IM) program. Of the six hazard IM tests, the most difficult (especially for large solid rocket motors) is slow cook-off, in which the munition is slowly heated until reaction occurs. To address the slow cook-off problem, TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) proposes an additive to conventional propellant formulations used in large solid rocket motors that will inhibit the combustion reactions at lower temperatures (up to 1000 C), preventing premature explosive venting of the gases. At higher temperatures the additive is a high energy fuel, and will contribute to (and not interfere with) the normal combustion reactions. In the Phase I project we will study the mixing of the additive with conventional propellant formulations, manufacture control and modified batches of propellant, and measure their propellant combustion and IM properties by standard test procedures.