PROCESS CONTROL FOR PRODUCTION OF HIGHLY SOLID FILLED EXPLOSIVES

COMPOSITE EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS LIKE PLASTIC BONDED EXPLOSIVES (PBX'S) ARE CONSIDERABLY LESS SENSITIVE TO HEAT, SHOCK AND IMPACT THAN CONVENTIONAL TNT-BASED EXPLOSIVES. THE NAVY USES THESE IN MANY LOW VOLUME MUNITIONS. THEIR INTRODUCTIONN INTO HIGH USE MUNITIONS WILL PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL SHIP/PLATFORM SURVIVABILITY IMPROVEMENTS. THESE MATERIALS ARE COMPLEX AND COSTLY TO MIX AND LOAD USING EXISTING HIGH SHEAR ROCKET PROPELLANT MIXER TECHNOLOGY. CONTINUOUS PROCESSING WITH TWIN-SCREW EXTRUDERS HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED; HOWEVER, FEED EQUIPMENT AND A PRACTICAL PRODUCTION PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM IS NEEDED TO MAKE SPECIFICATION GRADE MATERIAL AND TO MONITOR AND CONTROL PRODUCT QUALITY. THIS PROGRAM WILL IDENTIFY THE IMPORTANT CONTROL VARIABLES FOR PBX'S AND DEVELOP A CONTROL SCHEME INCLUDING THE TYPES OF ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS, CONTROL EQUIPMENT AND DATA ACCUMULATORS.