IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY FOR PROPELLANT CONSOLIDATION

THE AIR FORCE HAS MADE A MAJOR COMMITMENT TO CASED TELESCOPED AMMUNITION AS THE BALLISTIC CONCEPT OF THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS AMMUNITION CONCEPT, WHICH CONSISTS OF A CONSOLIDATED CHARGE WITH A MECHANICALLY SEQUENCED IGNITION SYSTEM, COMMONLY ACHIEVES PROJECTILE VELOCITIES OF 5000 FT/SEC. THE CONSOLIDATED PROPELLANT FOR THIS SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY MADE BY SOLVATING CONVENTIONAL PROPELLANT WITH A MIXTURE OF ACETONE AND ALCOHOL, A COSTLY AND TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS (BECAUSE OF DRYING TIME AND SOLVENT RECOVERY REQUIREMENTS) THAT ULTIMATELY IMPACTS QUALITY CONTROL, SHELF LIFE, AND UNIT COST. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED EFFORT IS TO INTRODUCE A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR PRODUCING CONSOLIDATED CHARGES THAT MAY OFFER SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS OVER THE CURRENT TECHNIQUES. THIS NEW TECHNIQUE INVOLVES COATING PROPELLANT WITH A MATERIAL THAT PERMITS THERMAL CONSOLIDATION WITHOUT USING SOLVENTS. PRELIMINARY FINDINGS INDICATED THAT THIS CONSOLIDATION TECHNIQUE HOLDS PROMISE FOR ADEQUATE STRENGTH, EXCELLENT DIMENSIONAL STABILITY, IMPROVED QUALITY CONTROL, INCREASED SHELF LIFE, AND REDUCED COST. PROPELLANT WILL BE CONSOLIDATED USING THE THERMAL TECHNIQUE DURING PHASE I AND AMMUNITION WILL BE ASSEMBLED AND FIRED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE, HOT AND COLD CONDITIONS TO DEMONSTRATE THE BASIC FEASIBILITY OF THIS TECHNIQUE FOR USE IN CASED TELESCOPED AMMUNITION.