Advanced Munitions Packaging Materials and Manufacturing Technology

Steel containers for munitions are heavy, expensive, and potentially hazardous. TRI/Austin will evaluate the potential for replacing a variety of munitions containers with lightweight, low cost polymer composite materials. Materials will be selected for testing according to TRI/Austin's previous research experience in replacing metallic designs with composite material designs. Cost savings of 50% and weight ratios of 1:5 have been achieved in our earlier work. Mechanical tests will be conducted over the service temperature range of-65¿F to +160¿F to obtain design parameters. Munitions handling safety issues will be addressed by our experienced munitions packaging consultant (1). Resistance to humidity, nuclear, biological, and chemical contamination will be addressed by our permeation consultant (2). TRI/Austin will perform a design study on the optimum material and fabricate a generic lab prototype for Phase I. The Phase I results will form the basis of design studies and test programs for specific munitions packages in Phase II. A commercialization plan is presented to put the containers in full production for both military and industrial customers. (3) Dn Paul of Michigan State University. (2) Dr. Bill Koros of the University of Texas. BENEFITS: Cost and weight reductions in packaging will be the primary benefits.