U.S. patent application number 09/355479 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-14 for propellent charge powder for barrel-type weapons.
Invention is credited to LANGLOTZ, WALTER, MULLER, DIETMAR.
Application Number | 20010003295 09/355479 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26033771 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010003295 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LANGLOTZ, WALTER ; et
al. |
June 14, 2001 |
PROPELLENT CHARGE POWDER FOR BARREL-TYPE WEAPONS
Abstract
A propellent charge powder for barrel-type weapons having a
plasticizer on the basis of nitramine and nitrocellulose, nitramine
and energetic and non-energetic plastic binders, or nitrocellulose
or an explosive, and wherein the plasticizer is a mixture of at
least two chemically different dinitro diaza compounds. The
plasticizer facilitates the production and use of the propellent
charge powder possessing a low temperature coefficient.
Inventors: |
LANGLOTZ, WALTER;
(HENFENFELD, DE) ; MULLER, DIETMAR; (KARLSRUHE,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEOPOLD PRESSER
SCULLY SCOTT MURPHY & PRESSER
400 GARDEN CITY PLAZA
GARDEN CITY
NY
11530
|
Family ID: |
26033771 |
Appl. No.: |
09/355479 |
Filed: |
July 30, 1999 |
PCT Filed: |
February 6, 1998 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP98/00639 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
149/19.91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C06B 25/34 20130101;
C06B 45/105 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
149/19.91 |
International
Class: |
C06B 025/34; C06B
045/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 8, 1997 |
DE |
197 04 792.0 |
Dec 23, 1997 |
DE |
197 57 469.6 |
Claims
1. A propellent charge powder for barrel-type weapons having a
plasticiser on the basis of nitramine such as RDX, HMX and
nitrocellulose, nitramine and energetic and non-energetic plastic
binders, or nitrocellulose, or an explosive, such as CL-20
characterised in that the plasticiser is a mixture of at least
three chemically different dinitro diaza compounds.
2. A propellent charge powder as set forth in claim 1 characterised
in that the plasticiser comprises the following components:
4-Dinitro-2,4-diazapentane 40.+-.10% by weight
2,4-Dinitro-2,4-diazahexan- e 45.+-.10% by weight
3,5-Dinitro-3,5-diazaheptane 15.+-.15% by weight
3. A propellent charge powder as set forth in claim 1.
characterised in that the proportion of plasticiser in the
propellent charge powder is between 2 and 55% by weight.
4. A propellent charge powder as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2
characterised in that the plasticiser comprises dinitro diaza
alkanes, dinitro diaza alkenes or dinitro diaza alkines or a
mixture thereof.
5. A propellent charge powder as set forth in one of claims 1 to 4
characterised in that it contains stabilisers or stabilisers and
combustion moderators.
6. A propellent charge powder as set forth in one or more of claims
1 through 5 characterised in that besides the dinitro diaza
compound it additionally contains still other energetic or
non-energetic plasticisers such as methy-nena, ethyl-nena or
butyl-nena.
7. A propellent charge powder as set forth in claim 1 or claim 6
characterised in that the following can be used as energetic
binders: poly-3-nitratomethyl-3-methyloxetan (PolyNIMMO),
poly-glycidyl nitrate ester (Polyglyn) glycidyl azide polymer (GAP)
poly-3-azidomethyl-3'-methy- loxetan (AMMO),
poly-3,3'-bis-azidomethyloxetan (BAMO) or a mixture thereof.
8. A propellent charge powder as set forth in claim 1 or claim 6
characterised in that the non-energetic binders are polybutadiene
with terminal hydroxyl groups (HTPB), cellulose acetate butyrate
(CAB) or a mixture thereof.
9. A propellent charge powder as set forth in one or more of claims
1 through 8 characterised in that the explosive comprises
1,3,3-trinitroazetidine (TNAZ), ammonium dinitramide (AND),
triaminoguanidine nitrate (TAGN) or
hexanitro-hexa-aza-iso-wurtzitan (CL-20) or a mixture thereof.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a propellent charge powder for
barrel-type weapons as set forth in the classifying portion of
claim 1.
[0002] DE 35 00 068 C1 concerns a monobasic or polybasic propellent
charge powder using 0,0'-dioxy azobenzene for the purposes of
improving mechanical properties at down to -55.degree. C. No
information is given about temperature coefficients. In addition no
diaza compound is used.
[0003] DE 33 16 676 C2 describes a propellant composition based on
nitrocellulose with hexogen, a blasting oil and plasticiser or
softener as well as nitroglycerine. No mention is made of a diaza
compound however and there is also no information about temperature
coefficients.
[0004] DE 30 33 519 C2 concerns a rocket propellant for a usually
low pressure range upon combustion. No information is given about
the pressure range which is relevant for propellent charge powder
of over 3000 bars. Admittedly, some indications are afforded in
regard to mechanical properties in a wide temperature range. There
is however no information about temperature coefficients,
dependency of the gas pressure on the temperatures of the
propellent charge powder. The energetic plasticiser or softener is
blasting oil such or Ngl but no diaza compound.
[0005] A further known propellent charge powder as disclosed in DE
22 60 259 A involves a propellant composition for rockets and not a
propellent charge for barrel-type weapons. That propellent charge,
like generally all dibasic propellants, is heavily
temperature-dependent in the temperature range which is of
interest.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No 4,567,296 A describes an energetic plasticiser
or softener on the basis of a fluorine-bearing aza compound. That
aza compound, more specifically
1-fluoro-1,1,5-trinitro-3-oxa-5-azahexane is not suitable for use
in barrel-type weapons and propellent charge powders. Upon
combustion in a weapon, the steel is destroyed, particularly at the
usually high pressures and temperatures. In addition that compound
gives rise to a major disposal problem. The starting material
2-nitro-2-aza-1 propanol is chemically basically different from a
diaza compound.
[0007] Upon firing munitions with conventional propellent charge
powder, the ballistic values maximum pressure and projectile
velocity are also heavily temperature-dependent. The pressure and
the velocity of 120 mm KE-munition rise from -40.degree. C. to
+50.degree. C. by about 1500 bars and 165 m/s, that is to say 10%
of the reference or target speed at normal temperature of
+21.degree. C. On the basis thereof, on the one hand the armament
operational gas pressure cannot be fully utilised at normal
temperature, which would result in a high velocity, and on the
other hand, because of the only inaccurately known current initial
projectile velocity the hit probability is markedly reduced or
measures must be taken to ascertain the current projectile velocity
in order not to suffer a loss in terms of hit accuracy.
[0008] The object of the present invention is to propose a
propellent charge powder for barrel-type weapons, which has a low
temperature coefficient in the temperature range of -50.degree. C.
to +70.degree. C.
[0009] The invention attains that object in accordance with the
characterising features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of
the invention are set forth in the appendant claims.
[0010] By virtue of the use of a particular plasticiser or softener
the invention makes it possible to produce and use propellent
charge powder with a low temperature coefficient. In other words: a
propellent charge powder of that kind makes it possible to fire
armament munition with almost dibasic propellants, is heavily
temperature-dependent in the temperature range which is of
interest.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,296 A describes an energetic plasticiser
or softener on the basis of a fluorine-bearing aza compound. That
aza compound, more specifically
1-fluoro-1,1,5-trinitro-3-oxa-5-azahexane is not suitable for use
in barrel-type weapons and propellent charge powders. Upon
combustion in a weapon, the steel is destroyed, particularly at the
usually high pressures and temperatures. In addition that compound
gives rise to a major disposal problem. The starting material
2-nitro-2-aza-1 propanol is chemically basically different from the
dinitro diaza compounds according to the invention.
[0012] A better plasticisable propellent charge powder, in
accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,791, is based on a plasticiser
DMMD. Further plasticisers as additives to that specified are not
provided. There is no indication that the temperature coefficient
upon combustion is positively influenced.
[0013] Transformation or the gas-generation rate of conventional
monobasic and polybasic propellent charge powders is highly
temperature-dependent. The greater the initial powder temperature,
that much faster is combustion of the propellent charge powder.
That property is substance-specific and can be described for
example to a good degree of approximation by the combustion law as
follows: 1 = ( p p 0 ) a T
[0014] with T as the temperature of the propellent charge powder.
In that equation .tau. denotes the so-called temperature
coefficient of the propellent charge powder, which is of different
values for the various powder compositions and which represents a
substance constant. In addition .gamma. denotes the velocity with
which the combustion front progresses, .beta. and .alpha. represent
substance constants and p is the pressure under which the
propellent charge powder is, wherein p.sub.o is atmospheric
pressure.
[0015] As a result of the temperature-dependency of the combustion
speed of the propellent charge powder, the maximum gas pressure
which occurs when firing munition with conventional monobasic and
polybasic propellent charge powder from an armament, in the charge
chamber of the weapon, and thus also the projectile launch velocity
are also severely temperature-dependent.
[0016] The pressure and the velocity of 120 mm KE-munition rise
from -40.degree. C. to +50.degree. C. by about 1500 bars and 165
m/s, that is to say 10% of the reference or target speed at normal
temperature of +21.degree. C. On the basis thereof, on the one hand
the armament operational gas pressure cannot be fully utilised at
normal temperature, which would result in a high velocity, and on
the other hand, because of the only inaccurately known current
powder temperature and thus the initial projectile velocity the hit
probability is markedly reduced or measures must be taken to
ascertain the current projectile velocity in order not to suffer a
loss in terms of hit accuracy.
[0017] The object of the present invention is to propose a
propellent charge powder for barrel-type weapons, which has a low
temperature coefficient in the temperature range of -50.degree. C.
to +70.degree. C. so that in that way the specified ballistic
values of maximum pressure and projectile velocity depend only
slightly on the powder temperature.
[0018] The invention attains that object in accordance with the
characterising features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of
the invention are set forth in the appendant claims.
[0019] By virtue of the use of a particular plasticiser or softener
the invention makes it possible to produce and use propellent
charge powder with a low temperature coefficient. In other words: a
propellent charge powder of that kind makes it possible to fire
armament munition with almost constant values in respect of maximum
pressure and projectile velocity in the entire temperature range of
-50.degree. C. to +70.degree. C.
[0020] Embodiments of the invention are set out hereinafter, a
diagram illustrating the temperature characteristics of a
conventional propellent charge powder and a propellent charge
powder according to the invention.
[0021] The invention concerns the following propellent charge
powders:
[0022] glycidyl azide polymer (GAP)--,
[0023] hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), polybutadiene with
terminal hydroxyl groups-- and
[0024] cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB)--
[0025] bound nitramine propellent charge powders with the dinitro
diaza plasticiser mixture according to the invention and
nitrocellulose propellent charge powders, NC, which comprise
nitramines, nitrocellulose and dinitro diaza plasticiser or
nitrocellulose and dinitro diaza plasticiser with or without
blasting oil such as nitroglycerine (Ngl) or diglycol dinitrate
(DEGN).
1 PCP-formulation % by weight RDX or HMX 70 .+-. 15 70 .+-. 15 70
.+-. 15 40 .+-. 15 60 .+-. 20 40 .+-. 15 Plasticiser DNDA- 10 .+-.
8 10 .+-. 8 15 .+-. 10 30 .+-. 25 20 .+-. 12 30 .+-. 25 mix (3
components) GAP with isocyanate 20 .+-. 5 GAP without 30 .+-. 20
isocyanate HTPB with 20 .+-. 5 isocyanate CAB 15 .+-. 5 NC + stick
30 .+-. 5 20 .+-. 12 70 .+-. 25 30 .+-. 15 blasting oil 0 + 40
[0026] The abbreviations RDX=hexogen and HMX=octogen, while PCP is
used to mean propellent charge powder.
[0027] With nitratoethyl nitramine (NENA), poly-3-nitratomethyl-3'
-methyloxetan (PolyNIMMO) and poly-glycidyl nitrate ester
(Polyglyn) as energetic polymer binder, a comparable temperature
behaviour occurs insofar as the plasticiser according to the
invention is used in the above-specified quantitative proportion.
In the case of Polyglyn the azide group of GAP is replaced by
--O--NO.sub.2.
[0028] The dinitro diaza plasticiser comprises the following
components:
[0029] 2,4-Dinitro-2,4-diazapentane 40.+-.10% by weight
[0030] 2,4-Dinitro-2,4-diazahexane 45.+-.10% by weight
[0031] 3,5-Dinitro-3,5-diazaheptane 15.+-.15% by weight
[0032] The diagrammatically illustrated graph sets out the pressure
configuration on the orinate 2 when the weapon is fired in relation
to the temperature on the abscissa 1.
[0033] In the case of a propellent charge powder in accordance with
the state of the art the pressure changes very severely in the
specified temperature range of -50.degree. C. to +70.degree. C. in
accordance with the rising curve 5.
[0034] In comparison the pressure remains almost constant as
indicated by the curve 6 in the specified temperature range. The
curve 6 initially rises and then falls somewhat from the reversal
point 7. The optimum is an almost horizontal configuration
corresponding to the curve 15.
[0035] If the propellent charge powder in accordance with the
invention is altered by conventional measures such as altering the
grain geometry in such a way that the original curve 6 lies as
curve 6.1 with its reversal point 7.1 against the pressure limit
10, that denotes a considerable increase in power or performance of
10 to 20% with respect to the usual propellent charge powder as
indicated by curve 5.
* * * * *