Safer Resonant Acoustic Mixing Methods For High-Volume Production Of Pyrotechnics

Abstract

The objective of this work was to develop and mature a resonant acoustic mixing (RAM) process to reduce the environmental, safety, and occupational health impacts currently observed in the mix-muller manufacturing process of Magnesium/Sodium Nitrate/Epoxy illumination compositions. All RAM compositions were observed to be more homogenous with similar/slightly lower sensitivity than the mix-muller produced materials. Performance testing showed that resonant acoustic mixed material produced similar burn times and similar/increased luminous efficiency to a mix-muller produced composition. In collaboration with Crane Army Ammunition Activity, three M485A2 illumination candles with RAM illumination composition were subjected to standard testing procedures and performed similarly to their mix-muller counterparts. Furthermore, projected benefits of a production-scale RAM process may result in significant increases to overall throughput, labor cost reduction of 61-96%, and a reduction in acetone used for cleanup operations by over 99%.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2020
Accession Number
AD1135605

Entities

People

  • Anthony P. Shaw
  • Christina M. Yamamoto
  • Eric Miklaszewski
  • Jay C. Poret
  • Joel T Dunham
  • Robert Gilbert

Organizations

  • Naval Surface Warfare Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ammunition
  • Composite Materials
  • Compressive Strength
  • Energetic Materials
  • Engineering
  • Environment
  • Explosives
  • Flares
  • Infrared Decoys
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Performance Tests
  • Pyrotechnics
  • Resins
  • Surface Warfare

Readers

  • Acoustics.
  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Munitions and Ordnance Engineering