Review Paper on Black Powder and Benite Igniter Compositions with Emphasis on Charcoal Performance
Abstract
This report offers a brief history (1950s to present) of black powder (BP), its constituents, formulation, and the functionality of each component, highlighting research from the US Army and Navy. Included is a 1) history of its manufacture and why BP is not just a mixture of its components; 2) review of what makes BP so unreliable (moisture absorbance, batch-to-batch variation, and packed bed limitations on flamespreading); 3) discussion of the development of nitrocellulose (NC) and its propensity to self-ignite (necessitating thoroughly washing NC and adding an alkaline material for stability); 4) review of the development of Benite, a so-called "non-hydrophilic" form of BP combining BP with NC; and 5) review of the advantages of Benite over BP, specifically, its extrudability (e.g., more uniform propellant bed ignition produces better performance); and review of short-term stability tests and improvement efforts. Recent investigations on substandard Benite lots suggest charcoal is the root cause of the performance variability. Analysis was done to determine the make-up of "good charcoal". While no consensus was reached, several indicators were widely accepted. Possible replacements for charcoal were suggested, with the most promising being phenolphthalein, anthraflavic acid, and carbon black. Recent developments in BP substitutes are also discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1143905
Entities
People
- J. R. Schmidt
- R. A. Pesce-rodriguez
Organizations
- United States Army