Thermochemical and Burning Rate Properties of Deterred U.S. Small Arms Propellants
Abstract
The depth of penetration was determined in eight U.S. military small arms propellants. The measurements were made on microtomed sections of the propellants. Staining techniques were used with some of the propellants to obtain good delineation of the deterrent-layer boundary. The propellants involved were double-base ball propellants WC 846 and WC 870, and single-base extruded IMR 4227, IMR 4350, IMR 5010, IMR 8138M, and CMR 160. From the results of the depth of penetration measurements, the compositions of the inner, undeterred, region and the composition of the outer, deterrent-containing, region were calculated. The Hirshfelder-Sherman method and the BLAKE code were used to compute the thermochemical properties of the overall compositions, and the compositions of the deterred and undeterred regions. The results from the two approaches are compared. The burning rate parameters were finally calculated for the different layers in the WC 870 and CMR 160 propellants on the basis of four different correlations of burning rate with adiabatic flame temperature. The results provide a selection of empirical equations to calculate burning rate constants, for the deterrent-containing and undeterred layers useful for interior ballistic calculations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA086093
Entities
People
- Ludwig Stiefel
Organizations
- United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center