Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Based Processing of PEP Binder Polymers
Abstract
In recent years, supercritical (SC) CO2 has been examined as an environmentally acceptable solvent for many processing applications. CO2 has modest critical properties and is non-toxic, non-corrosive, and inexpensive. SC CO2 has proven to be a very good solvent for a variety of polymers and copolymers. A collaborative effort between Johns Hopkins (JHU) Dept. of Chemical Engineering, JHU/Chemical Propulsion Information Agency (CPIA), and Army Research Lab (ARL) is examining the phase behavior and extraction of various binder polymers used in propellant, explosives, and pyrotechnic (PEP) formulations in SC CO2 and other supercritical fluids for the purpose of developing environmentally acceptable processing and demilitarization methods for some current PEP materials, and for designing new PEP formulations that employ modified binder polymers amenable to SC CO2 processing for enhanced life cycle pollution prevention. The polymers investigated include polyethylene, oxidized polyethylene, poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) with trade names Viton-A and Fluorel, poly(urethane) with trade name Estane, poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene-co-vinylidene fluoride) with trade name Kel-F, and cellulose acetate butyrate.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA363258
Entities
People
- J. B. Morris
- J. E. Cocchiaro
- M. A. Mchugh
- T. P. Dinoia
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory