Gun Propellants Stability Research 1998(Stabiliteit kruiten 1998).
Abstract
The results of investigations into the improvement of the gun propellant surveillance are presented in this report. In the project (A96KL446), observations were investigated that cannot be investigated in the standard surveillance project (A98KL414). A need for this was felt, as no change had been taken place in the surveillance for twenty years, while from time to time interesting results have been observed from time to time. Firstly, attention was focused on the heat generation apparatus and the measurement principle. Although, the principle of heat generation and the resulting signal in a thermo-element is known, there was no good visualisation of the physical process of heat generation and the resulting signal. Changes to the test procedure were applied to investigate the sensitivity of the mode of operation (calibration procedure, degree of filling, thermal pre-treatment of the test vessel). Subsequently, the atmosphere in the test vessel was varied; mainly the relative humidity of the air. The gun propellant was wetted by direct application of water. Measurements were conducted also in a very dry environment. It proves that for SB-propellants the heat production is the highest when the propellant is directly wetted. This was not observed for DB- and DEGDN-propellants. For those propellants the highest heat production was measured in a dry atmosphere. It is almost sure that this is not a result of a higher propellant decomposition rate, but what the origin is, is not known yet. Finally, work that has been performed through participation in the NATO Life Assessment Expert Working Party' will be reported. This party developed several STANAGs. In the last year, attention has been given to STANAG 4542, the Heat Flux Calorimetry STANAG and a STANAG concerning composite propellants (the latter two have no STANAG number yet, see Chapter 4.1).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA372652
Entities
People
- B. J. Van Der Meer
- M. N. Boers
- W. P. De Klerk
Organizations
- Prins Maurits Laboratorium TNO