Hazard Classification of Liquid Propellants

Abstract

The lack of a formal protocol in the DoD safety community to evaluate liquid propellants prompted the establishment of a Hazard Classification of liquid propellants program. The DoD safety manual TB-700-2 has been used exclusively for the hazard classification of solid propellants and explosives in storage and transportation. A recent revision of this manual now addresses energetic liquids on a case by case basis. An examination of the UN document and NATO AOP-7 revealed deficiencies in making a final assessment for a hazard Classification of energetic liquids. The UN document only addressed explosives in transportation; while the NATO AOP-7 provides no criteria for making a final judgement to a Hazard Classification. The tests, procedures, and criteria for making a final classification can be found in the TB-700-2. For this reason, the TB 700-2 was selected as the role model for developing the Hazard Classification of energetic liquids. Since the tests and test procedures found in the TB-700-2 were designed to evaluate solid materials, it became apparent that modifications to these tests and test procedures would have to be made. The liquid propellants LP 1845 and LP 1846 are extremely sensitive to transition metals and nitric acid. Thus, containment of these liquids for a test evaluation would have to be made in a container compatible with these liquid. This paper will address the events leading up to the selection of the TB 700-2 as the role model for the Hazard Classification of liquid propellants, establishment of the interim- classification tests, test procedures, modifications to the test procedures, and criteria for classifying liquid propellants. The recommended tests designed for a final classification will be contingent upon evaluating the liquid propellants in approved DoD packaging.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA529686

Entities

People

  • Chester Grelecki
  • William Herrera
  • William O. Seals

Organizations

  • Southwest Research Institute

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Classification
  • Combustion
  • Department Of Defense
  • Drop Tests
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Flash Point
  • Heat Of Combustion
  • Ignition
  • Liquid Propellants
  • Materials
  • Materials Testing
  • Physical Properties
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Propellants
  • Shock Tests
  • Transition Metals

Readers

  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Software Engineering