Method of preparing propellants using multimodal grains of beta-octogen

Abstract

A method of preparing propellants involves using β-octogen with a multimodal grain size distribution and an average grain size of less than 50 μm in a propellant composition containing other explosives, inert binders and active binders.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of producing a propellant which comprises admixing of β-octogen having a multimodal grain size distribution and an average grain size of less than 50 μm as explosive in a propellant composition containing inert binders, and active binders.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to    claim 1   , wherein the propellant also contains α-octogen, polynitrophenylene, hexogen, guanidine nitrate, hexanitrodiphenylamine, dipicrylsulfone, hexanitrostilbene and/or tetranitrodibenzo-1,3a-4,6a-tetraazapentalene as other additional explosive.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to    claim 1    or    2   , wherein the inert binders comprise polyurethanes, polymethacrylates, polyvinyl acetates, silicones, and polyvinyl alcohols, especially partially or completely acetalized polyvinyl alcohols with C 1 -C 5  aldehydes.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to    claim 1    or    2   , wherein the active binder comprises polynitrophenylene.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to    claim 1    or    2   , wherein at least 95% by weight of the β-octogen exhibits a grain size of less than 100 μm.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein the propellant is prepared in a pressed form by appropriate compacting of the resultant admixture.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein the β-octogen comprises crystals of β-octogen encased by thermoplastic polymers.  
     
     
         8 . A propellant which comprises grains of β-octogen as an explosive admixed with an active binder and an inert binder, said β-octogen having a multimodal grain size distribution and an average grain size of less than 50 μm.  
     
     
         9 . The propellant according to    claim 8   , wherein the propellant also contains α-octogen, polynitrophenylene, hexogen, guanidine nitrate, hexanitrodiphenylamine, dipicrylsulfone, hexanitrostilbene and/or tetranitrodibenzo-1,3a-4,6a-tetraazapentalene as other additional explosive.  
     
     
         10 . The propellant according to    claim 8    or    9   , wherein the inert binders comprise polyurethanes, polymethacrylates, polyvinyl acetates, silicones, and polyvinyl alcohols, especially partially or completely acetalized polyvinyl alcohols with C 1 -C 5  aldehydes.  
     
     
         11 . The propellant according to    claim 8    or    9   , wherein the active binder comprises polynitrophenylene.  
     
     
         12 . The propellant according to    claim 8    or    9   , wherein at least 95% by weight of the β-octogen exhibits a grain size of less than 100 μm.  
     
     
         13 . The propellant according to    claim 8   , wherein the propellant is prepared in a pressed form by appropriate compacting of the resultant admixture.  
     
     
         14 . The propellant according to    claim 8   , wherein the β-octogen comprises crystals of β-octogen encased by thermoplastic polymers.  
     
     
         15 . The propellant according to    claim 9   , wherein the propellant contains 70 to 95 wt. % of explosive and 5 to 30 wt. % of binder, the explosive comprising 5 to 100 wt. % of β-octogen and 0 to 95 wt. % of the other additional explosive.