Burn rate modifier

Abstract

The invention relates generally to burn rate modifiers and propellants comprising a burn rate modifier. The Invention also relates to methods of producing a propellant comprising a burn rate modifier as well as an ammunition cartridge comprising the propellant. The burn rate modifier comprises a compound of formula 1 and the propellant comprises a compound of formula 1 and an energetic material.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A propellant comprising:
 an energetic material; and   a compound of formula 1   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
       R 1  is selected from the group consisting of —H, —C 1-4 alkyl, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —NH 2 , —NHC 1-4 alkyl and —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 ; and 
       R 2  is selected from the group consisting of —H, —C 1-4 alkyl and —C(═O)C 1-4 alkyl. 
     
     
         19 . The propellant according to  claim 18 , wherein the energetic material is in the form of granules. 
     
     
         20 . The propellant according to  claim 19 , wherein the granules comprise a perforation. 
     
     
         21 . The propellant according to  claim 18 , wherein the energetic material is selected from the group consisting of carbon black powder, ammonium perchlorate, hexogen, butanetrioltrinitrate, ethyleneglycol dintrate, diethyleneglycol dinitrate, erithritol tetranitrate, octogen, hexanitroisowurtzitane, metriol trinitrate, N-Methylnitramine, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, tetranitrobenzolamine, trinitrotoluene, nitroglcerine, nitrocellulose, mannitol hexanitrate, triethylene glycol dinitrate, guanidine, nitroguanidine, 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one, ammonium nitrate, propanediol dinitrate, hexamine, 5-aminotetrazole, methyltetrazole, phenyltetrazole, polyglycidylnitrate, polyglycidylazide, poly[3-nitratomethyl-3-methyloxitane], poly[3-azidomethyl-3-methyloxitane], poly[3,3-bis(azidomethyl)oxitane], nitrated cyclodextrin polymers, poly glycidylnitrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The propellant according to  claim 18 , wherein the energetic material is nitrocellulose. 
     
     
         23 . The propellant according to  claim 19 , wherein the compound of formula 1 is in the form of a coating on the surface of the granules. 
     
     
         24 . The propellant according to  claim 18 , further comprising a graphite layer. 
     
     
         25 . A method of preparing a propellant, comprising coating granules of an energetic material with a compound of formula 1 or dispersing a compound of formula 1 throughout granules of energetic material, wherein the compound of formula 1 is: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
       R 1  is selected from the group consisting of —H, —C 1-4 alkyl, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —NH 2 , —NHC 1-4 alkyl and —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 ; and 
       R 2  is selected from the group consisting of —H, —C 1-4 alkyl and —C(═O)C 1-4 alkyl. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the granules of energetic material are formed by extruding a slurry of the energetic material to form an extrudate cord and cutting the extrudate cord. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the energetic material is extruded with a perforation. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the compound of formula 1 is diffused into the granules of energetic material. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the compound of formula 1 is dispersed evenly throughout the granules of energetic material. 
     
     
         30 . An ammunition cartridge comprising a propellant according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         31 . The ammunition cartridge according to  claim 30 , comprising a casing, a primer and a projectile. 
     
     
         32 . The propellant according to  claim 18 , wherein the compound of formula 1 is 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. 
     
     
         33 . The propellant according to  claim 19 , wherein the energetic material is selected from the group consisting of carbon black powder, ammonium perchlorate, hexogen, butanetrioltrinitrate, ethyleneglycol dintrate, diethyleneglycol dinitrate, erithritol tetranitrate, octogen, hexanitroisowurtzitane, metriol trinitrate, N-Methylnitramine, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, tetranitrobenzolamine, trinitrotoluene, nitroglcerine, nitrocellulose, mannitol hexanitrate, triethylene glycol dinitrate, guanidine, nitroguanidine, 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one, ammonium nitrate, propanediol dinitrate, hexamine, 5-aminotetrazole, methyltetrazole, phenyltetrazole, polyglycidylnitrate, polyglycidylazide, poly[3-nitratomethyl-3-methyloxitane], poly[3-azidomethyl-3-methyloxitane], poly[3,3-bis(azidomethyl)oxitane], nitrated cyclodextrin polymers, poly glycidylnitrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the compound of formula 1 is 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the energetic material is selected from the group consisting of carbon black powder, ammonium perchlorate, hexogen, butanetrioltrinitrate, ethyleneglycol dintrate, diethyleneglycol dinitrate, erithritol tetranitrate, octogen, hexanitroisowurtzitane, metriol trinitrate, N-Methylnitramine, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, tetranitrobenzolamine, trinitrotoluene, nitroglcerine, nitrocellulose, mannitol hexanitrate, triethylene glycol dinitrate, guanidine, nitroguanidine, 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one, ammonium nitrate, propanediol dinitrate, hexamine, 5-aminotetrazole, methyltetrazole, phenyltetrazole, polyglycidylnitrate, polyglycidylazide, poly[3-nitratomethyl-3-methyloxitane], poly[3-azidomethyl-3-methyloxitane], poly[3,3-bis(azidomethyl)oxitane], nitrated cyclodextrin polymers, poly glycidylnitrate, and combinations thereof.