Propellant compositions with metal nanoparticles

Abstract

A propellant composition comprises a propellant solvent, a propellant base, and a plurality of metal nanoparticles. A powder or dried propellant composition is formed by removing at least a portion of the propellant solvent. The metal nanoparticles of the plurality of metal nanoparticles are nonionic. The plurality of metal nanoparticles functions to reduce visible light output by the propellant composition during deflagration.

1 . A propellant composition, comprising:
 a propellant solvent;   a propellant base; and   a plurality of metal nanoparticles, the metal nanoparticles of the plurality of metal nanoparticles being nonionic, wherein the plurality of metal nanoparticles functions to reduce visible light output by the propellant composition during deflagration.   
     
     
         2 . The propellant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles are formed by laser ablation. 
     
     
         3 . The propellant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticles comprise one or more of silver, gold, cobalt, platinum, or antimony. 
     
     
         4 . The propellant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticles comprise spherical-shaped metal nanoparticles. 
     
     
         5 . The propellant composition of  claim 4 , wherein at least 99% of the spherical-shaped metal nanoparticles have a diameter within 30% of a mean diameter and/or within ±3 nm of the mean diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The propellant composition of  claim 5 , wherein the mean diameter is about 40 nm or less. 
     
     
         7 . The propellant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticles comprise coral-shaped nanoparticles. 
     
     
         8 . The propellant composition of  claim 7 , wherein at least 99% of the metal nanoparticles have a length within 30% of a mean length and/or within ±3 nm of the mean length. 
     
     
         9 . The propellant composition of  claim 8 , wherein the mean length of the coral-shaped nanoparticles is within a range of about 15 nm to about 100 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The propellant composition of  claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the metal nanoparticles within the propellant composition is within a range of about 200 ppb to about 10 ppm. 
     
     
         11 . The propellant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticles modify a range of wavelengths of visible light output by the propellant composition during deflagration. 
     
     
         12 . The propellant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the propellant solvent comprises acetone. 
     
     
         13 . The propellant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the propellant base comprises one or more of nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, or nitroguanidine. 
     
     
         14 . The dry or powdered propellant composition manufactured by a process comprising:
 providing the propellant composition of claim; and   removing of at least a portion of the propellant solvent.   
     
     
         15 . The dry or powdered propellant composition of  claim 14 , wherein the dry or powdered propellant composition comprises a multi-base propellant formed using an additional second propellant base. 
     
     
         16 . An ammunition cartridge, comprising:
 a projectile; and   a dry or powdered propellant composition, the propellant composition comprising:
 a propellant base; and 
 a plurality of metal nanoparticles dispersed into the propellant base, the metal nanoparticles of the plurality of metal nanoparticles being nonionic, wherein the plurality of metal nanoparticles functions to reduce visible light output by the propellant composition during deflagration. 
   
     
     
         17 . The ammunition cartridge of claim  0 , further comprising:
 a casing, wherein the projectile is coupled to the casing, the casing and the projectile defining an interior cavity, and wherein the propellant composition resides within the interior cavity; and   a priming composition arranged proximate to the propellant composition, the priming composition being configured to ignite the propellant composition in response to a triggering condition.   
     
     
         18 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 17 , the priming composition comprising a second plurality of metal nanoparticles, the metal nanoparticles of the second plurality of metal nanoparticles being nonionic and formed by laser ablation, wherein the second plurality of metal nanoparticles functions to reduce visible light output by the priming composition during ignition. 
     
     
         19 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the projectile is embedded within the propellant composition and wherein the ammunition cartridge is caseless. 
     
     
         20 . A method of deflagrating a propellant composition in a manner that reduces visible light output by the propellant composition during deflagration, the method comprising:
 providing a propellant composition comprised of:
 a propellant base; and 
 a plurality of metal nanoparticles, the metal nanoparticles of the plurality of metal nanoparticles being nonionic, wherein the plurality of metal nanoparticles functions to reduce visible light output by the propellant composition during deflagration; and 
   causing a triggering condition that ignites the propellant composition and causes deflagration thereof, the metal nanoparticles of the propellant composition reducing visible light output by the propellant composition during deflagration.