Solventless Manufacture of Artillery Propellant Using Thermoplastic Elastomer Binder, PP-867

摘要

Multi-base gun propellant for artillery ammunition creates 0.3 lb of solvent emissions per lb of propellant, and at expected production rates of 3 million lb/yr, this represents the largest source of VOC emissions due to gun propellant production. New thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) binders are available which should make it possible to develop and manufacture gun propellants that are producible without solvent emissions. These binders may be useable in a variety of other energetic material applications, including rocket propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics. In addition to solvent reduction or elimination, TPE binders may permit recovery and recycling of propellant ingredients for additional pollution prevention. To date, these TPEs have not been qualified for use in military ordnance systems, largely due to the perceived risk of using novel materials and manufacturing processes.