SOLID PROPELLANT FORMULATIONS AND METHODS AND DEVICES EMPLOYING THE SAME FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF AIRBORNE BIOLOGICAL AND/OR CHEMICAL AGENTS

摘要

High temperature incendiary (HTI) devices and methods destroy biological and/or chemical agents. Preferably, such HTI devices include dual modal propellant compositions having low burn rate propellant particles dispersed in a matrix of a high burn rate propellant. Most preferably, the HTI device includes a casing which contains the dual modal propellant and a nozzle through which combustion gases generated by the ignited high burn rate propellant may be discharged thereby entraining ignited particles of the low burn rate propellant. In use, therefore, the high burn rate propellant will be ignited using a conventional igniter thereby generating combustion gases which are expelled through the nozzle of the HTI device. As the ignition face of the propellant composition regresses, the low burn rate particles will similarly become ignited. Since the low burn rate particles burn at a lesser rate as compared to the high burn rate propellant in which such particles are dispersed, the ignited particles per se will be expelled through the nozzle and will therefore continue to burn in the ambient environment. Such continued burning of the particles will thereby be sufficient to destroy chemical and/or biological agents that may be present in the ambient environment.