Condensed-Phase Processes during Solid Propellant Combustion. Part 2: Chemical and Microscopic Examination of Conductively Quenched Samples of RDX, XM39, JA2, M30, and HMX-Binder Compositions.

摘要

Burning propellant samples were quenched, and the burned surfaces were examined microscopically and by chemical analysis. Studies are in progress on a series of propellants including XM39, M30, JA2, RDX, and HMX-polyester compositions. The results to date are consistent with the idea that at least at low pressures (below 2.0 MPa), a liquid layer forms during combustion of most of the propellants, with the possible exception of JA2; scanning electron microscope examination shows the existence of a liquid layer but does not provide evidence of degradation below this layer. The effect of composition and pressure on this liquid layer is discussed. Further gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis confirms our earlier result that at least in the case of XM39, the stabilizer is depleted considerably in the surface layers, presumably by reaction with nitrogen oxides formed by decomposition of RDX and NC. Further high performance liquid chromatography results confirm our earlier result that for XM39, HMX2, and RDX (which contain the cyclic nitramines HMX and RDX), there is a significant increase in concentration of the mechanistically significant nitrosamines MRDX and DRDX over the very small amounts possibly present as impurities In RDX and HMX. FTIR-PAS results provide evidence for condensed-phase reaction In M30 and JA2. Solid propellants; gun propellants; quenching; combustion; propellants; HMX; RDX, JA2; M30; XM39; extinguishment.