Performance characteristics of nitramine-based gun propellants with TEGDN as energetic plasticizer

This study mainly explored the performance characteristics of nitramine-based (NB) gun propellants using TEGDN as an energetic plasticizer by experimental method. Three series of NB gun propellant samples with RDX, HMX or CL-20 were prepared referring to the formulation of JA2 gun propellant. Their thermochemical characteristics, explosion heat, chemical stability and compatibility, impact, friction and electrostatic spark sensitivities, and compressive strength were determined by various instruments. The experimental results indicated that the NB gun propellant samples with RDX have lower decomposition temperature, and those with CL-20 have higher thermogravimetric loss. Three series of NB gun propellant samples have good chemical stability and compatibility, and their explosion heat is close to that of JA2 gun propellant, but their sensitivity is lower than that of JA2 gun propellant. The maximum stress of three series of NB gun propellant samples decreases with increasing cyclic nitramine (RDX, HMX or CL-20) content, and their compressive strength is better than that of JA2 gun propellant. image

Automated summary

This study investigated the performance characteristics of nitramine-based gun propellants using TEGDN as an energetic plasticizer through experimental methods. The results showed that these gun propellant samples had good chemical stability and compatibility, with explosion heat similar to JA2 gun propellant and lower sensitivity. Additionally, their compressive strength was better than that of JA2 gun propellant.