DNDA - PROPELLANTS

03.2006 Mue

DNDA GUN PROPELLANTS

Dr. Dietmar MuellerFraunhofer Institut Chemische Technologie ( ICT ) D-76327 Pfinztal, Germany

e-mail : mue@ict.fhg.de Phone: +49 721 4640 386

Walter Langlotz

Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG, Fischbachstr. 16, D-90552 Roethenbach, Germany

41st Annual Armament Systems:

Gun and Missile Systems Conference & Exhibition

March 27 – 30, 2006, Sacramento Convention Center

Sacramento, CA, U.S.A.

DNDA - PROPELLANTS

03.2006 Mue

♦ Processing Technologies

♦ DNDA Gun Propellants● Temperature behaviour● Influence of the Processing Technology● Sensitivity datas● ARC● Longterm Stability● Closed Bomb Tests● Gun Test Firing

♦ Results & Conclusion

Content

DNDA - PROPELLANTS

03.2006 Mue

Batch - Process using Duplex MixerSolvent Process

DNDA - PROPELLANTS

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Continous Shear Roller ProcessProcess for waterwet Paste

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Twin - Screw Extruder Process

Dew atering

Solidloss-in-w eightFeeder

Solvent Pump System

Gear BoxHydraulic Drive

Die w ithDie Lif t -Of f -System ( Safety – Device )

Cutter Conveyer ( sw ivel )

ConveyerConveyer

Strands Cutter

Remote Controlled Ref illing Equipment

T S E 58 E o o

o o

Con - veyer( w ide )

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4 0 0 0

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60propellant temperature (°C)

max

imum

gas

pre

ssur

e

DNDA Propellant ( LTC )

Conventional Propellant

Pm

DNDA Propellant ( LTC )

Temperature behaviour of gun propellantsMax. gas pressure vs propellant temperature

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Behaviour of DNDA - Propellant at -40°C, +21°C, +50°C in Closed Vessel

Dynamic Vivacity200 ml Bombe; ICT DNDA -TLP; Ladedichte: 0,3 g/ccm

0,05

0,06

0,07

0,08

0,09

0,10

0,11

0,12

0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1

p / pm ( - )

L ( 1

/ ba

r * s

)

Tc: 21 °C

Tc: 50 °C

Tc: - 40

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Influence of the Processing Technologie / DNDA Propellant

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.00.00

0.25

0.50

0.75

1.00

1.25

1.50

1.75

Los 180705 - Temperaturbeschuß bei Δ=0.2g/ml in Vb=310 ml

343 K 336 K 323 K 294 K 233 K

Lebh

aftig

keit

[1/(M

Pa*s

)]

relativer Abbrand z0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

0.00

0.25

0.50

0.75

1.00

1.25

1.50

1.75 Los 190705 - Temperaturbeschuß bei Δ=0.2g/ml in Vb=310 ml

343 K 336 K 323 K 294 K 233 K

Lebh

aftig

keit

[1/(M

Pa*s

)]

relativer Abbrand z

Low Friction High Friction

Vivacity of the Propellants

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.00.00

0.25

0.50

0.75

1.00

1.25

1.50

1.75

Los 250199/W - Temperaturbeschuß bei Δ=0.2g/ml in Vb=310 ml

294 K 323 K

Lebh

aftig

keit

[1/(M

Pa*s

)]

relativer Abbrand z

Shear RollerContinous ProcessWaterwet Paste

Batch - Process Mixer

p / pm p / pm p / pm

Viva

city

[ M

Pa*s

]

Viva

city

[ M

Pa*s

]

Viva

city

[ M

Pa*s

]

DNDA - PROPELLANTS

03.2006 Mue

Influence of the Processing Technology

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.00.00

0.25

0.50

0.75

1.00

1.25

1.50

1.75

Los 180705 - Temperaturbeschuß bei Δ=0.2g/ml in Vb=310 ml

343 K 336 K 323 K 294 K 233 K

Lebh

aftig

keit

[1/(M

Pa*s

)]

relativer Abbrand z0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

0.00

0.25

0.50

0.75

1.00

1.25

1.50

1.75

Los 190705 - Temperaturbeschuß bei Δ=0.2g/ml in Vb=310 ml

343 K 336 K 323 K 294 K 233 K

Lebh

aftig

keit

[1/(M

Pa*s

)]

relativer Abbrand z

geringe Friktion große Friktion

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.00.00

0.25

0.50

0.75

1.00

1.25

1.50

1.75

Los 250199/W - Temperaturbeschuß bei Δ=0.2g/ml in Vb=310 ml

294 K 323 K

Lebh

aftig

keit

[1/(M

Pa*s

)]

relativer Abbrand z

Gaspressure in the GunLOS 190705

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Temp. [°C]

Pres

sure

[bar

]

Gaspressure in the GunLOS 180705

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Temp. [°C]

Pres

sure

[bar

]

-40 0 5020 70 -40 0 50 20 70

Gaspressure in the Gun LOS 250199

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Temp. [°C]

Pres

sure

[bar

]

-40 0 5020 70

Viva

city

[ M

Pa*s

]

Viva

city

[ M

Pa*s

]

Viva

city

[ M

Pa*s

]

p / pmp / pmp / pm

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DNDA Gun Propellants

RDX

Binder, Nitrocellulose

DNDA Plasticizer

energy density adaptable

flame temperature approx. 500 K lower than that of conventional propellants

Formulation Impetus (J/g) Flame Temp (K) Mol wt (g/mole) A 1080 2540 19.4 B 1180 2910 20.8 C 1300 3390 21.6

Plasticizer mixed into the Propellant – Dough

NO SURFACE COATING

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Safety

Safety datas

burningShaped charge impact test

approx. 205 °C Cook – off Temp.

burningFast cook off test

approx. 200 - 220°CIgnition temperature

4 JSensitivity to impact

160 NSensitivity to friction

< 1.65 %Loss of weight after 30 days

< 1.10 %Loss of weight after 18 days

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+ 50 °C 20 mPa*s + 20 °C 137 mPa*s Newton Behaviour 0 °C 1532 mPa*s - 6 °C 5595 mPa*s - 7 °C 6928 mPa*s Structurally Viscose Behaviour - 8 °C 9059 mPa*s - 9 °C 11351 mPa*s

Viscosity of the DNDA PlasticizerRotational Rheometer Results

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ARCAccelerating Rate Investigations of DNDA - Propellants compared with CAB-Lova, M30and Single Base Prop.

Single Base

CAB-LOVA

M30

LTC Prop.

E 01/01

E 02/01E 03/01

0,01

0,1

1

10

100

120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210

Temp. [°C]

Acc

eler

atin

g Ra

te [

°C/m

in]

LTC 2

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ARCDNDA compared with NENA

Accelerating Rate Results

DNDA

NENA

DNDA

0,01

0,1

1

10

100

100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260

Temp. [°C]

Acc

eler

atin

g R

ate

[°C

/min

]..

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Shaped Charge Test ( cal. 44 mm )Cartridge cal. 35 mm

CAB -LOVA Propellant

DNDA Propellant

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Longterm Stability at 90°C / DNDA - Propellant

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Longterm Stability of JA2 at 90 °C

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40 mm Gun Firing Tests of 3 propellantsfrom -40 °C till +50 °C

2200

2600

3000

3400

3800

4200

15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55

Propellant temperature (°C)

max

imum

gas

pre

ssur

e (b

ar)

Prop 2

Prop 1

Prop 3

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40 mm Gun Firing TestsTemperature behaviour unaffected by loading density and pressure level

1400

1450

1500

1550

1600

1650

1700

-50 -30 -10 10 30 50

Tc (°C)

Ve (m

/s)

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

-50 -30 -10 10 30 50

Tc (°C)

Pm (b

ar)

Mc4

Mc3

Mc2

Mc1

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75 mm Scale model gun derived from 120 mm tank gun♦ based on interior ballistic similary laws♦ less cost ( combustible paper case, less propellant mass )

DNDA - PROPELLANTS

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Test Firing in 75 mm cal. Model GunOptimized Propellant for firing at 21°CGaspressure vs Temp.

P m vs T

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

5500

6000

Temp. [ °C ]

P m

[ ba

r ]

- 40 + 21 + 50

JA 2

LTC Prop

DNDA - PROPELLANTS

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Test Firing in 75 mm cal. Model GunOptimized Propellant for firing at 21°CMuzzle velocity vs Temp.Muzzle velocity of LTC Propellant same at 21°C like JA2

V o vs T

1500

1550

1600

1650

1700

1750

Temp. [ °C ]

V o

[ m

/ s

]

JA 2

LTC Prop

- 40 + 21 + 50

DNDA - PROPELLANTS

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Erosivity of LTC - Propellants and Conventional Propellants

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

900 950 1000 1050 1100 1150 1200

Force (J/g)

mas

slo

ss(%

)

double base

double base

triple base

triple base

single base

single base

single base

LTC 1

LTC 2LTC 3

LTC 4

LTC 5

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Results & Conclusion♦ DNDA - Propellants ( LTC ) for a wide Caliber - Range

♦ High Cook - Off Temperature ≥ 205 °C

♦ High Selfignition Temperature > 210 °C

♦ Less Sensitive ( Shaped Charge Test etc. )

♦ Excellent Longterm Stability

♦ Low Barrel Erosion

♦ Easily to Ignite by Pyrotech.