| Abstract: | Efforts to develop very high energy tank gun propellants based on traditional double or triple base propellant technology have often failed to deliver the low vulnerability required in Insensitive Munitions. One strand of the United Kingdom's formulation research programme has focused on the alternative technology of composite propellants. A range of composite LOVA propellants based on the energetic binder polyNIMMO in combination with various fillers and plasticisers has been examined. Assessment of their vulnerability in the UK Small Scale Shaped Charge Attack test has shown correlations linked both to the choice of filler and to the volume percentage of filler present. Through a fuller understanding of the factors involved it has been shown to be possible to formulate propellants with an impetus of up to 1300 kJ/kg which still show a low response to shaped charge attack. This and previous studies have also identified the effect of grain geometry and web size on vulnerability. Since these parameters are dictated by ballistic considerations a thorough understanding of the ballistic behaviour of this new class of materials is particularly important. Vulnerability and ballistic considerations are presented and discussed. |
