The invention is directed to a nitrogen gas generator comprising a housing having two ends, ignition means at one end of the housing and a gas outflow opening at the other end of the housing, a volume of a filter at the outflow opening, a volume of solid propellant comprising sodium azide, a binder, a coolant and between 1 and 10 wt % of iron (III) oxide. Between the ignition means and the volume of solid propellant an active layer is present. The active layer comprises between 60 and 90 wt % of sodium azide, between 1 and 15 wt % of a binder, between 0.1 and 10 wt % of a coolant and between 5 and 30 wt % of iron (III) oxide. The content of iron (III) oxide in the active layer is higher than the content of iron(III)oxide in the solid propellant.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a simulant and method relating to producing a simulant. For example, a simulant of a textured target threat includes a background material associated with a background attenuation, and a texture component(s) dispersed in the background material and associated with a component attenuation and a component characteristic. The component characteristic prevents the component attenuation of the texture component from being homogeneously dispersed throughout the background attenuation of the background material, to cause the simulant to mimic an aspect(s) of an X-ray signature of the textured target threat.

Flares with consumable weights connected to a forward end of the grain of the flare are disclosed. Also disclosed are consumable weight components for flares. The consumable weight components include a metal material within a matrix. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating a flare and methods for using a flare. Use of the consumable weights in the flares may reduce the amount of debris falling to ground.

Flares with consumable weights connected to a forward end of the grain of the flare are disclosed. Also disclosed are consumable weight components for flares. The consumable weight components include a metal material within a matrix. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating a flare and methods for using a flare. Use of the consumable weights in the flares may reduce the amount of debris falling to ground.

A process for mixing two materials using acoustic energy. A first material and a second material are placed within a mixing vessel and acoustic energy is transferred to the vessel. The first material has a plurality of particles with porosity and the second material may or may not be a polymeric liquid. The acoustic energy mixes the first material and the second material, the second material coats the first material, and shear forces are created that force the second material into at least a portion of the porosity of the first material.

A process for mixing two materials using acoustic energy. A first material and a second material are placed within a mixing vessel and acoustic energy is transferred to the vessel. The first material has a plurality of particles with porosity and the second material may or may not be a polymeric liquid. The acoustic energy mixes the first material and the second material, the second material coats the first material, and shear forces are created that force the second material into at least a portion of the porosity of the first material.

Flares with consumable weights connected to a forward end of the grain of the flare are disclosed. Also disclosed are consumable weight components for flares. The consumable weight components include a metal material within a matrix. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating a flare and methods for using a flare. Use of the consumable weights in the flares may reduce the amount of debris falling to ground.

Flares with consumable weights connected to a forward end of the grain of the flare are disclosed. Also disclosed are consumable weight components for flares. The consumable weight components include a metal material within a matrix. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating a flare and methods for using a flare. Use of the consumable weights in the flares may reduce the amount of debris falling to ground.

For production of a propellant charge powder, especially for medium and large calibers, in a process in which the solid is incorporated together with a liquid in a mixing and drying process into the channels of a granular green material and compacted therein to form a plug, the solid, under otherwise identical process conditions, is set within a setting range of >0-0.5% by weight based on the weight of the granular green material. For more significant lowering of the maximum pressure within an upper temperature range and for more significant raising of the maximum pressure within a lower temperature range of the application temperature range, an increased amount of solid is used. The solid is a substance whose melting point is at least 10 C., especially 20 C., above a maximum use temperature of the propellant charge powder and which is inert toward the granular green material. Since the plug consists virtually exclusively of inert material, a high ballistic stability is achieved.

For production of a propellant charge powder, especially for medium and large calibers, in a process in which the solid is incorporated together with a liquid in a mixing and drying process into the channels of a granular green material and compacted therein to form a plug, the solid, under otherwise identical process conditions, is set within a setting range of >0-0.5% by weight based on the weight of the granular green material. For more significant lowering of the maximum pressure within an upper temperature range and for more significant raising of the maximum pressure within a lower temperature range of the application temperature range, an increased amount of solid is used. The solid is a substance whose melting point is at least 10 C., especially 20 C., above a maximum use temperature of the propellant charge powder and which is inert toward the granular green material. Since the plug consists virtually exclusively of inert material, a high ballistic stability is achieved.