A combustible solid propellant composition is disclosed that includes an oxidizer of the reaction product under vacuum of potassium periodate and isocyanate, a polymer binder, a plasticizer, and a fuel.

A method of additively manufacturing propellant elements, such as for rocket motors, includes partially curing a propellant mixture before extruding or otherwise dispensing the material, such that the extruded propellant material is deposited on the element in a partially-cured state. The curing process for the partially-cured extruded material may be completed shortly after the material is put into place, for example by the material being heated at or above its cure temperature, such that it finishes curing before it fully cools. The propellant material may be prepared by first mixing together, a fuel, an oxidizer, and a binder, such as in an acoustic mixer. After that mixing a curative may be added to the mixture. The propellant mixture may then be directed to an extruder (or other dispenser), in which the mixture is heated to or above a cure temperature prior to the deposition, and then deposited.

The invention is directed to a radiation curable energetic composition, to a method of forming a three-dimensional energetic object, to a three-dimensional energetic object, and to uses of the radiation curable energetic composition. The radiation curable energetic composition of the invention comprises (a) one or more polymerisable components, (b) one or more polymerisation photoinitiators, and (c) one or more energetic components.

A composite explosive product, wherein its composition expressed as percentages by weight includes 85% to 92% of organic energetic charges; the organic energetic charges a) being selected from charges of octogen (HMX), hexogen (RDX), hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL20), penthrite (PETN), and mixtures thereof, and b) presenting a grain size distribution with a value for D90 less than 15 m and a value for D50 less than or equal to 5 m; and 7% to 12% of a polymer gum selected from polyurethane-polyester gums, polyurethane-polyether gums, and mixtures thereof, of number average molecular weight greater than 20,000 g/mol and of Mooney viscosity lying in the range 20 to 70 ML (5+4) at 100 C.; and wherein the composite explosive product has a thickness lying in the range 0.4 mm to 5 mm.

A method of manufacturing a press polymer-bonded explosive, in which a polymer emulsion is used to maximize the efficiency of a process, and a press polymer-bonded explosive manufactured using the same. The method includes a polymer-emulsion-manufacturing step of mixing a monomer of a polymer binder and an emulsifier with a process water and then adding an initiator to thus manufacture a polymer emulsion using a polymerization reaction, a slurry-manufacturing step of mixing a raw material including an explosive and an emulsion breaker with fresh process water to thus manufacture a slurry, an agglomerated-particle-forming step of adding the manufactured polymer emulsion to the manufactured slurry to thus form agglomerated particles in which a surface of the raw material is coated with the polymer binder, and an agglomerated-particle-obtaining step of collecting the agglomerated particles using filtration and drying the collected agglomerated particles.

A combustible solid propellant composition is disclosed that includes an oxidizer of the reaction product under vacuum of potassium periodate and isocyanate, a polymer binder, a plasticizer, and a fuel.

Energetic compositions and methods of forming components from the compositions are provided. In one embodiment, a composition includes aluminum, molybdenum trioxide, potassium perchlorate, and a binder. In one embodiment, the binder may include a silicone material. The materials may be mixed with a solvent, such as xylene, de-aired, shaped and cured to provide a self-supporting structure. In one embodiment, one or more reinforcement members may be added to provide additional strength to the structure. For example, a weave or mat of carbon fiber material may be added to the mixture prior to curing. In one embodiment, blade casting techniques may be used to form a structure. In another embodiment, a structure may be formed using 3-dimensional printing techniques.

A method of additively manufacturing propellant elements, such as for rocket motors, includes partially curing a propellant mixture before extruding or otherwise dispensing the material, such that the extruded propellant material is deposited on the element in a partially-cured state. The curing process for the partially-cured extruded material may be completed shortly after the material is put into place, for example by the material being heated at or above its cure temperature, such that it finishes curing before it fully cools. The propellant material may be prepared by first mixing together, a fuel, an oxidizer, and a binder, such as in an acoustic mixer. After that mixing a curative may be added to the mixture. The propellant mixture may then be directed to an extruder (or other dispenser), in which the mixture is heated to or above a cure temperature prior to the deposition, and then deposited.

This invention relates to a novel curing method of oligomers, using metal triflates, and particularly to the curing of hydroxyl terminated elastomers to achieve crosslinked polymers. The method finds particular use as an alternative cure methodology to replace isocyanate curing. There is further provided a cured and crosslinked polymer binder, which is particularly suitable and compatible for use with energetic materials. ##STR00001##

Energetic compositions and methods of forming components from the compositions are provided. In one embodiment, a composition includes aluminum, molybdenum trioxide, potassium perchlorate, and a binder. In one embodiment, the binder may include a silicone material. The materials may be mixed with a solvent, such as xylene, de-aired, shaped and cured to provide a self-supporting structure. In one embodiment, one or more reinforcement members may be added to provide additional strength to the structure. For example, a weave or mat of carbon fiber material may be added to the mixture prior to curing. In one embodiment, blade casting techniques may be used to form a structure. In another embodiment, a structure may be formed using 3-dimensional printing techniques.