The present invention relates to processes for making macromolecular networks, macromolecular networks made by such processes, and methods of using such macromolecular networks. Such process employs a low amount of amine compound as a reaction accelerant. The rates of chemical reaction are thereby easily controlled over several orders of magnitude, permitting efficient catalysis and control of reaction conditions needed to produce thermochemically stable macromolecular networks.

An explosive with reduced detonation performance that includes an explosive powder that detonates with a reaction velocity of less than 5000 feet per second, a polymer resin, and an inert filler.

A hot-gas-generating apparatus for reacting a propellant comprises a combustion chamber, at least one injector that is arranged upstream of the combustion chamber and can be closed, on the combustion chamber side, to the propellant, electrodes being integrated in said injector, and at least one supply line for the propellant. In this context, the propellant is a monopropellant and a substantially water-free ionic solution having low vapor pressure, preferably with a residual water content of less than five percent by mass, which is capable of self-sustaining combustion at a given combustion chamber pressure, and the electrodes have at least two electrodes of opposite polarity which are suitable for electrically igniting the propellant by means of a flow of current through the propellant when this propellant flows between the opposite-polarity electrodes.

A device is disclosed for controlling a rate of gas pressure increase generated by a propellant for propelling a projectile from an upstream towards a downstream end of a gun barrel. The device includes a first surface area defined by the propellant and a deterrent applied to a second surface area defined by the first surface area, the second surface area being less than the first surface area. The arrangement is such that the second surface area defines a deterrent free third surface area of the propellant. A primer is operatively disposed relative to the third surface area such that when the primer is activated, the third surface area of the propellant is ignited. The arrangement is such that firstly, while the third surface area is burning and generating gas between the upstream end of the gun barrel and the projectile, the rate of gas pressure increase begins to propel the projectile towards the downstream end of the gun barrel. Secondly, the third surface area of the propellant while burning exposes a progressively increasing surface area of the propellant for burning together with an associated increased generation of gas, the increasing surface area of the propellant defining a concave crater, the crater having a wall which progressively increases in surface area during the burning such that the rate of increase in gas pressure continues to increase for accelerating the projectile towards the downstream end of the gun barrel.

A precursor formulation comprising, before curing, a hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) prepolymer or a hydroxyl-terminated polyether (HTPE) prepolymer, an oxidizer, a dimer fatty diol, and an isocyanate curative. A solid propellant comprising a reaction product of the HTPB prepolymer or HTPE prepolymer, the dimer fatty diol, and the isocyanate curative is also disclosed, as is a rocket motor comprising a case and a solid propellant in the case, the solid propellant comprising the reaction product and an oxidizer. A method of reducing a burn rate of a solid propellant is also disclosed.

Humidity and temperature may impact the physical properties of Basic Copper Nitrate (BCN), (Cu.sub.2(OH).sub.3(NO.sub.3), BCN) inorganic particles. The use of hydrophobic surface coatings on these inorganic particles have been found to protect and/or minimize the amount of surface degradation over a period of time.

An explosive mixture compositionally comprises a powdered deuteride of an alkaline earth metal or alkali metal mixed with a catalytic mixture, wherein said catalytic mixture comprises red phosphorous powder and a transition metal powder from Period 4 or Period 5 of the Periodic table.

A method of forming polymer composites includes mixing a transition metal oxide precursor including at least one transition metal, a polymer as a binder, a solvent for the polymer, and water to form a first solution including polymer-transition metal complexes. The polymer-transition metal complexes are hydrolyzed to produce a plurality of transition metal oxide nanoparticles, wherein water is added in the mixing in a stoichiometric excess for the hydrolyzing. The solvent and residual of the water remaining after the hydrolyzing are removed. A polymer composite including the transition metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed in the polymer results after the removing, where some of the polymer is chemically conjugated to a surface of the transition metal oxide nanoparticles.

A device is disclosed for controlling a rate of gas pressure increase generated by a propellant for propelling a projectile from an upstream towards a downstream end of a gun barrel. The device includes a first surface area defined by the propellant and a deterrent applied to a second surface area defined by the first surface area, the second surface area being less than the first surface area. The arrangement is such that the second surface area defines a deterrent free third surface area of the propellant. A primer is operatively disposed relative to the third surface area such that when the primer is activated, the third surface area of the propellant is ignited. The arrangement is such that firstly, while the third surface area is burning and generating gas between the upstream end of the gun barrel and the projectile, the rate of gas pressure increase begins to propel the projectile towards the downstream end of the gun barrel. Secondly, the third surface area of the propellant while burning exposes a progressively increasing surface area of the propellant for burning together with an associated increased generation of gas, the increasing surface area of the propellant defining a concave crater, the crater having a wall which progressively increases in surface area during the burning such that the rate of increase in gas pressure continues to increase for accelerating the projectile towards the downstream end of the gun barrel.

A gas generant composition for an automotive inflatable restraint system includes one or more: fuels, such as guanidine nitrate; oxidizers, such as basic copper nitrate; and an alkaline earth zirconium oxide. The gas generant composition is substantially free of potassium perchlorate. The alkaline earth zirconium oxide may be barium zirconate (BaZrO.sub.3), calcium zirconate (CaZrO.sub.3), and/or strontium zirconate (SrZrO.sub.3). The alkaline earth zirconium oxide may be present at about 0.1% by mass to about 6% by mass of the gas generant composition. Such gas generants may be cool burning (e.g., a maximum flame temperature at combustion (T.sub.c) of about 1700K (1,427 C.)), have a linear burn rate of about 20 mm per second at a pressure of about 21 MPa and a linear burn rate pressure exponent (n) of about 0.35. Method of making such gas generants are also provided.