Development trends in artillery ammunition propellants

Abstract

A short history of nitrocellulose (NC) use in propellants is discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of NC as a semi-synthetic component of powders and rocket propellants are presented. Based on the conventional classification of propellants, the options of eliminating nitrocellulose in different types of powders and rocket propellants are discussed in detail. The analysis shows that in the foreseeable future, the elimination of NC in single-base and double-base propellants is highly unlikely. The observed trends in triple-base propellant development also does not show any tendencies in the elimination of NC, only the replacement of nitroguanidine with cyclic nitroamines. However, the elimination of NC in LOVA composite propellants is probable. Synthetic, rubber-based solid composite rocket propellants, with ammonium perchlorate as the oxidizer, are the only ones not dependent on NC.