Composite Propellant Anti-Glow Agents for High-Pressure Discretion

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-energy propellants for tactical missiles face challenges in managing discretion during combustion, particularly in the acceleration phase, where post-combustion phenomena and smoke emission are difficult to control, especially with existing anti-glow agents proving ineffective at high pressures.

Innovation Solution

A composite pyrotechnic product with a crosslinked hydroxytelechelic polyglycidyl azide binder and specific potassium salt anti-glow agents, such as potassium cryolite or monobasic potassium tartrate, is developed, which minimizes post-combustion phenomena and smoke emission even at pressures up to 16 MPa.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If conventional anti-glow agents (such as potassium sulfate, potassium nitrate) are used in high-energy composite propellants, then energy performance is improved, but post-combustion phenomena and smoke emission increase during the acceleration phase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy performanceVSAvoidpost-combustion phenomena and smoke emission
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing conventional anti-glow agents (potassium sulfate, potassium nitrate) with alternative compounds (potassium aluminum fluoride, cryolite, monobasic potassium tartrate). This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining the anti-glow function while eliminating post-combustion phenomena and reducing smoke emission, even at high pressures up to 16 MPa during the acceleration phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs anti-glow agents that are effective in small quantities and provide their function during the critical acceleration phase only. The use of specific compounds like monobasic potassium tartrate and potassium aluminum fluoride allows for minimal additive content while achieving the desired discretion effect during the high-pressure phase, without requiring large amounts of conventional additives that would persist and cause harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Power

If the pressure during combustion is increased to enhance energy power, then propulsion performance is improved, but discretion becomes more difficult to manage due to intensified post-combustion and smoke emission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepropulsion performanceVSAvoiddiscretion (smoke and glow)
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses this contradiction by changing the chemical parameters of the anti-glow agents to compounds that remain stable and effective at high pressures up to 16 MPa. The selected compounds (potassium aluminum fluoride, cryolite, monobasic potassium tartrate) maintain their anti-glow properties under high-pressure conditions, allowing the propellant to achieve high propulsion performance while maintaining discretion during the acceleration phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces post-combustion flames and smoke emission, maintaining high energy performance and combustion speed while ensuring discretion during the acceleration phase, as demonstrated by comparative examples showing reduced radiation and absence of post-combustion flames with the new anti-glow agents.

Implementation Method 1

the combustion of propellants... to emit smoke (primary smoke (resulting from combustion, in the jet of gas produced , solid particles also produced) and/or secondary smoke (if ammonium perchlorate is present in the composition of the propellant)) and to generate glows (due to the post-combustion phenomenon, i.e. the re-ignition of the combustion gases)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

incorporate various types of additives in the composition of propellants... as anti-glow additives... the use of potassium cryolite (K 3 AlF 6 ), as a combustion catalyst and that of alkaline salts, such as potassium sulfate (K 2 SO 4 ), potassium nitrate, potassium and aluminum fluoride ( = potassium cryolite; (K 3 AlF 6 )), hydrogenated potassium tartrate, as anti-glow additives

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnti-glow effect:

Data Source

PatentEP3515881B1Composite pyrotechnic product containing an Anti-gleam agent of potassium salt type
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 ARIANEGRP SAS
  • EP3515881B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3515881B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The main subject of the present invention is a composite pyrotechnic product containing, in a plasticized binder comprising an energetic crosslinked polymer and at least one energetic plasticizer, organic energetic fillers and at least one anti-gleam agent of potassium salt type. Characteristically, said crosslinked energetic polymer consists of a polyglycidyl azide (PGA), having a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of between 700 and 3000 g/mol, crosslinked, via its hydroxyl end functions, to at least one crosslinking agent of polyisocyanate type, and said at least one anti-gleam agent of potassium salt type is selected from potassium cryolite (K3AIF6), monobasic potassium tartrate (C4H5KO6), and mixtures thereof. The composite pyrotechnic product in question is beneficial in terms of discretion and energetic power.