Pyrotechnic Composition Using Water-Soluble Cellulose Ether Binders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pyrotechnic compositions using volatile organic solvents are hazardous, environmentally unfriendly, and produce excessive smoke, while existing low smoke compositions either have undesirable burn rates or require harmful additives.
Innovation Solution
A method using fibrous nitrocellulose mixed with water-soluble cellulose ether binders and minimal organic solvents, where water is the primary solvent, to create a low smoke pyrotechnic composition with high mechanical strength and reduced binder content, avoiding the need for volatile organic solvents and minimizing smoke production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional binders are used for pyrotechnic compositions, then mechanical strength is achieved, but smoke production increases and they are unsuitable for low smoke pyrotechnics
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the binder by using water-soluble cellulose ethers (such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, or starch derivatives) instead of conventional organic solvent-based binders. This parameter change allows the binder to be water-soluble and smoke-free while maintaining adequate mechanical strength for pyrotechnic compositions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention discards the use of volatile organic solvents and conventional smoke-producing binders entirely, replacing them with water-soluble cellulose-based binders that do not produce smoke during combustion. This discarding of harmful materials directly reduces smoke production while the cellulose-based alternatives provide the necessary binding function.
2Ease of manufacture
If volatile organic solvents are used for processing pyrotechnic compositions, then manufacturing ease is improved, but safety hazards and environmental impact worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the typically harmful volatile organic solvents into harmless water as the processing medium. By using water-soluble cellulose ether binders, the processing liquid becomes non-flammable and environmentally friendly, eliminating fire hazards and toxic emissions while maintaining ease of mixing and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the solvent parameter from volatile organic compounds to water, fundamentally altering the safety and environmental characteristics of the processing system while maintaining the functional ability to dissolve and distribute the binder uniformly throughout the pyrotechnic composition.
3Speed
If nitroguanidine is added to modify burn rate, then burn rate control is improved, but energy content decreases and smoke production increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes nitroguanidine from the pyrotechnic composition entirely. By using water-soluble cellulose ether binders instead, the need for burn rate modifiers like nitroguanidine is eliminated, preserving energy content and avoiding additional smoke production from multiple oxidizer-fuel systems.
4Speed
If perchlorate is added to increase burn rate, then burn rate is improved, but smoke production increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes perchlorate from the composition. By utilizing water-soluble cellulose-based binders that can serve as fuels, the need for additional oxidizers like perchlorate is eliminated, thereby increasing burn rate through binder optimization without the penalty of increased smoke production from perchlorate decomposition.
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 method produces pyrotechnic compositions with stable, clean combustion and high mechanical strength, reducing safety hazards and environmental impact while maintaining desired burn rates and flame color, without the need for hazardous additives like nitroguanidine or perchlorate.
Implementation Method 1
one or more water-soluble cellulose ether binders
Implementation Method 2
capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a method for preparing a pyrotechnic composition, to the use of a water-soluble cellulose ether binder, to a pyrotechnic composition, to a method for preparing a pyrotechnic charge, and to a pyrotechnic charge. The method of the invention comprises mixing the fibrous nitrocellulose in wet form with the one or more water-soluble cellulose ether binders and optionally one or more solvents, wherein the amount of organic solvent in the mixture is 10 wt.% or less based on total weight of the mixture.