SBIR-STTR Award

This SBIR Phase I project proposes development of a technologically feasible batch process for making nitrocellulose-nanothermite composites in a granular form for the ignition of propellants. The R&D will focus on the determination of burn rates, dynamic pressure profiles and ESD sensitivities of selected Al/CuO/Fe2O3 and Al/Fe2O3/Bi2O3 energetic nanocomposites based on spherical and flake nanoaluminum to meet ignition and burning characteristics of initiating materials, such as Benite. It is proposed to investigate JA2 propellant initiation using developed nitrocellulose-nanothermite composite materials at -65F, 70F and 160F. The results generated in Phase I are essential for the equipment design and scale-up of a production process for making initiating materials for a particular application in propellant based systems.

Keywords:
Nanothermites, Low Energy Initiators, Energetic Composites

The main objective of this proposal SBIR Phase II project is to scale-up and demonstrate the low-cost formation of 15-35 kg/yr of nanothermite-nitrocellulose composite granules for propellant ignition and as additives to explosive materials. All of the reactants used for the energetic composites will be made from United States produced materials. The reactive composites will use a base nanothermite of Al-Fe2O3 with different concentrations of Bi2O3, nitrocellulose or other gas generating additives, and binders to tune the ignition and combustion characteristics and mechanical strength of the energetic composites. The optimized energetic formulations for propellant ignition will be tested in the M125 and M129 primer in a ballistics simulator. If the ballistics simulator tests are successful the material will be tests in the M256 120 mm gun platform as a replacement of Benite.

Keywords:
Nanothermites, Nitrocellulose, Propellant, Energetic Composites, Explosives, Tunable Energetics