SBIR-STTR Award

General technology applications has made developments and filed patents in the field of chemical processing which make possible low shear, low friction, time-insensitive blending and mixing of chemically reactive and physically interactive materials. This technology offers a unique opportunity to the united states navy to improve upon the safety and economics of manufacture of highly energetic propellants. The objectives of this propos-al are to demononstrate the technical merit of application of the gta processes to the manufacture of propellants and to investigate the various safety and cost improvements possible. Gta proposes to use its proprietary mixing and blending process to prepare inert sample composites which would combine propellant binder materials with very fine glass beads used as simulants for energetic components. The binder materials to be chosen would emphasize characteristics which test the limits of current energetics processing methods. Gta developments in the processing of highly energetic systems can lead to safety and cost benefits by reducing dependence upon current high shear batch mixing and blending facilities. Major applications would be for solventless continuous processing of large volume systems and for production of lowered w lnerability gun propellants based upon high performance binder systems.

General technology applications, inc (gta) has made discoveries which result in low shear, low friction, time-insensitive blending and mixing of chemically reactive and physically interactive materials. Phase i of this program hiis demonstrated the technical feasibility of applying the gta process to the manufacture of highly energetic propellants and has identified various safety and cost improvements possible. Gta proposes in follow-on work to design, engineer, procure, install and test equipment which provides a pre-production of processing capability to produce both inert and live samples for future testing. This proposal cons16ts of two parts: a four month modification of phase i and a phase ii. The tasks to be performed in the phase i modification re: 1) obtain and analyze performance data and design specifications for candidate equipment to be procured, 2) conduct a literature search for the most promising binder systems commercially available, and 3) in conjunction with the polymer search, make extruded strands of simulant propellant with various binder materials and submit them for testing at government laboratories. Phase ii consists of the design, procurement, fabrication, installation and test of a prototype processing system. This equipment will be used to produce strands of inert propellant for further government testing. Upon completion of inert testing, the unit will be used to produce energetic propellant, to be tested for mechanical -and ballistics properties at designated government facilities.