Solid smokeless propellants and pyrotechnic compositions for rocket and gas generation systems

Abstract

Solid gas generant compositions produce low particulates of the slightly-soluble or insoluble type when combusted. More specifically the solid gas generants and/or ignition compositions are provided which include an effective combination of phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) as a oxidizer component and azodiformamidine dinitrate (AZODN) as the fuel component. Most preferably, the AN is phase stabilized with a phase stabilizing effective amount of a phase stabilizer selected from potassium perchlorate (KP) and/or potassium nitrate (KN).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A solid gas generant composition comprising azodiformamidine dinitrate (AZODN), and phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN).  
     
     
         2 . The gas generant composition as in  claim 1 , wherein the PSAN includes phase stabilizer selected from potassium nitrate (KN) or potassium perchlorate (KP).  
     
     
         3 . The gas generant composition as in  claim 1 , wherein the phase stabilizer is present in amounts effective to stabilize the ammonium nitrate (AN).  
     
     
         4 . The gas generant composition as in  claim 3 , wherein the phase stabilizer is present in an amount between about 2 wt. % to about 20 wt. %.  
     
     
         5 . The gas generant composition as in  claim 1 , wherein the PSAN is present in an amount effective to achieve between about 20 to about 80 wt. % of AN in the composition.  
     
     
         6 . The gas generant composition as in  claim 2 , wherein the PSAN is present in an amount effective to achieve between about 30 to about 60 wt. % AN in the composition.  
     
     
         7 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  or  5 , wherein the AZODN is present in an amount between about 30 to about 80 wt. %.  
     
     
         8 . The gas generant composition as in  claim 7 , where the AZODN is present in an amount between about 40 to about 70 wt. %.  
     
     
         9 . The gas generant composition as in  claim 1 , further comprising a binder.  
     
     
         10 . The gas generant composition as in  claim 9 , wherein the binder is at least one selected from polyvinyl alcohols, poly(alkylene) carbonates, and polymethyl methacrylates.  
     
     
         11 . The gas generant composition of  claim 10 , wherein the binder is present in an amount between about 1 wt. % to about 15 wt. %.  
     
     
         12 . The gas generant composition of  claim 11 , wherein the binder is present in an amount between about 3 to about 5 wt. %.  
     
     
         13 . A solid gas generant composition which comprises, based on total composition weight, of between about 30 to about 80 wt. % of azodiformamidine dinitrate (AZODN), and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) in an amount effective to provide between about 20 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of ammonium nitrate (AN) in the composition, and between about 2 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of a phase stabilizer selected from potassium perchlorate (KP) or potassium nitrate (KN), and between about 1 to about 15 wt. % of a binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, poly(alkylene) carbonates and polymethyl methacrylates.  
     
     
         14 . A shaped solid structure formed of the gas generant composition of  claim 1  or  13 .  
     
     
         15 . The shaped solid structure of  claim 14 , in the form of a monolithic grain.  
     
     
         16 . The shaped solid structure of  claim 14 , which is compression-molded, cast or extruded.  
     
     
         17 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  or  13  in the form of powders or granules.  
     
     
         18 . A method of making a solid gas generant composition comprising forming a mixture of azodiformamidine dinitrate (AZODN), and phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN).  
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 18 , wherein the PSAN includes phase stabilizer selected from potassium nitrate (KN) or potassium perchlorate (KP).  
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 18 , wherein the phase stabilizer is present in amounts effective to stabilize the ammonium nitrate (AN).  
     
     
         21 . The method as in  claim 18 , which is practiced to form a solid eutectic solution of said mixture.  
     
     
         22 . A method of inflating a gas-inflatable device containing an amount of the gas generant composition as in any one of claims  1 - 13  in excess of that needed to sufficiently inflate the device, which method comprises combusting under pressure during an inflation event a first portion of the composition so as to generate sufficient amount of gas to inflate the device, and thereafter combusting under atmospheric pressure a remaining portion of the gas generant composition.