Method for production of nitrocellulose base for consolidated charges and consolidated propellant charge based thereon

Abstract

METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF NITROCELLULOSE BASE FOR CONSOLIDATED CHARGES includes nitrating fine-fiber cellulose stuff to obtain predetermined concentration of nitrogen in the prepared nitrocellulose, removing impurities and excess of moisture from the nitrocellulose pulp, grinding the fibers and transferring the disperse stock to production of consolidated charges In order to reduce risks in production of non-plasticized nitrocellulose base and obtain porous consolidated charges having felt structure the nitrocellulose pulp is dried prior to grinding, then grinded to obtaining polydisperse mixture of fibrous particles of which mixture consolidated charges are formed. CONSOLIDATED PROPELLANT CHARGE BASED THEREON.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Method for production of nitrocellulose base for consolidated charges which includes: 
 (a) nitrating fine-fiber cellulose stuff to obtain predetermined concentration of nitrogen in the prepared nitrocellulose being in the form of wet pulp;    (b) removing remainders of the nitrating mixture and low molecular by-products of nitration, unintentional mechanical impurities and excess of moisture from said nitrocellulose pulp;    drying the cleaned and partially dewatered pulp to residual moisture that is enough to provide for safe grinding of nitrocellulose fibers;    (d) grinding the dried nitrocellulose pulp to provide nitrocellulose base for consolidated charges in the form of polydisperse mixture of fibrous particles;    (e) adding (optionally) at least one modifying agent in said nitrocellulose base; and    (f) transferring said nitrocellulose base proper or with at least one modifying agent to production of consolidated charges.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  in which prior to grinding the nitrocellulose pulp is dried by air blowing through a layer of fibers at the temperature of 50 to 70° C. till residual moisture of not greater than 4% by mass prior to grinding.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  in which prior to grinding the nitrocellulose pulp is dried till residual moisture within the range of 2 to 4% by mass.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  in which prior to grinding the nitrocellulose pulp is dried till residual moisture of not greater than 2% by mass.  
     
     
         5 . The method of claim in which the dried nitrocellulose pulp is grinded to obtain polydisperse mixture of fibrous particles containing at least 95% by mass of particles having a ratio of the length L to the maximum cross dimension d that meets the condition L/d≦24.  
     
     
         6 . A nitrocellulose based consolidated propellant charge in the form of at least one briquette having predetermined geometric shape and mass, that it is made of a mixture of polydisperse nitrocellulose fibers and has a spongy felt structure.  
     
     
         7 . The charge of  claim 6  in which at least 95% by mass are comprised of fibrous particles having a ratio of the length L to the maximum cross dimension d that meets the condition L/d≦24.  
     
     
         8 . The charge of  claim 6  which has average density within the range of 0.7 to 1.3 g/cm 3 .  
     
     
         9 . The charge of  claim 6  which has residual moisture of not greater than 2% by mass.  
     
     
         10 . The charge of  claim 6  which besides of nitrocellulose base comprises a modifying agent selected from the group consisting of stabilizers, phlegmatizers, flash eliminators, anti-erosive additives, energy additives and an arbitrary combination of at least two of said modifying agents.  
     
     
         11 . The charge of  claim 6  which has sponginess within the range of 5.6 to 57.0% of the total volume.  
     
     
         12 . The charge of  claim 11  which has sponginess within the range of 19.4 to 57.0% of the total volume.  
     
     
         13 . The charge of  claim 11  in which fibrous particles of nitrocellulose in the near-surface layer are immobilized at least in the zone of the side-wall.  
     
     
         14 . The charge of  claim 13  in which said fibrous particles are immobilized with the help of a thin nitrocellulose film.  
     
     
         15 . The charge of  claim 14  in which said nitrocellulose film has through pores.