Nitrocellulose Composition And Uses Therefor

Abstract

A nitrocellulose composition comprises an admixture comprising: from about 75 weight percent to about 85 weight percent nitrocellulose; and from about 15 weight percent to about 25 weight percent camphor, based upon the weight of the admixture; and from about 1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of a stabilizer (based on the total weight of the composition), wherein the stabilizer is chosen from the group consisting of N,N-Diethyl-N,N′-diphenylurea, N,N′-Dimethyl-N,N′-diphenylurea, 1,1-Diphenylurea, N-methyl-N,N′-diphenylurea, 1-Ethyl-3,3′-diphenylurea, Diphenylamine, 2-Nitro-diphenylamine, 4-Nitro-diphenylamine; Triphenylamine; p-Nitro-N-methylaniline, p-Nitro-ethylaniline, soybean oil, castor oil, sodium silicate, lactic acid amide, and benzonate; and from about 1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of azodicarbonic acid diamide, based on the total weight of the composition. The composition is heated at a temperature sufficient to cause it to polymerize, after which it is formed into sheets, from which components for munitions, such as artillery, small arms, modular artillery charge systems and mortar increments are formed. The components of the mortar increments are joined together, and after being filled with a propellant composition, one or more mortar increments is attached to a mortar shell.

1 . A nitrocellulose composition, the composition comprising
 an admixture comprising:   from about 75 weight percent to about 85 weight percent nitrocellulose (based upon the weight of the admixture); and   from about 15 weight percent to about 25 weight percent camphor, (based upon the weight of the admixture); and   from about 1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of a stabilizer (based on the total weight of the composition), wherein the stabilizer is chosen from the group consisting of N,N-Diethyl-N,N′-diphenylurea, N,N′-Dimethyl-N,N′-diphenylurea, 1,1-Diphenylurea, N-methyl-N,N′-diphenylurea, 1-Ethyl-3,3′-diphenylurea, Diphenylamine, 2-Nitro-diphenylamine, 4-Nitro-diphenylamine; Triphenylamine; p-Nitro-N-methylaniline, p-Nitro-N-ethylaniline, soybean oil, castor oil, sodium silicate, lactic acid amide, and benzonate; and   from about 1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of azodicarbonic acid diamide, based on the total weight of the composition.   
   
   
       2 . The nitrocellulose composition as described in  claim 1 , wherein the composition is heated to a temperature that is less than 100 degrees C., for a time period sufficient to polymerize the composition. 
   
   
       3 . The nitrocellulose composition as described in  claim 2 , wherein the polymerized composition is formed into a shape suitable for artillery munitions, small arms munitions, caseless munitions, combustible cases, rocket motors, bag charges, mortar increments, modular artillery charge systems, head charges and underwater charges. 
   
   
       4 . The nitrocellulose composition as described in  claim 3 , wherein the polymerized composition is formed into a shape suitable for components of mortar increment containers (“MICs”). 
   
   
       5 . The nitrocellulose composition as described in  claim 2 , wherein the admixture comprises from about 78% to about 82% nitrocellulose and from about 18% to about 22% camphor, based on the total weight of the composition. 
   
   
       6 . The nitrocellulose composition as described in  claim 2 , wherein the composition comprises from about 1% to about 3% azodicarbonic acid diamine, based on the total weight of the composition. 
   
   
       7 . The nitrocellulose composition as described in  claim 5 , wherein the composition comprises from about 1% to about 3% 1,1-Diphenylurea (based on the total weight of the composition). 
   
   
       8 . The nitrocellulose composition as described in  claim 5 , wherein the nitrocellulose is characterized by having a nitration of about 11.0% to about 11.4%. 
   
   
       9 . A method of manufacturing a composition, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming an admixture comprising from about 75 weight percent to about 85 weight percent nitrocellulose (based on the weight of the admixture); and from about 15 weight percent to about 25 weight percent camphor (based on the weight of the admixture);   adding from about 1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of a stabilizer (based on the total weight of the composition), wherein the stabilizer is chosen from the group consisting of   N,N-Diethyl-N,N′-diphenylurea, N,N′-Dimethyl-N,N′-diphenyl urea, 1,1-Diphenylurea, N-methyl-N,N′-diphenylurea, 1-Ethyl-3,3′-diphenylurea, Diphenylamine, 2-Nitro-diphenylamine, 4-Nitro-diphenylamine; Triphenylamine; p-Nitro-N-methylaniline, p-Nitro-N-ethylaniline, soybean oil, castor oil, sodium silicate, lactic acid amide, and benzonate; and   mixing about 1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of azodicarbonic acid diamide (based on the total weight of the composition); and   heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to polymerize the composition.   
   
   
       10 . The method as described in  claim 9 , wherein the mixture is heated to a temperature less than 100 degrees C. 
   
   
       11 . The method as described in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of forming the polymerized composition into a sheet, the sheet having a thickness ranging from about 0.10 mm to about 1.0 mm. 
   
   
       12 . The method as described in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of forming the polymerized composition into a sheet, the sheet having a thickness ranging from about 0.20 mm to about 0.60 mm. 
   
   
       13 . The method as described in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of forming the sheet into a shape suitable for a mortar increment container (“MIC”). 
   
   
       14 . The method as described in  claim 13 , further comprising the step of forming the sheet into at least two components for the MIC. 
   
   
       15 . The method as described in  claim 14 , further comprising the step of joining the components to form the MIC. 
   
   
       16 . The method as described in  claim 15 , wherein the step of joining comprises ultrasonic welding. 
   
   
       17 . The method as described in  claim 9 , wherein the nitrocellulose is characterized by having a nitration of about 11.0% to about 11.4%. 
   
   
       18 . The method as described in  claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises from about 1% to about 3% azodicarbonic acid diamide (based on the total weight of the composition) 
   
   
       19 . A nitrocellulose composition, the composition formed by a process comprising the steps of:
 forming an admixture comprising from about 75 weight percent to about 85 weight percent nitrocellulose (based on the weight of the admixture), from about 15 weight percent to about 25 weight percent camphor (based upon the weight of the admixture);   adding about 1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of a stabilizer (based on the total weight of the composition), wherein the stabilizer is chosen from the group consisting of   N,N-Diethyl-N,N′-diphenylurea, N,N′-Dimethyl-N,N′-diphenylurea, 1,1-Diphenylurea, N-methyl-N,N′-diphenylurea, 1-Ethyl-3,3′-diphenylurea, Diphenylamine, 2-Nitro-diphenylamine, 4-Nitro-diphenylamine; Triphenylamine; p-Nitro-N-methylaniline, p-Nitro-N-ethylaniline, soybean oil, castor oil, sodium silicate, lactic acid amide, and benzonate; and   mixing about 1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of azodicarbonic acid diamide, (based on the total weight of the composition); and   heating the mixture to a temperature of about 90 degrees C. to polymerize the composition.   
   
   
       20 . The nitrocellulose composition formed by the process as described in  claim 19 , wherein the process further comprises the step of placing the mixture into a mold prior to the heating step. 
   
   
       21 . The nitrocellulose composition formed by the process as described in  claim 20 , wherein the process further comprises forming the polymerized composition into a sheet, the sheet having a thickness ranging from about 0.10 mm to about 1.0 mm; 
   
   
       22 . The nitrocellulose composition formed by the process as described in  claim 21 , wherein the process further comprises forming the polymerized composition into a sheet, the sheet having a thickness ranging from about 0.20 mm to about 0.6 mm; 
   
   
       23 . The nitrocellulose composition formed by the process as described in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of forming the sheet into a shape suitable for artillery munitions, small arms munitions, caseless munitions, combustible cases, rocket motors, bag charges, mortar increments, modular artillery charge systems, head charges and underwater charges. 
   
   
       24 . The nitrocellulose composition formed by the process as described in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of forming the sheet into a shape suitable for components of mortar increment containers (“MICs”). 
   
   
       25 . The nitrocellulose composition formed by the process as described in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of forming the composition into a shape suitable for use in components of vehicular air bag systems and vehicular seat-belt tensioning systems.