Cellulose Acetate Binder-Based LOVA Gun Propellant for Tank Guns.

  • A.G.S. Pillai High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
  • M. M. Joshi High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
  • A. M. Barve High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
  • S. P. Velapure High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
  • J. S. Karir High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.49.3799
Keywords: Binder based LOVA gun propellant, Vulnerability ammunition

Abstract

Cellulose acetate (CA) binder-based low vulnerability ammunition (LOYA) gun propellant formulations with varying percentages of fine RDX as energetic ingredient have been studied. RDX percentage varied from 76 to 80 in these formulations. An optimised composition with 78 per cent RDX was then studied exhaustively. Ballistic data determined by closed vessel (CV) evaluation and vulnerability aspects obtained by safety tests were then compared vis-a-vis the properties of standard triple base NQ composition. Theoretical prediction and CV test results indicated that the CA binder-based LOVA gun propellant Could satisfactorily meet the ballistic requirements for gun application.

Author Biographies

A.G.S. Pillai, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
Mr AGS Pillai joined DRDO at the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune,as Senior Scientist. He has been working there in the field of solid gun propellants processing and evaluation for more than 28 years. Presently, he is engaged in the development of nitrarnine-basedsolid gun propellants for LOVA applications.
M. M. Joshi, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
Mr M M Joshi obtained his MSc (Organic Chemistry) from the University of Poona in 1976. He joined DRDO at HEMRL in 1978 and since then, he has been working in the field of solid gun propellants. Presently, he is engaged in the development of LOVA propellants.
A. M. Barve, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
Mr AM Barve obtained his BSc (Chemistry) from the University of Poona in 1978. He joined DRDO at HEMRL in 1979. He has been working in the field of solid gun propellants for the last19 years. Presently, he is engaged in the development of LOVA propellants. He is an Associate Member of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, Calcutta.
S. P. Velapure, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
Mr SP Velapure obtained his BSc (Chemistry) from the University of Poona in 1979. He joined DRDO in 1980 at HEMRL. He has been working in the field of solid gun propellants for the last 18years. Presently, he is engaged in the development of LOVA propellants.
J. S. Karir, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
Mr JS Karir  obtained his BE (Chamical Engg.) from the University of Delhi in 1964. He joined DRDO at HEMRL.  Since 1978, he has working as Head, Gun Propellant Division. He is an Associate Member of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, Calcutta.

References

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Published
2013-01-01
How to Cite
Pillai, A., Joshi, M., Barve, A., Velapure, S., & Karir, J. (2013). Cellulose Acetate Binder-Based LOVA Gun Propellant for Tank Guns. Defence Science Journal, 49(2), 141-149. https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.49.3799
Issue
Vol 49 No 2
Section
Biomedical Sciences
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