Mechanical and ballistic properties of spherical single base gun propellant

The effect of the initial temperature on the mechanical properties of spherical single base gun propellant was investigated by means of a compression test, which consisted of compression of a propellant bed conditioned at various initial temperatures. Following this mechanical treatment, the pressed grains (after thermal conditioning at ambient temperature) were tested in a closed vessel. The results from the combination of compression and closed vessel tests supported the assumption that there are two phenomena occurring inside the cartridge at low temperatures which compensate each other; the first is a decrease in the burning rate as the initial temperature is decreased, and the second is grain fracturing occurring on ignition. Additionally, a specific parameter, the specific surface area, turns out to be an appropriate parameter for quantifying the mechanical damage to the propellant grain resulting from the compression test. Tests on the aged propellant have also been conducted.