METHODOLOGY FOR CONDUCTING AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO RESTORE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PYROXYLIN POWDERS

Abstract

One of the components of the problem of national security of Ukraine is the loading of warehouses with ammunition with an exhausted warranty period.
 Experience in the operation of ammunition shows that during long-term storage, pyroxylin powders used in ammunition are capable of spontaneously undergoing various physical and chemical transformations, which negatively affects the ballistic characteristics of ammunition. The lack of production of ammunition in Ukraine has led to the fact that ammunition is currently in operation, the storage time of which is more than 30 years.
 This article analyzes publications devoted to scientific research related to the problems of safe operation of pyroxylin powders. It is shown that one of the main problems in evaluating the properties of pyroxylin powders is the effective physical and chemical monitoring of their state and the prediction of changes occurring during long periods of operation. The relevance of studies of physical and chemical changes in the process of long-term storage of pyroxylin powders, as well as the determination of the possibility of their recovery and effective further use, is indicated.
 Various methods for assessing the chemical resistance of gunpowder and their analysis are given.
 A method is proposed for determining changes in the characteristics of pyroxylin powders, as well as a method for conducting an experiment to determine the possibility of regenerating powder charges for long periods of operation by treating them with hydrogen peroxide, and, consequently, changing the energy and ballistic characteristics of gunpowder.
 An experimental setup for controlling the calorimetric properties of gunpowder is presented. This experiment is carried out in order to determine the strength of gunpowder based on the balance ratios of the energy of gunpowder. The main balance equation underlying the proposed technique is given.
 Based on the results of the experiments, it is supposed to obtain the strength of the gunpowder processed according to the developed method, and corresponding to the storage life of the powder charge of ammunition.
 It has been determined that on the basis of solving the problem of long-term nitrocellulose powders, theoretical and methodological foundations for the regeneration of powder charges for homologation of the ballistic and energy characteristics of ammunition can be developed.