Study on the effect of RDX content on the properties of nitramine propellant

Abstract

Abstract Four kinds of nitroamine propellants with different RDX contents (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) were prepared to study the effect of RDX content on the mechanical properties and combustion properties of nitroamine propellant. The mechanical properties and combustion properties of nitroamine propellant at the normal temperature (20 °C) and low temperature (−40 °C) were test by using impact testing machine, drop hammer impact test machine and closed bomb vessel. The test results show that the impact strength of 30% RDX-contained nitramine propellant is maximum, but 40% RDX-contained nitramine propellant has the minimum impact strength. And the crushing height of propellant with 20% RDX-contained was the highest, but the crushing height of propellant with 40% RDX-contained the lowest. With the increase in RDX content in nitramine propellant, the energy of nitramine propellant increases and its burning rate reduces, but 40% RDX-contained nitramine propellant did not meet this trend at the low temperature because of its poor mechanical properties.