Characteristic Properties of AN/GAP‐Propellants

Formulations based on ammonium nitrate and GAP are promising candidates for the development of high energetic, minimum smoke propellants with reduced sensitivity to be applied for radar and laser guided tactical missiles. The difficulties for the development of such a propellant system depend on the chemical nature and problems connected to the ingredients. Drawbacks are caused by the numerous phase changes of AN, its hygroscopicity, lower energy and low reactivity. The key problems for the development are the unfavourable combustion behaviour and sometimes bad stability of AN/GAP formulations. Some of the main features of these propellants have been developed and illustrated in this paper. These are performance, chemical stability, combustion behaviour and detonation sensitivity. Four different kinds of pure and phase stabilized ammonium nitrates are compared regarding stability and combustion behaviour in propellant formulations with GAP and nitrate ester plasticizers. Satisfying solutions have been found for combustion behaviour and stability of AN/GAP‐propellants, if pure AN, atomized from the melt and new molybdenum oxide/vanadium oxide burning modifiers are successfully applied.