Open AccessConventional and alternative nitrocellulose stabilisers used in gun propellants
Author(s) -
Katarzyna Gańczyk-Specjalska
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
materiały wysokoenergetyczne
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2083-0165
DOI - 10.22211/matwys/0175
Subject(s) - diphenylamine , nitrocellulose , propellant , stabilizer (aeronautics) , nitroso , chemistry , human health , european union , organic chemistry , biochemical engineering , engineering , membrane , business , mechanical engineering , medicine , biochemistry , environmental health , economic policy
The European Union industry must adapt to the requirements of the REACH regulations, which aim to improve human health and to protect the environment by using less toxic chemicals. The technology for producing nitrocellulose propellants utilises stabilisers that bond volatile products with autocatalytic properties of nitroester degradation. During this process, N-nitroso derivatives are formed, which exhibit toxic/carcinogenic properties. Moreover, some of the impurities found in stabilisers are characterised by toxic properties (e.g. in diphenylamine). In recent years, intensive research has been carried out on alternative nitrocellulose stabilisers with properties similar to or better than conventional stabilisers. The published studies on this subject mainly present research on chromatographic analysis, evaluation of stability using various methods and thermochemical analysis.