초록

A propellant composition including a fuel, an oxidizer, and a latex binder and method of making, wherein the method of making eliminates the need for the large amounts of volatile, flammable solvents that are typically associated with the traditional process.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of making a propellant composition, comprising the following steps:mixing a latex binder with a nonsolvent liquid to provide an extended latex binder; blending the extended latex binder, a fuel, and an oxidizer to form a slurry; adding a solvent to the slurry to destabilize the extended

1. A method of making a propellant composition, comprising the following steps:mixing a latex binder with a nonsolvent liquid to provide an extended latex binder; blending the extended latex binder, a fuel, and an oxidizer to form a slurry; adding a solvent to the slurry to destabilize the extended latex binder; agitating the slurry to provide a mixed, thickened slurry; and, optionally, reducing the solvent content to facilitate further processing by means of vacuum or ventilation; and drying, extruding, or otherwise processing the solid material by conventional means, either to make it suitable for further processing, or by shaping and/or placing it in a form, cup, or other device which can be used in a pyrotechnic product or device. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of mixing a latex binder with a nonsolvent liquid further comprises adding water.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the nonsolvent liquid comprises denatured methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, butanone, acetonitrile, or a mixture thereof and wherein the solvent comprises acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, propyl acetate, methyl t-butyl ether, methyl t-amyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, supercritical fluids, or mixtures thereof.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the latex binder is selected from the group consisting of fluoroelastomers, latex forms of acrylic resins, polyvinyl butyral, carboxy modified rubber, nitrile modified rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polybutadiene, acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene, vinyl pyridine, styrene butadiene polymer latex, and compatible mixtures thereof.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding a solvent to the slurry to destabilize the extended latex binder comprises adding the solvent in an amount of about 2 times or less the volume of the slurry.6. A method of making a propellant composition, comprising the following steps:providing a latex binder; blending the latex binder in a non-gelling extender to form an extended latex binder; mixing the extended latex binder, a fuel, and an oxidizer to form a slurry; adding a solvent to the slurry; mixing the slurry; and processing the slurry to provide the propellant composition. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the latex binder is selected from the group consisting of fluoroelastomers, latex forms of acrylic resins, polyvinyl butyral, carboxy modified rubber, nitrile modified rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polybutadiene, acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene, vinyl pyridine, styrene butadiene polymer latex, and compatible mixtures thereof.8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of providing the latex binder comprises providing the later binder in the form of a fluid, subdivided solid, dispersion, or solution.9. The method of claim 6, wherein the non-gelling extender comprises a low molecular weight aliphatic alcohol.10. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of blending the latex binder further comprises providing the non-gelling extender in an amount of about 5 percent to about 60 percent by weight of the latex binder.11. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of blending the latex binder in a non-gelling extender further comprises adding water to form the extended latex binder.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the water is present in an amount of about 30 percent to about 60 percent by weight of the extended latex binder.13. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of mixing is performed with sufficient shear to break up agglomerates.14. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of adding a solvent comprises adding an amount of solvent about half or less the volume of the slurry.15. The method of claim 6, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, propyl acetate, methyl t-butyl ether, methyl t-amyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, supercritical fluids, and mixtures thereof.16. The method of claim 4, wherein the latex binder is selected from the group consisting of fluoroelastomers, latex forms of acrylic resins, and mixtures thereof.17. A method of making a propellant composition, comprising the following steps:providing a latex binder; blending the latex binder in a non-gelling extender to form an extended latex binder solution; mixing the extended latex binder solution, a fuel comprising a metallic powder selected from the group consisting of silicon, boron, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and mixtures thereof, and an oxidizer to form a slurry; adding a solvent to the slurry in an amount of about a quarter or less of the volume of the slurry; mixing the slurry; and processing the slurry to provide the propellant composition. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of blending the latex binder in a non-gelling extender to form an extended latex binder solution further comprises adding water in an amount of about 30 percent to 80 percent by weight of the extended latex binder solution.19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing a latex binder comprises providing a terpolymer of hexafluoropropylene, vinylidene fluoride, and tetrafluoroethylene.20. The method of claim 19, wherein the terpolymer comprises about 40 to 80 percent solids and about 80 to 40 percent fluorine by weight of the terpolymer.21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing a latex binder comprises the steps of:providing an acrylic polymer; providing a plasticizer; forming the latex binder by mixing the acrylic polymer and plasticizer with an emulsifier. 22. The method of claim 17, wherein the latex binder is present in an amount of about 5 percent to 15 percent by weight of the slurry.