Research and Development Directed Toward the Development of Gas Generators

Three 5000-g batches of propellant N-1825 were prepared with varying percentages of ammonium perchlorate oxidizer and guanidine picrate coolant. Tests were made to determine: (1) whether or not the time-to-peak pressure of propellant N-1825 could be reduced to a value similar to that of N-5 by reducing the ave oxidizer particle size; and (2) the effect of varying the percentages of ammonium perchlorate and guanidine picrate. Erratic test results were obtained from the three batches. It was concluded, however, that propellant N-1825 can be processed and the mixing problems can be overcome. Tests on the commercially available propellant, C-501, showed that: (1) it exhibits little tendency toward decomposition when subjected to 300F for 168 hr; (2) it is comparable to N-1825 with respect to percentage variation from the mean peak pressure and time-to-peak pressure; and (3) the percentage of acidic gases from this propellant is approximately twice that of N-1825. Testing of delay-sealed matches showed that the present design gives consistent elay-time results. (Author)