Fragmentable propellant containing polyvinyl nitrate binder

Unit charge of propellant powder, which can be fragmented and has the ballistic properties of a granular charge. A charge of this type consists of 85 to 97% of grains of propellant powder containing nitrocellulose and 15 to 3% of a thermoplastic energy-producing binder which is in the form of small solid grains, under normal conditions, and has the following composition: (a) 30 to 60% of polyvinyl nitrate, (b) 70 to 40% of nitrocellulose having a low nitrogen content, or polyvinyl acetate or a mixture of the two, and (c) optionally, a stabilizer. The use of a solid binder makes it possible to mix the propellant powder with the said binder homogeneously and instantaneously, to introduce precise amounts of the mixture thus obtained into a mould and to simplify the moulding operations.