The RSD has shown excellent application in the
area of pyrotechnic safety. Following recent work in
collaboration with DSTL (UK) THT presented a new approach to
safety testing for pyrotechnic research and development.
A copy of this presentation can be downloaded by clicking the
image below and the abstract
is included here.
The
full paper based on this presentation is being prepared and
will be published on this site as well as in the proceedings
of the meeting.
For
further information please contact either our UK or US
offices.
ABSTRACT
Title: Safety assessment of material incompatibility in
formulations for pyrotechnic manufacture.
Authors: Patrick Sears1, Martyn Ottaway2,
James Callaway3 James Towning3
The manufacture of pyrotechnics requires the mixing of
materials which are by their nature energetic. In order to
conduct safe operations in research scale manufacture it is
necessary to fully assess the interactions between fuels,
oxidants and binders. History has shown that a lack of
knowledge in the manufacture of any energetic material can
have disastrous consequences. In order to fully understand the
reactions between components within a formulation a full
program of testing has been performed to determine the
compatibility of these materials.
The use of
apparatus for these types of studies is strongly regulated and
new instrumentation will always have a significant barrier to
acceptance within these regulations. A novel
heat-flow/heat-accumulation calorimeter has been used for the
assessment of the compatibilities within the materials. A
description of the instrumentation together with the specific
attributes necessary to conduct this type of experiment is
discussed. The use of this equipment within the framework of a
modern testing laboratory is discussed with regards the
ability of the instrument to generate rapid indications of
material incompatibilities. This allows allowing manufacturing
companies (and research groups) to eliminate formulations
which possess incompatibilities early in the development
process.
A full matrix of compatibility
experiments, individually, with coating of an energetic binder
(Poly NIMMO), in binary and tertiary mixtures, was performed.
The results from these tests are assessed with regards to
determining incompatibilities between the materials.
thermal
hazard
