Process technology development for LOVA gun propellant

LOVA gun propellants are formulated with the use of a suitable inert binder and a cyclic nitramine as the energetic ingredient. For the technology development of LOVA gun propellant a suitable manufacturing method was required to be developed. Manufacture of propellant formulation using cellulose acetate and RDX was tried by conventional solvent process by two different methods. In the first method the fine RDX was first desensitised by the plasticiser coating and the desensitised fine RDX was incorporated with the inert binder. In the second method a two stage process technology was adopted. In the first stage, the basic composition is prepared by wet mixing process and in the second stage the dry basic mix is solvent incorporated for extrusion into the required size and shape. The first method was termed as dry process and the second method as wet process. The comparative analysis of the ballistic aspects as determined by closed vessel firing indicated that the propellant batches made by the wet mix process gave consistent and reliable results, and has been adopted for the manufacture of 'LOVA' gun propellants.