| abstract |
A double base propellant composition having well-platonized ballistics at low burning rates consists of nitroglycerine (NG), nitrocellulose (NC) at least one lead compound and at least one copper (II) salt of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid. The copper salt preferably comprises copper succinate, and the lead compound may include any of those known as ballistic modifiers in the propellants art. A preferred composition, having a platonized burning rate of 2.3 mm s-1 at a chamber pressure of 2-3 MPa, comprises by weight 35.1% NC (12.6% nitrogen), 41.6% NG, 8.3% triacetin, 10.7% sucrose octa-acetate, 0.3% 2-nitrodiphenylamine, 1.2% p-nitromethylaniline, 1.0% copper (II) succinate and 1.8% lead acetophthalate. |