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Developing Insensitive Munitions Technology for Missile Defense
Title: Principal Research Scient
Phone: (978) 689-0003
Email: racoveanu@psicorp.com
Title: President, PSI R&D Operat
Phone: (978) 689-0003
Email: green@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI) and its team member Aerojet propose to evaluate Insensitive Munitions (IM) compliant propellants for large diameter SRMs by using novel energetic nitrofurazan compounds with low sensitivity, good energy, and good density. The PSI-Aerojet team has actively developed synthetic pathways to the nitrofurazan MFNO. The MFNO plasticizer synthesized on the completed Phase I program has been demonstrated to be insensitive to impact, shock and friction, and it proved to be insensitive when tested in a propellant sample. However, MFNO showed moderate volatility which will be suppressed by chemical modification while retaining the desirable MFNO properties. PSI’s team will evaluate up to eight novel MFNO derived analogs with retained IM properties and reduced volatility. PSI will synthesize and characterize 25 g of each MFNO analogs. Aerojet will test the MFNO ingredients for sensitivity and thermal properties. The selected IM compliant MFNO plasticizers will be formulated in a propellant mixture and tested, and then scaled up for more advanced formulation and more thorough propellant characterization. Scale up of the IM compliant MFNO analogs for enhanced energetic testing will culminate in a rocket motor test at Aerojet.
* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *