Combined evaluation of nitrocellulose-based propellants: toxicity, performance, and erosivity

New formulations of nitrocellulose-based propellants were evaluated aiming less-toxicity-and-less-erosivity. Three original ingredients of M-14 propellant - dinitrotoluene, dibutyl phthalate, and diphenylamine - were replaced. The new formulations, with ballistic performances similar to M-14, were based on ethylcentralite, akardite-II, RDX, diethylene glycol dinitrate, triethylene glycol dinitrate, and acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC). The toxicities of the crude ingredients were analyzed. The H-2 content in the combustion products was a key point in the analysis. The best results were found to the compositions based on ATBC and akardite-II only. The work can be used to guide future works related to new formulations of propellants.