STABILITY TESTS OF MONOPROPELLANTS EXPOSED TO FLAMES AND RIFLE FIRE

Overview & Synopsis

Tests of the stability of several monopropellants under the effects of impact and heat were conducted in order to assess the potential hazard in a propellant storage area from major fires and enemy attack. Hydrazine, hydrazine nitrate solution, n-propyl nitrate, and ethylene oxide were all tested in one-gallon aluminum containers (half of them filled to 25% and half to 95% capacity) by being subjected to oil bonfires and wood bonfires, and 20-mm incendiary, 20mm high explosive incendiary, and .30-caliber rifle fire. Aviation gasoline was tested in the same manner, for comparison. In the bonfire tests, all four monopropellants generally gave explosion intensities equivalent to one another regardless of the type of bonfire (oil or wood) or the amount of liquid in the test container. Occasionally, however, with hydrazine, hydrazine nitrate solution, and n-propyl nitrate, anomalous results occurred: there was either (a) no explosion or (b) an explosion of above average intensity. Ethylene oxide more nearly approximated the behavior of aviation gasoline than did the other monopropellants. In the rifle-fire tests, n-propyl nitrate appeared to be most shock- sensitive since it was exploded by all three types of ammunition. Hydrazine and hydrazine nitrate solution were exploded by the high-explosive ammunition, but not by the incendiary or .30-dber ammunition. Ethylene oxide was not exploded by any of the gunfire, but the liquid was ignited by both incendiary and high-explosive incendiary ammunition.