Screening systems for ammunition propellant stability

The routine technical surveillance of ammunition is necessary to ensure serviceability and to mitigate the risk from accidental explosions caused by undetected deterioration of components of the ammunition itself.

Autocatalytic ignition – the spontaneous ignition of munitions propellants that have depleted stabilizer contents, is a major hazard usually associated with older ammunition stockpiles.

Solid propellants are one of the few energetic materials that are susceptible to self-ignition. As long as the propellant contains an appreciable amount of stabilizer, unlimited safe storage is possible.

Once the propellant stabilizer level drops below 0.20%, autocataclytic can become imminent and the likelihood of a fire increases. The key to assuring that this will not happen is monitoring of the stabilizer in stored propellant.

Threat Resolution Ltd (TRLtd) offers both field expedient and process-based systems for measuring the stability – and therefore the safety of ammunition propellants:

Field expedient

Systems based on Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIS) are suitable for use in the field where rapid results are required and the number of samples is limited. NIS systems require no chemicals and minimal training. Accurate results are obtained within approximately one minute on which strategic decisions can be made.

Process based

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) based systems are the most simple and reliable test methodology for stabilizer depletion where a large number of samples need to be processed. Typically one HPLC equipment with an autosampler can process up to 500 samples per day.

We are able to provide needs analysis, systems design, equipment and training packages as well as turnkey solutions.

Threat Resolution Ltd (TRLtd) propellent stabilizer systems are designed to meet NATO Standard Agreements (STANAG 4582). We do not offer off-the-shelf systems, as each of our customers’ requirements is different.