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EI-Technology – Propellant for Medium-Calibre Ammunition

12 February 2005 11:53

Medium-calibre ammunition systems are suitable for a wide range of applications, which play an important role now and even more in future.

Nitrochemie is highly competent in the development and production of single-base propellants for such ammunition systems. In cooperation with different partners the company works out system-specific solutions, which permit existing potential to be exploited in an optimal manner.

Nitrochemie is the world leader in the field of propellants for high-performance medium-calibre ammunition. At present and in future the sub-calibre applications (for example APFSDS) are playing an more important role. In this area Nitrochemie relies on a highly advanced technology, namely the EI-Technology which opens up new possibilities as far as performance is concerned. The EI (Extruded Impregnated) -Technology revealed to be very system-compatible already in a variety of applications.

This is substantiated by the already successfully introduced applications and by the partnership projects which are currently being developed. Special parameter settings permit to take optimum advantage of interior-ballistic reserves by lowering of the pressure/ temperature gradient.

Nitrochemie is steadily expanding the technology of surface-treated propellants for future applications in high-performance products. In this context the following demands on future propellant systems for medium-calibre ammunition are already existing or now foreseeable:

• Further increase in performance
• Longer barrel life
• Lower temperature coefficient (54C to 100C)
• Cook-off resistance
• Improved resistance to environmental stress

To reach these targets, Nitrochemie is intensively developing a new generation of EI propellants (EI+ / EI++), in which both new energetic plasticizers and higher-performance basic formulations relying on nitramines are used. Apart from improving the cook-off resistance, the new components of the formulation result in a reduced flame temperature and a significantly increased interior-ballistic performance level. This new propellant generation has already been tested successfully in different types of ammunition.

For more information on this company:
Nitrochemie / Rheinmetall Weapon Munition - Artillery and Mortar Charge Systems, Propulsion Systems and Components

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