Cellulose Acetate Binder-Based LOVA Gun Propellant for Tank Guns.

Cellulose acetate (CA) binder-based low vulnerability ammunition (LOYA) gun propellant formulations with varying percentages of fine RDX as energetic ingredient have been studied. RDX percentage varied from 76 to 80 in these formulations. An optimised composition with 78 per cent RDX was then studied exhaustively. Ballistic data determined by closed vessel (CV) evaluation and vulnerability aspects obtained by safety tests were then compared vis-a-vis the properties of standard triple base NQ composition. Theoretical prediction and CV test results indicated that the CA binder-based LOVA gun propellant Could satisfactorily meet the ballistic requirements for gun application.