More Than a Decade of Green Energetics R&D Research

Transcription

1 More Than a Decade of Green Energetics R&D Research Joint Services Environmental Management Conference Columbus, OH Robin Nissan NAVAIR China Lake Technology William to the Warfighter Ruppert Quicker US. Army RDECOM/ Hughes Assoc. INC

2 Outline Past What drove our decisions 10 years ago to begin investing in green energetics? Present Have those investments changed how we think about energetic materials and ordnance? Are we making progress? Future What future directions will help us achieve significant improvements in the design and use of energetic materials?

3 Past Green Energetics Efforts Technical goals Alternative materials Solvent reduction or elimination Heavy metal elimination Industrial process improvement Improved efficiency Maintained performance Lifecycle management Main Driver - To save money!!!

4 SERDP Projects Completed FY98-FY00 Manufacturing Storage Use Demilitarization Solventless processing (SERDP PP-867) (SERDP WP-757) Clean Agile Manufacturing (SERDP PP-63) Insensitive Munitions (WP-1072) Laser Ignition (WP-680) VOC Elimination in small caliber (SERDP WP1057) Toxic materials and solvents in solid propellants Recycling (SERDP PP-660) (SERDP PP-695) High Explosive recycling (ESTCP 9708) (SERDP WP1058) Green energetic materials (SERDP WP1115)

5 Success - TNAZ Pilot Plant Demonstrate TNAZ Pilot Plant, a Recyclable Explosive/Propellant Ingredient LANL Process Using No Chlorinated Solvents Prior Process Used 30lbs Freon /lb of TNAZ 5 lbs Methylene Chloride/lb of TNAZ TNAZ Goals: Trinitro Azetidine C 3 H 4 N 4 O 6 Elimination of Halogen Emissions into Environment Clean and Affordable Manufacturing Processes Recycle of PEP During Demil

6 Present Technical goals All of the past goals plus Insensitive munitions Range sustainment (readiness, compliance) Fate and effects Transport mechanisms Range studies (Does it pass the MMR test?) Partially exploded/low order detonations/duds Main Driver - Preserving the mission

7 Insensitive Munitions

8 Army Ordnance Environmental Program Conventional Ammunition AERTA: Replacement of RDX is of primary concern A secondary concern is TNT and HMX

9 Rocket and Missile Propellants AERTA: An alternative propellant to hydrazine...and propellants which contain no lead or AP are needed for strategic and tactical applications

10 Pyrotechnics AERTA: Pyrotechnics and obscurants must not contain constituents with high ESH liability

11 Army Success Perchlorate Replacement M115A1 & M116A2 Simulators Account for up to 70% of ClO 4- on ranges Product Improvement Program completed Formulation ready for implementation Final down-select 3Q FY05 Implementation FY07

12 Virtual Laboratory for Design of Energetic Materials Predicting energetic material performance, sensitivity & ESOH properties BEFORE synthesis. O2N O2N N N O2N N N N NO2 N NO2 NO 2 Meso Continuu m Micro Atomistic/Molecular Rapid fielding of materials Reduces R&D time from decades to months Formulations by Design

13 Answer: Develop and adopt a standard protocol for environmental characterization of new energetic materials Fate, Transport & Effects Problem New energetics have unknown environmental impacts Environmental Impacts Air pollution Water pollution Soil pollution Eco-toxicity Etc. Mission Impacts Training restrictions Operational costs Cleanup/restoration costs Poor public relations

14 TECHNICAL OBJECTIVE Develop a technology base for ammonium perchlorate (AP) replacement in solid propellants, since no drop-in replacements exist NH N NO 2 NO 2 ADN (AMMONIUM DINITRAMID H H N NH H H O 2 NN NNO 2 Develop more robust binders for better compatibility with alternative oxidizers such as ADN, AN, and organics Concurrently, develop modifications of alternative ingredients to enhance compatibility with other propellant ingredients Tailor particle size, shape and other properties as needed C NO 2 NO 2 HYDRAZINE NITROFORM - NO 2 New ingredients must be tailored to the formulation, and vice versa Military interest/ support will wane if performance is reduced A green AP replacement must have near-ideal compatibility with formulation, and vice-versa O2NN O 2NN NNO 2 NNO2 CL-20 (HEXAAZAHEXANITROISOWURTZITA O2N N F2N F2N NF 2 NF2 N NO 2 TETRAKIS(DIFLUORAMINO)OCTAHYDRO-DINITRO-DIAZOCINE (HNFX)

15 TECHNICAL APPROACH More Robust Rubbery Binders Better Prilling/ Particle Resizing/ New Coatings and Bonding Agents Improved ADN Utilization Propellant Formulation New Ingredients, Ballistic Modifiers Multi-property Tailoring Optimized Propellant Environmental Evaluation Aging Safety/Sensitivity Mechanical Ballistic

16 THIOKOL PROPRIETARY DATA Interplay of Requirements Increases Complexity Performance Hazards Plume Aging Combustion Cost Complex demands for 21st Century propellants no parameter is independent multiple improvements require greater efforts than previous efforts development dramatically slowed when trade-off priorities not known DATA

17 Commercial Efforts TNT synthesis, elimination of red water E-TPE utilization Incorporation of Biological synthetic steps Incorporation of Electrochemical synthetic steps

18 Future Technical goals Range management/sustainment Green energetic systems Tagged munitions No UXO Biologically benign or biodegradable ingredients Identifiable inert munitions Predictive capabilities If successful we will save money and preserve our mission.

19 Army RDECOM Green Chemistry Strategy Integrate green chemistry principles into energetic material S&T programs Directly affects RDECOM Impacts nearly all energetics developers Implement through training Kickoff: JANNAF Meeting, Aug 07 OSD Programs Private Industry Navy Labs AF Labs Universities DOE Labs

20 Materials of Emerging Regulatory Interest Team (MERIT) 2006 OSD (I&E) established an Emerging Contaminants Directorate MERIT Members from all services Emerging Contaminants IPT What is an emerging contaminant (EC)? Perceived or real threat to human health or environment Either no peer reviewed health standard or an evolving standard Why interested? Limited human health/environmental data New detection limits/capabilities New exposure pathways Identify chemical issues early to proactively manage environmental issues Develop risk assessment and management strategies

21 Questions?? Technology to the Warfighter Quicker