NATO Science Series II: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry #3: Application of Demilitarized Gun and Rocket Propellants in Commercial Explosives

In the United States alone, more commercial explosives are consumed in one month than the entire quantity of explosives consumed in the Second World War. Vast quantities of propellants and explosives are stored in military bunkers: the amount of small arms ammunition alone is sufficient to kill the entire population of the planet several times over. So the idea of using excess military propellants and explosives as ingredients in commercial products would seem to be attractive. Cost, however, remains the overriding factor: even if military materials are supplied for free, their introduction into commercial products presents a significant economic challenge, if they are to compete with ammonium nitrate-based materials. Other problems are technical, regulatory, and applications in nature. All are discussed here in frank and open detail, by some of the world's leading experts.

Preface. Acknowledgments. Introduction; B. Matseevitsch. Opening Remarks; O. Machacek. Class 1.3 Composite Propellants as Ingredients in Commercial Explosives - The UteC Experience; O. Machacek, et al. Commercial Explosives on the Base of Removed Energetic Condensed Systems (Conception, Problems, Decisions); B. Matseevich. Demilitarization of Large Rocket Motors and Propellant Utilization; W.O. Munson. Utilisation of Double-based Powders and Rocket Propellants for Production of `Dry Explosives of Slurry Type'; B. Vetlický, T. Dosoudil. Industrial Explosives from Recovered Powders and Solid Rocket Propellants; E.F. Zhegrov, E.V. Bercovskaya. Application of Cryocycling to Rocket Motor Propellant Size Reduction and Reuse; J. Lipkin, et al. Cofiring of Propellant Washout Residue with Traditional Boiler Fuels: Resolution of Operational and Environmental Issues; S.G. Buckley, et al. Conversion of Demilitarized Explosives and Propellants to Higher Value Products; A.R. Mitchell, et al. Some Aspects of the Application of Small Grain Powders in the Emulsion Explosives; P. Kohlicek, et al. Joint Demilitarization Integration; J.Q. Wheeler, J. Lipkin. New Aspects of the Development of the Industrial Explosives and Materials on the Basis of Utilized Powders; N.G. Ibragimov, et al. Small-sized Sources of Seismic Signals on the Basis of High Energy Condensed Systems for Transition Areas Ground - Water and almost Inaccessible Regions of a Land; N.M. Pelykh, et al. Physical and Chemical Principles of Slurries; C.-O. Leiber, R.M. Doherty. Detonation Properties of Gun Propellants and Slurry Explosives and their Combination; H. Schubert. Reproductive Technologies of Gunpowder Production; F.F. Raran. The Use of Surplus Smokeless Powder Propellants as Ingredients in Commercial Explosive Products in the United States; G. Eck, et al. Burning and Detonation of Water-impregnated Compounds Containing Solid and Liquid Propellants; B.N. Kondrikov, et al. Characterization of Intermolecular Explosives; R.M. Doherty, C.O. Leiber. Safety Aspects of Slurry Explosives; N.H.A. van Ham. Use of Converted High Energy Value Explosive Materials as Industrial Energetic Materials; N.K. Salygin, et al. The Technology of Slurry as Dispersing Media for Powders and Propellants; J.C. Libouton. Promising Boosters for Blasting Commercial Explosives in Boreholes; V.P. Iliyn, et al. The Application of Reclaimed Explosives in Commercial Emulsion Explosives; N.I. Rabotinsky, et al. Utilization of Composite Propellants with Obtaining Specific Products; A.J. Salko, et al. Creation of Safe on Manipulation Industrial Explosives and Products for Mining Industry on the Basis of Gunpowder; V.P. Glinskiy, et al. Basic Directions of Works on Utilisation of Pyrotechnic Products and Ammunition; N.M. Varenych, V.G. Dzhangarian. Powerful Insensitive Hybrid Explosives using Inorganic Propellants/Pyrotechnics in Conjunction with Organic CHO Compounds for Tailorable Blast Applications; A.J. Tulis. Conditions of Ammunition Utilisation in People's Republic of China, Tsin Chanjung.