Non Ozone Depleting Sealants for Ammunition Applications

PACIFIC NW POLLUTION PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER
POLLUTION PREVENTION RESEARCH PROJECTS DATABASE

Project Title: Non Ozone Depleting Sealants for Ammunition Applications

Date Last Updated: 11/96

Project Summary: The goal of this project is to eliminate and replace the currently used series of ozone depleting case mouth sealants, for small and medium caliber ammunition, with environmentally safe alternatives. These materials would also be applicable for threaded and fitted material components such as fuzes.

Efforts will be aimed at testing and documenting the compatibility, reliability, and durability of non-ozone depleting sealants that will also meet all the ammunition acceptance requirements. Promising candidates then will be subjected to functional testing and characterization, as well as lot acceptance evaluation. Initial selection of commercial materials will be based on a study of mechanical, chemical, and physical property data as well as manufacturer's recommendations. A material specification will be prepared for best candidate alternatives.

Results have shown that low Volatile Organic Chemical (VOC) solvent-borne sealants and water-borne sealants offer promise as viable alternate candidate materials to replace the existing ODC and high VOC solvent-borne case mouth sealants. More specifically, water borne asphaltic resin based sealants are offering good performance and properties with the tests conducted thus far. Asphaltic based resins are most promising since they are virtually drop in replacement and have proven to be reliable, durable, and compatible with the energetic materials. Work is now in progress to select and optimize the candidate material(s) for on line production of rounds for quality testing.

Project Keywords: ozone depleting substances, case mouth sealants, ammunition

Organizing Performing Research: US Army Armament, Research, Development, and Engineering Center

Primary research Contact:
Donald T. Rorabaugh and Dean Martinelli
US Army ARDEC
AMSTA-AR-AET-O, Building 183
Polymers and Adhesives Section
Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000
PHONE: (201) 724-4482 / (201) 724-5333
FAX: (201) 724-2864
E-MAIL: drorabau@pica.army.mil/dmartin@pica.army.mil

Date research Started/Completed: 10/94 - 12/96

Publications Based on Research: none available

Approximate Project Budget: $700,000

Primary Project Funder: Strategic Environmental Research & Development Project (SERDP)

Funder Contact:
Dr. Robert Holst
Program Manager for Compliance and Pollution Prevention
SERDP Program Office
901 North Stuart Street, Suite 303
Arlington, VA 22203
phone: (703) 696-2125
fax: (703) 696-2114
e-mail: holstrw@acq.osd.mil