Abstract:
Shelf life of weapons becomes a very important issue and due to the increasing number of
“out-of-area" missions also for the nations in the moderate climatic regions. The shelf life is
often limited by propellant ageing. Double base Propellants undergo slow chemical
decomposition reactions already at room temperature and even more at elevated temperatures.
Six different samples of double base propellants were investigated through classical stability
tests (Abel test, Bergmann-Junk test, high performance liquid chromatography) and
modernized vacuum stability test (SABIL).
The results of the propellants life-time predictions obtained in accordance with STANAG
4556 methodology by the expression for the amount of gases evolved from samples, in
addition of the safe life determination were consistent.