Study on the mechanical properties of NGEC and NGEC based propellants

The crystallinity of Nitrate cellulose glycerol ether(NGEC), the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of NGEC and NGEC based propellants were studied by using X-ray diffraction, tensile test and dynamic mechanical analyzer. The tensile fracture surface of NGEC based propellants was observed by scanning electronic microscopy, and the thermal processing properties of NGEC based propellants were investigated by fluidity experiment. It is shown that, compared with NC, the crystallinity and the mechanical strength of NGEC are lower, the elongation is higher, the glass transition temperature is lower and the range of transition temperature is wider. The dewetting of particles was decreased and the mechanical properties were improved for the modified double base propellant added with NGEC. The effect of the content of NGEC on the α-relaxation of NGEC based propellants glass transition are greater, and the α-relaxation temperature was decreased significantly with increasing of NGEC, but the influence of NGEC content on the β-relaxation was less. The NGEC based propellants have good thermoplastic and hot process properties with lower pressure and high speed of pressing-propellant.