ARC is Leading the Way to Low-Cost Hydroxy-Terminated Polyether Propellants; Used to Increase Stress Tolerance for Insensitive Munitions.Business Editors GAINESVILLE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2002 Atlantic Research Corporation (ARC), a unit of Sequa Corporation (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :SQAA SQAA Sequa Corp (stock symbol) SQAA Software Quality Assurance Analyst SQAA Scottish Quality Assurance Agency SQAA Société Québécoise des Astronomes Amateurs SQAA Supervising Quality Assurance Authority (UK) ), announces the successful demonstration of a low-cost insensitive munitions Insensitive munitions are munitions which reliably fulfil their performance, readiness and operational requirements on demand, but which minimise the probability of inadvertent initiation and severity of subsequent collateral damage to weapons platforms, logistic systems and (IM) propellant pro·pel·lant also pro·pel·lent n. 1. Something, such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel, that propels or provides thrust. 2. approach paving the way to affordable, less-reactive future rocket motors. ARC has successfully static tested a full-scale flightweight rocket motor which contained ARC's low-cost hydroxy-terminated polyether pol·y·e·ther n. A polymer in which the repeating unit contains two carbon atoms linked by an oxygen atom. (HTPE HTPE Hydroxy-Terminated Polyether HTPE Hybrid Temporal Processing Elements HTPE Hughes Two Phase Evaluation HTPE Hattrick Transfer and Player Evaluation (online game) ) propellant based on commercially available materials. This test demonstrated the capability of ARC's propellant to match and/or exceed the capabilities of standard HTPE propellants, which use a more-costly, limited-supply polymer. The successful 10" diameter, 100lbs of propellant motor firing is the first of a series of planned motor firings using the ARC-produced HTPE polymer. The static firing matched all predictions. HTPE propellants were first developed under US Navy Insensitive Munitions Advanced Development (IMAD) funds with the goal of improving response to insensitive munitions requirements. These Navy-funded propellants were based on an expensive proprietary polymer that is only available from one manufacturer. The new, low-cost approach developed under ARC funds uses pre-polymer ingredients commercially available in large quantities. These low-cost ingredients are then used to manufacture the HTPE polymer eliminating the reliance on the expensive baseline polymer. All propellant properties using ARC's new approach, including processing, mechanical properties, ballistics ballistics (bəlĭs`tĭks), science of projectiles. Interior ballistics deals with the propulsion and the motion of a projectile within a gun or firing device. , and performance, are equal or superior to the baseline approach based on the expensive HTPE polymer. ARC is continuing to pursue the development and demonstration of these types of HTPE formulations. Further development of these formulations by ARC is expected to lead to new higher-performance propellants that will be suitable for future high-technology requirements. ARC is a leading developer and producer of solid propellant solid propellant n. A rocket propellant in solid form, combining both fuel and oxidizer in the form of a compact, cohesive grain. rocket motors, liquid and electric propulsion systems for satellite station keeping out in space, gas generators, air breathing engines, and advanced composite materials. ARC also produces automotive air bag inflators and supplies energetic components for the air bags from its high capacity propulsion plant in Camden, Arkansas. Visit the ARC web site at www.atlanticresearchcorp.com. Sequa Corporation is a diversified industrial company whose interests are in the fields of aerospace, propulsion, metal coating, specialty chemicals, can machinery, industrial equipment, automotive products, and men's formalwear. Visit Sequa's web site at www.sequa.com. |
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