Feedstock scarcity, alternative cellulose sources for gun propellants

Abstract. The base material for many of the DoD’s propellant formulations is nitrocellulose (NC), which is mainly produced via nitration of cellulose from wood pulp or cotton. Yearly hundreds of tons of high-quality nitrocellulose (NC) are required for the gun and rocket propellant industry. Cellulose is marked as becoming a critical raw material for Europe, while on the other hand a large waste stream of textile is apparent. The aim of the proposed feasibility study is to experimentally determine whether cellulose obtained from discarded clothing or other textiles can be used to produce nitrocellulose. Samples from different recycling sources were investigated. Relevant material properties were determined from the source materials and suitable samples were nitrated and analysed. The properties of nitrocellulose (NC) can vary significantly depending on the cellulose source used. These differences highlight the importance of optimizing the production and stabilization procedures for nitrocellulose from alternative cellulose sources to achieve comparable performance to conventional NC. Key differences can be found in stability and viscosity, nitrogen content, thermal stability and environmental impact.