Process for preparing composite propellants

Claim 1

THE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A PROPELLANT FOR JET ACTUATED DEVICES WHICH COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING STEPS: (A) INTIMATELY MIXING FINELY DIVIDED SODIUM NITRATE AND AMMONIUM PICRATE IN ABOUT EQUAL PARTS BY WEIGHT; (B) IMTIMATELY MIXING WITH THE MIXTURE RESULTING FROM STEP (A) PARTIALLY CONDENSED N-BUTYL UREA-FORMALDEHYDE RESIN IN SOLUTION IN A SOLVENT THAT MAY BE VAPORIZED DURING THE MIXING OF THIS STEP; (C) EVAPORATING SOLVENT DURING THE MIXING OF STEP (B) UNTIL THE MIXTURE ASSUMES THE CONDITION OF A SUBSTANTIALLY DRY, DUSTY POWDER HAVING A TOTAL VOLATILE CONTENT OF ABOUT 1 TO 1.4 PER CENT; (D) COLD MOLDING, UNDER PRESSURE, THE POWDER RESULTING FROM STEP (C); (E) CONFINING THE MOLDED PRODUCT RESULTING FROM STEP (D) IN A CLOSED CONTAINER AND HEATING TO A TEMPERATURE BELOW 80* C. TO FURTHER CONDENSE THE RESIN TO A POINT WHERE THE MOLDED PRODUCT IS SUFFICIENTLY STRONG SO THAT FURTHER CONDENSATION OF THE RESIN CAN BE CARRIED OUT UPON THE UNCONFINED MOLDED PRODUCT; (F) AND THEREAFTER ADDITIONALLY HEATING THE PRODUCT RESULTING FROM STEP (E) WHILE UNCONFINED TO A TEMPERATURE BELOW 80* C. TO FURTHER CONDENSE THE SAID RESIN; THE SAID RESIN BEING USED IN SUFFICIENT AMOUNT TO PROVIDE ABOUT 5 TO 10 PER CENT BY WEIGHT OF THE RESIN IN THE FINISHED PRODUCT.