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5581719 
Journal Article 
Successful plant scale production of solid propellant recycling from obsolete ammunition 
Shim, Yh; Kim, Jt 
2017 
Yes 
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management
ISSN: 1438-4957
EISSN: 1611-8227 
SPRINGER 
NEW YORK 
19 
2 
898-905 
English 
WOS:000398712800027 
Solid propellant for rocket motor consists of a mixture of oxidizer with aluminum powder cured in poly-butadiene (PB) binder. Ammonium perchlorate (NH4ClO4, AP) is commonly used oxidizer in many propulsion systems as solid propellant. An aged propulsion engine of the rocket motor is discarded through the waste processing procedure by open burning or open detonation. Meanwhile, recycling AP is economically interesting issue as it is filled more than 70 % in one unit of rocket motor. Although industries and military institutes have invested in R&D to remove PB binder or recycle AP oxidizer, developed process were rarely industrialized due to economic problem. Here we report an automated, self-contained and environmentally responsible AP recovery technology which process has recently been developed and proven to be a cost-effective recycling program of obsolete ammunition. 
Environmental Studies; Obsolete ammunition; Solid propellant; Ammonium perchlorate; Oxidizer; Recycling inorganic salt; Ammunition; Obsolescence; Explosives; Oxidation; Recycling; Studies