4: Solid Rocket Propellants: Processing Technologies

This chapter covers all the processing methods for the manufacture of solid propellants. Since liquid propellants do not require any elaborate processing arrangement, the manufacture of, and ingredients for, liquid propellants are excluded. Double base solid propellants for rockets are manufactured by extrusion and casting routes and both routes are described. The manufacture of composite propellants in case-bonded and cartridge-loaded loadings is elaborated by a casting route. The details of manufacturing extruded composite propellants are also discussed. The manufacture of composite modified double base propellants by slurry cast technique and advanced casting powder routes is also discussed. The chapter ends with a description of the processing of fuel-rich propellants.