Cheltonov M. Obtaining ammonium and potassium perchlorates and octogen (HMX) by processing expired energy-condensed systems

This thesis paper considers establishing the regularities of physicochemical processes of obtaining ammonium and potassium perchlorates and octogen (HMX) from re-used energy-condensed systems. Ammonium and potassium perchlorates, and HMX are widely used in industrial explosives, solid rocket propellant (SRP) compositions and other energy-condensed systems. Many countries where their production is unavailable, such as Ukraine, have to import these components. The problem of their shortage can be solved using technologies of secondary resources processing (ammunition, warheads, solid propellant rocket engines) with expired storage life and unsuitable for further use. Resource-recovery technologies are economically and environmentally feasable in comparison with destruction technologies as they allow raw materials to be obtained for targeted reuse by removing ones from materials unsuitable for use. Among the secondary resources for obtaining these energy substances, special attention should be paid to the equipped casings of expired solid rocket propellant engines (EC SRPs), the quantity of which is about 1800 thousand in Ukraine. The analysis of patents and scientific literature shows that the most studied and well proven resource-recovery technology for EC SRPs processing with the preservation of the raw material base is a hydromechanical washing-out method during which fuel fragments are formed. These fragments can be disposed of in the composition of industrial explosives, or used as raw materials for the extraction of valuable components. It is impossible to determine the best conditions for obtaining these components on the basis of published sources, since the studies were carried out at different conditions and with different raw materials. There is no data on the extraction of components from the type of SRPs that are available in Ukraine. Therefore, the processing of SRPs with obtaining ammonium and potassium perchlorates and HMX is a topical scientific and technical issue, the solution of which requires experimental research. The object of research is the technological processes of obtaining ammonium and potassium perchlorates and octogen from from expired solid rocket fuel. The conducted research makes it possible to receive valued energy substances (ammonium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, HMX) for reuse within industrial explosives and SRP compositions.