// PROPULSION SYSTEMS AND ENGINE TECHNOLOGY TERM
Double-Base Propellant
A type of solid rocket fuel where both main ingredients are themselves explosive materials. It primarily consists of nitroglycerin (a liquid explosive) dissolved in nitrocellulose (a solid explosive polymer), forming a uniform, solid substance.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Double-base propellant is a class of homogeneous solid propellant in which both the binder and the oxidizer are energetic materials, typically nitroglycerin plasticizing a nitrocellulose polymer matrix. This formulation results in a high-performance, often smokeless propellant used in tactical missiles, rockets, and gun propulsion systems, manufactured through extrusion or casting processes.
BACKGROUND
A solid-propellant rocket or solid rocket is a rocket with a rocket engine that uses solid propellants (fuel/oxidizer). The earliest rockets were solid-fuel rockets powered by gunpowder. The inception of gunpowder rockets in warfare can be credited to the ancient Chinese, and in the 13th century, the Mongols played a pivotal role in facilitating their westward adoption.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- DBP
- homogeneous propellant
- smokeless powder
- nitroglycerin-nitrocellulose propellant
- cordite
- ballistite
USAGE NOTE
This term is used to distinguish these propellants from composite propellants, where a non-energetic binder holds separate crystalline oxidizer particles.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Double-Base Propellant.
A leading US defense contractor and a primary manufacturer of solid rocket motors for strategic missiles, tactical missiles, and space launch boosters. The company has extensive experience in producing various propellant formulations, including double-base and composite modified double-base (CMDB) propellants.
Now part of L3Harris Technologies, this American company is a major manufacturer of rocket propulsion systems. It produces solid propellant motors for a wide range of defense systems, such as tactical missiles and missile defense interceptors, which often utilize high-performance double-base propellants.
A major British multinational defense and aerospace company. Its munitions division, particularly facilities like Glascoed in the UK, develops and manufactures propellant charges for artillery systems, mortars, and other ordnance, many of which use double-base formulations.
A French multinational aerospace and defense company. Through its propulsion divisions, Safran designs and manufactures solid rocket motors for tactical and strategic missiles that use advanced double-base or related propellants to achieve specific performance characteristics like high burn rates and minimal smoke signatures.
The Nordic Ammunition Company is an international aerospace and defense group. It specializes in producing rocket motors for missiles, artillery, and space applications, with significant expertise in developing and manufacturing smokeless double-base solid propellants.
A joint venture between Germany's Rheinmetall and Switzerland's RUAG Ammotec, Nitrochemie is a leading European manufacturer of propellants. They specialize in high-performance propellant powders, including single-, double-, and multi-base formulations for a wide range of military applications.
A major U.S. Navy research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) laboratory. The energetics teams at NAWCWD (at sites like China Lake) conduct fundamental and applied research on advanced solid propellants, including novel double-base formulations, to improve performance and safety for naval weapons.
An Italian aerospace company that is a leader in solid-propellant space propulsion. While known for large composite motors for Vega launchers, their military propulsion portfolio includes development and production of tactical missile motors which can utilize double-base propellant technology.