(375c) Slurry Coating for Energetic Material Formulations

Pressed molding powder formulations are utilized in Army munitions for their high solids loading. These molding powder formulations are prepared by slurry coating high energy explosive powders with different binders The powder is first mixed with water in a slurry, the binder is pre-dissolved in organic solvent (Lacquer) and added to the still. As the binder crashes out of solution, the particles form coated granules or agglomerates. Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM) has been used as an in situ tool to monitor the slurry coating process and develop fundamental insights. Differences in formulations necessitate different process parameters and the FBRM is used here to provide improved understanding of the slurry coating process.