TESTING & EVALUATION OF

PROPELLANTS
TESTING & EVALUATION OF PROPELLANTS

• A GOOD PROPELLANT SHOULD BEHAVE

IDENTICALLY IN EVERY ROUND.
• IT SHOULD FUNCTION IN CONTROLLED
REPEATABLE & PREDICTABLE MANNER.
• THE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS OF A
PROPELLANT ARE ACHIEVED BY ADDING
DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS.
• A PROPELLANT SHOULD GIVE REGULAR &
REPEATABLE PERFORMANCE.
• THE QUALITY CONTROL OF PROPELLANT CAN BE
ASSURED ONLY BY EVALUATING & TESTING THE
PROPELLANT.
 TESTING & EVALUATION OF
PROPELLANTS
• THEREFORE TO GET REQUIRED EFFICIENCY AND
ACCURACY ANALYSIS OR TESTING OF
PROPELLANT HAS GOT GREAT SIGNIFICANCE.
• THE PERFORMANCE OF A PROPELLANT IS
GOVERNED BY
• CHEMICAL COMPOSITION – DECIDES THERMAL
ENERGY CONTENT.
• SHAPE AND SIZE – DECIDES BURNING RATE.
 TESTING & EVALUATION OF
PROPELLANTS
• TESTING MAY BE DIVIDED INTO 4 MAIN HEADS:-
• 1. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
• -VISUAL
• -PHYSICAL PARAMETERS
• 2. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
• - EXTRACTION.
• -VOLUMETRIC ANALYSIS
• - GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
• - ASH CONTENT
• - MOISTURE CONTENT
• - NITROGEN CONTENT ( LUNGE NITROMETER )
 TESTING & EVALUATION OF
PROPELLANTS
• -INSTRUMENTAL
• - CHROMATROGRAPHY
• - SPECTROMETRY
• - FLAME PHOTOMETRY.
• - POLAROGRAPHY.
• 3. INSTRUMENTAL
• - BOMB CALORIMETER.
• - CAL VAL.
• - STABILITY
• - ABEL; MV; B&J
• 4. PROOF ( SIMILAR TO END USE )
 PHYSICAL PARAMETERS
• APPEARANCE :- UNIFORMITY IN APPEARANCEAND
ABSENCE OF DUST.
• GRAIN DIMENTIONS :- LENGTH, DIA, HOLE, DIA
THICKNESS etc. WITH THE HELP OF MICROSCOPE.
• SPECIFIC GRAVITY :- BIANCHHI METHOD USING
GLASS APP., MERCURY AND VACCUM PUMP.
• BULK DENSITY :- CONE & CYLINDER METHOD.
• MOISTURE CONTENT :- DRYING WEIGHED PROP. AT
80 0C FOR TWO HOURS.
• ASH CONTENT :- BURNING PROPELLANT IN A
PLATINUM CRUCIBLE OR CHINA DISH.
• NO. OF GRAINS/GM.
• LOOSE GRAPHITE :- SIEVING
 PHYSICAL PARAMETERS
• STABILISERS:-
• TEST WITH 1% K2Cr2O7 + 70 % H2SO4 - DPA – BLUE
COLOUR
CENTRALITE – RED COLOUR
PHTHALIC ESTER – DESTROY NG BY FeSO4, HEAT
WITH RESORCINOL & H2SO4 FLUROSCENCE ON
MAKING IT ALKALINE.
MINERAL JELLY :- INSOLUBLE IN 80% METHYL
ALCOHOL.
FLUROSCENCE UNDER ULTRAVIOLET RAYS.
 TESTING OF OTHER INSOLUBLES

• (A) WATER SOLVENT PART

1. PICRITE – TEST WITH FERROUS AMMONIUM
SULPHATE + NaOH – RED COLOURATION.
2. POTASSIUM – COBALTNITRATE TEST
SODIUM – ZINC URANYL CITRATE TEST.
BARIUM – PPT AS SULPHATE
PERCHLORATE – METHYLENE BLUE TEST
SULPHATE , NITRATE – USUAL TEST
3. STARCH TEST - WITH HCl + KI – BLUE COLOUR
 TESTING OF OTHER INSOLUBLES
• 4. TARTRATE – PPT AS CALCIUM TARTRATE.
DISSOLVE IN DIL SULPHURIC ACID, ADD A SPECK
OF Mg POWDER – ADD RESORCINOL AND SHAKE
AND COOL. ADD SULPHURIC ACID SLOWLY – A
RED RING IS OBTAINED.
• (B) WATER INSOLUBLE PART
1. NC – ACETONE SOLUBLE, FORMS A THIN
FILM , GIVES BLUE WITH DPA REAGENT.
2. CHALK, TIN & LEAD – TREAT WITH ACID
AND CARRY OUT GROUP ANALYSIS.
TESTING OF OTHER INSOLUBLES

(A) TEST TIN BY HgCl2 TEST

(B) TEST LEAD BY SULPHATE TEST
(C) TEST CACIUM BY OXALATE TEST
3. CRYOLITE – DURING GROUP ANALYSIS ABOVE
TEST FOR ALUMINIUM.
TEST FLUORIDE ON ORIGINAL WATER
INSOLUBLE PART BY DOING SILICON TETRA
FLUORIDE TEST.
 TESTING OF OTHER INSOLUBLES
• VISUAL EXAMINATION :-
A) WHETHER GUN PROPELLANT OR ROCKET
PROPELLANT OR A SMALL ARM PROPELLANT –
JUDGED BY SHAPE .
B) PICRITE PROPELLANT ARE WHITE
C) SMELL OF CAMPHOR & NG IS TYPICAL
D) WHETHER IT IS GRAPHITED
E) GREENISH COLOUR OF A PROPELLANT SHOWS
PRESENCE OF DPA & ITS NITRO – NITROSO
PRODUCT.
GROUND THE PROPELLANT – EXTRACTION BY
DRY DISTILLED ETHER REPEATEDLY –
INSOLUBLE IS REPEATEDLY EXTRACTED WITH
WATER.
 SAMPLE ETHER EXTRACTION

ETHER INSOLUBLES WATER EXTRACTION

ETHER SOLUBLE
2. CAMPHOR
WATER SOLUBLE WATER INSOLUBLE
3. NG
2. PICRITE (NIGU) 2. GRAPHITE
4. DNT OR TNT (CH4N4O2) 3. CHALK
5. DPA , 2. POT. SULPHATE 4. TIN
CENTRALITE
3. BA. NITRATE 5. LEAD STEARATE
6. MINERAL JELLY 4. KNO3 6. CA. STEARATE
7. PHTHALIC 5. POT. CHLORATE 7. CRYOLITE
ESTERS
6. SOD. 8. NC
8. DYE
BICARBONATE
7. SOD. SULPHATE
8.STARCH
9. POT. TARTARATE
 TESTING OF ETHER SOLUBLE

• CAMPHOR – NOTE THE SMELL

• NG- A) HAMMER TEST – SHARP EXPLOSION
B) BURNING TEST – CRACKING & GREEN
COLOURED FLAME
C) NESSALER REAGENT TEST – BLACK PPT.
• DNT OR TNT – COLOUR TEST WITH ACETONE +
ALCOHOL – GIVES VIOLET COLOUR
 Identification & confirmation of Acetone soluble
(HE)

• Acetone extract + 2 drops of ethyl alcohol + few ml

KOH/NaOH + 10 ml of Acetone
Development of colour Inference
Violet colour TNT
Blue colour changing to DNT
Violet if acidified
Orange red colour CE
• Acetone extract in water glass – evaporate – add one or
two drops of DPA reagent – development of blue colour
indicates presence of NC, PETN
 Identification & confirmation of Acetone soluble
(HE)

• RDX:- (I) on heating with NaOH gives ammonia, which

can be identified by wet red litmus paper turning blue.
• (II) Place a few drops of Acetone extract & evaporate –
add 1 ml of Thymol + 3 drops of conc. H2SO4 - after a
minute add 5-16 drops of 95% of ethanol – Pink or Rose
colour indicate presence of RDX.
• (III) Sample + Chromo-tropic acid in H2SO4 – Reddish
brown colour indicate the presence of RDX.
 Identification & confirmation of Acetone solubles
(HE)

• High Explosives can be confirmed after crystallization by

doing melting point.
RDX 2040C
PETN 1400C
CE 1290C
HMX 2780C
TNT 800C
• Nitroglycerine:- Acetone extract – evaporate – add
methanol + few drops of Nesseler’s reagent – grayish
black colour indicates the presence of NG,EGDN
 Identification & confirmation of Acetone solubles
(HE)

• Inorganic Salts :-
• Chlorates :- water extract – evaporate – add drop of aniline
hydrochloride Soln. + drop of Conc. HCl – intence green
colour indicate Chlorates.
• Perchlorates :- water extract – evaporate – add drop of
methylene blue – purple colour indicate Perchlorates.
• Nitrates:- Water extract + dil HCl + Griess reagent – Pink
colour indicates the presence of Nitrates
• CHROMATOGRAPHY:-
CHROMATOGRAPHY IS WORKING ON THE
PRINCIPLE OF DIFFERENT MOBILITY OF
DIFFERENT COMPOUND IN DIFFERENT PHASE ON
PAPER ( INK, MARI GOLD FLOWER EXTRACT)
• SPECTROMETER:-
NC +NG PASTE – RAYS ARE PASSED THROUGH NC
+ NG PASTE, CALCULATE THE % OF NC- NG% IS
KNOWN BY DIFFERENCE.
 ABEL’S HEAT TEST
• APPARATUS
• HEAT STABILITY TEST BATH, WATER BATH TYPE,
ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED AND ELECTRICALLY
OPERATED ACCURACY ± 0.5 DEG C.
• HEAT TEST TUBE MADE FROM CORNING BOROSILICATE
GLASS
• PLATINUM WIRE HOOK IN GLASS ROD.
• S.S FORCEPS.
• PIERCING NEEDLE.
• STOP WATCH (MECHANICAL/ELECTRONIC), LEAST
COUNT 1/10TH SECONDS.
• THERMOMETER STANDARD OR CALIBRATED,
GRADUATION 0.5 DEGC
• RUBBER RINGS FOR TEST TUBE.
• ALUMINIUM FUNNEL.
• PRECISION ANALYTICAL BALANCE, ACCURACY 0.1 MG.
• LIGHT PROOF CAP.
 ABEL’S HEAT TEST
• METHOD
• THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH DIFFERENT TYPES OF
PROPELLANTS ARE SUBJECTED TO HEAT TEST ARE AS
FOLLOWS

TYPE OF TEST TIME

PROPELLANT TEMPERATURE
SINGLE BASE 80°C± 0.5 DEG C > 10 MINUTES
PROPELLANT

DOUBLE BASE 71.1± 0.5 DEG C > 15 MINUTES

PROPELLANT
TRIPLE BASE 65.5° C ± 0.5 DEG C > 10 MINUTES
PROPELLANT
 ABEL’S HEAT TEST

• START THE HEAT TEST BATH AND SET THE BATH

TEMPERATURE AT DESIRED TEST TEMPERATURE
DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF PROPELLANT
SUBJECTED TO HEAT TEST.
• THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE TEST TUBE AND DRY
BEFORE COMMENCING THE TEST.
• TRANSFER 1.62G OF SAMPLE FRESHLY PREPARED
ACCURATELY WEIGHED TO THE TEST TUBE WITH
THE AID OF AN ALUMINIUM FUNNEL, SO THAT
NO PROPELLANT REMAINS CLINGING TO THE
SIDES OF THE UPPER PART OF THE TEST TUBE.
• GENTLY TAP THE TUBES TO COLLECT THE
PROPELLANT AT THE BOTTOM.
 ABEL’S HEAT TEST
• REMOVE ONE HEAT TEST PAPER FROM ITS TUBE
USING FORCEPS AND PIERCE THE SMOOTHER
SIDE WITH THE NEDDLE AT A POINT HALF WAY
ACROSS ITS WIDTH NEAR THE OTHER END.
• APPLY EVENLY GLYCERINE WATER MIXTURE
(1:1) V/V WITH THE HELP OF GLASS ROD DOWN
THE SURFACE OF THE PAPER SO THAT HALF
PORTION OF THE PAPER IS WET.
• INSERT THE WETTED PAPER INSIDER THE TEST
TUBE CONTAINING PROPELLANT WITH THE HELP
OF PLATINUM WIRE HOOK AND RUBBER BUNG,
SO THAT THE PAPER HANGS VERTICALLY (DRY
PORTION OF THE PAPER IS IN DOWNWARD
DIRECTION) IN THE TUBE.
 ABEL’S HEAT TEST

• ADJUST THE STOPPER WHICH CARRIES

THE GLASS ROD WITH PLATINUM HOOK
AND PAPER SO THAT ITS BOTTOM EDGE IS
IN LEVEL WITH THE TOP ITCHED LINE ON
THE TEST TUBE AND DRY/WET
BOUNDARY OF THE SATISFACTORILY
WETTED PAPER IS OPPOSITE TO THE
MIDDLE ITCHED LINE.
• FIT THE RUBBER RING OVER THE TEST
TUBES SO THAT ITS LOWER EDGE
COINCIDES WITH THE THIRD LINE.
 ABEL’S HEAT TEST
• THE TEST TUBE IS NOW IMMERSED IN THE BATH
ALREADY MAINTAINED AT DESIRED
TEMPERATURE.
• START THE STOPWATCH SIMULTANEOUSLY AND
COVER THE UPPER PORTION OF THE TEST TUBE
WITH BLACK PAPER CAPS RAISE THE CAP FROM
TIME TO TIME TO SCRUTINISE THE PAPER AND
REMOVE ALTOGETHER TOWARDS THE END OF THE
TEST.
• THE TIME IS RECORDED WHICH ELAPSE UNTIL THE
BROWN LINE APPEARING AT THE DIVIDING LINE
BETWEEN THE WET AND DRY PORTION OF THE
TEST PAPERS EQUALS/ MATCHES THE COLOUR OF
THE STANDARD TINT PAPER.
 ABEL’S HEAT TEST

• IN THIS RESPECT THE TEST IS TAKEN AS

BEING COMPLETED AND THE STOPWATCH
IS STOPPED.
• RECORD THE TIME TO THE NEAREST
MINUTE. CARRY OUT THE HEAT TEST IN
DUPLICATE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
• REPORT BOTH RESULTS TO THE NEAREST
MINUTE TOGETHER WITH TEMPERATURE
TO TESTING, HEAT TEST PAPER BATCH
NUMBER WITH DATE OF ISSUE.
 ABEL’S HEAT TEST

• NOTES:
• HEAT TEST PAPER SHALL NEVER BE TOUCHED
BY HAND BUT WILL BE HELD IN THE FORCEPS.
• PAPER WITHDRAWN FROM THE TUBE AND NOT
USED WILL NOT BE REPLACED BUT DESTROYED.
• A HIGH STANDARD OF CLEANLINESS SHALL BE
MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE TEST ROOM.
• PAPER NOT USED WITHIN THREE MINUTES OF
WETTING AND WHICH IS CLEARLY UNDER/OVER
WETTED SHALL NOT BE USED BUT DISCARDED.
 ABEL’S HEAT TEST
• WHEN THE GLYCERINE WATER MIXTURE
BECOMES TINTED OR CONTAMINATED THE SAME
SHALL BE DISCARDED. IN ANY CASE GLYCERINE
WATER MIXTURE (1:1) V / V SHALL INVARIABLY
BE REPLACED WITH FRESH ONE AFTER TWO
WEEKS.
• IF NO BROWN LINE APPEARS AFTER 30 MINUTES,
THE TEST IS DISCONTINUED AND RESULTS
REPORTED AS MORE THAN 30 MINUTES.
• THE HEAT TEST SHALL BE CARRIED OUT
WITHOUT DELAY AFTER THE COMPLETION OF
PRESCRIBED SAMPLE PREPARATION.
• FOR OBSERVING THE HEAT TEST CONSISTENT
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT MAY BE USED
 METHYL VIOLET TEST
• APPARATUS -
• METHYL VIOLET TEST BATH GLYCERINE -
WATER TYPE ELECTRONICALLY
CONTROLLED AND ELECTRICALLY
OPERATED, ACCURACY ± 0..5 DEG C.
OR
• METAL BLOCK TYPE BATH
THERMOSTATICALLY &
ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED,
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED ACCURACY ±
0..5 DEG C.
 METHYL VIOLET TEST

• S.S FORCEPS.
• STOP WATCH/MECHANICALY ELECTRONIC /STOP
CLOCK. LEAST COUNT 1 SECONDS.
• THERMOMETER, STANDARD OR CALIBRATED,
GRADUATION 0.5 DEG C
• ALUMINIUM FUNNEL
• PERCISION ANALYTICAL BALANCE, ACCURACY
± 0.1 MG.
 METHYL VIOLET TEST

• HEAVY GLASS TEST TUBES ABOUT A FOOT LONG

ARE USED.
• THEY ARE CLOSED LOOSELY AT THEIR UPPER
ENDS WITH PERFORATED OR NOTCHED CORK
STOPPERS, AND ARE HEATED FOR ALMOST THEIR
WHOLE LENGTH IN A BATH WHICH IS WARMED
BY THE VAPOURS OF BOILING XYLENE.
• TWO TUBES ARE USED.
 METHYL VIOLET TEST

• THE SAMPLES OCCUPY THE LOWER 2 INCHES OF

THE TUBES, STRIPS OF METHYL VIOLET PAPER
ARE INSERTED AND PUSHED DOWN UNTILL
THEIR LOWER ENDS ARE ABOUT 1 INCH ABOVE
THE SAMPLES, THE TUBES ARE HEATED AND
EXAMINED EVERY 5 MINUTES AND THE TIMES
ARE NOTED WHICH ARE NECESSARY FOR THE
TEST PAPERS TO BE TURNED COMPLETELY TO A
SALMON PINK COLOUR, FOR THE FIRST
APPEARANCE OF RED FUMES AND FOR
EXPLOSION.
 METHYL VIOLET TEST

• THE EXPLOSION USUALLY MANIFESTS ITSELF BY

THE AUDIBLE POPPING OF THE CORK FROM THE
TUBE, BUT CAUSES NO OTHER DAMAGE.
• A TEST SIMILLAR TO THIS ONE, BUT OPERATED
AT 120 0 C USING BLUE LITMUS PAPER AND
REPORTING THE TIME NECESSARY FOR THE
PAPER TO BE REDDENED COMPLETELY, IS
SOMETIMES USED.
 KI STARCH TEST
• FIVE PORTIONS OF THE MATERIAL UNDER TEST,
DIFFERING IN THEIR MOISTURE CONTENT FROM
NEARLY DRY TO FULLY DRY ARE HEATED IN
TEST TUBE INA BATH WARMED BY THE VAPOURS
OF BOILING METHYL ALCOHOL WITHIN EACH
TUBE, A STRIP OF POTASSIUM IODIDE STARCH
PAPER, SPOTTED WITH A 50% AQUEOUS
SOLUTION OF GLYCERINE, HANGS FROM A
GLASS ROD THROUGH A CORK STOPPER.
• THE TUBES ARE EXAMINED CONSTANTLY, AND
THE TIME NEEDED FOR THE FIRST APPEARANCE
OF ANY COLOUR ON THE TEST PAPER IN ANYONE
OF THE TUBES IS REPORTED.
 TEST FOR ASH CONTENT

• ASH IN NC IS DETERMINED BY GELATINIZING

THE SAMPLE WITH ACETONE WHICH CONTAINS
5% OF CASTOR OIL, SETTING FIRE TO THE
COLLOID, ALLOWING IT TO BURN TRANQUILTY &
IGNITING THE CHARRED RESIDUE TO CONSTANT
WEIGHT.
• IT IS SOMETIMES DETERMINED AS SULPHATE BY
DISSOLVING THE SAMPLE IN PURE
CONCENTRATED SULPHURIC ACID AND IGNITING
TO CONSTANT WEIGHT.
 DETERMINATION OF NITROGEN

• NITROGEN IN NITROCELLULOSE IS DETERMINED

BY MEANS OF A NITROMETER.
• THE METHOD DEPENDS UPON THE
MEASUREMENT OF THE VOLUME OF THE NITRIC
OXIDE WHICH IS PRODUCED WHEN CONCERATED
SULPHURIC ACID ACTS UPON THE SAMPLE IN
THE PRESENCE OF MERCURY.
• IT IS SATISFACTORY ALSO FOR THE
DETERMINATION OF NITROGEN OF NITRO GROUP
IN CERTAIN NITROAMINES, IN NITROGUANIDINE
AND IN TETRYL
 DETERMINATION OF NITROGEN
• IN THE EXTREMELY INGENIOUS Du PONT
NITROMETER, A 1 GM. SAMPLE IS USED FOR THE
ANALYSIS, AND THE GAS IS COLLECTED IN A
MEASURING TUBE WHICH HAS BEEN
GRADUATED TO READ, AT A CERTAIN
TEMPERATURE & PRESSURE, THE CORRECT % OF
NITROGEN IN THE 1 GM. SAMPLE.
• BY MEANS OF A COMPENSATING BULB AND
LEVELLING DEVICE, THE GAS IN THE
MEASURING TUBE IS BROUGHT TO THE VOLUME
WHICH IT WOULD OCCUPY IF IT WERE CONFINED
AT THE TEMPERATURURE & PRESSURE AT
WHICH THE GRADUATIONS ARE CORRECT & THE
% OF NITROGEN IS THEN READ OFF DIRECTLY.
 ESTIMATION OF N2 CONTENT BY LUNGE
NITROMETER

• SAMPLE PREPARATION- WEIGH ABOUT 0.45 GM. PRE DRIED

NC IN A GLASS WEIGH TUBE, THIS SAMPLE DISSOLVE IN TO
2-5 ML H2SO4 95%.
• PREPARATION NITROMETER- CLEAN THE NITROMETER
WITH THE HELP OF CONC. H2SO4 95%. THEN SEALED THE
NITROMETER BY HELP OF H2SO4. NO TRACES OF AIR IN TO
NITROMETER.
• TRANSFER OF SAMPLE- TRANSFER THE SAMPLE IN TO
NITROMETER, BY HELP OF APPOX. 20 ML H2SO4 95%, BY
REPEAT WASHNGS OF WEIGH TUBE IN WHICH ‘NC’
DISSOLVED. TO ENSURE COMPLETE TRANSFER OF SAMPLE
IN TO NITROMETER.
 ESTIMATION OF N2 CONTENT BY LUNGE
NITROMETER

• SHAKING & BALANCE THE NITROMETER- VIGROUS BY

SHAKING OF NITROMETER ARM IN WHICH SAMPLE WAS
TRANSFERRED.
• SAMPLE REACTS WITH SULPHURIC ACID IN PRESENCE OF
MERCURY (CATALYST) & PRODUCE ‘NO’ GAS IN
NITROMETER.
• AFTER SHAKING OF NITROMETER BY ‘5’ MINUTES, KEPT
NITROMETER IN FREE TO SETTLE NO GAS.
• THEN ADJUSTED THE NITROMETER ARM IN JUST A WAY,
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE IS EQUALS TO PRESSURE
DEVELOPED BY NO GAS INSIDE THE NITROMETER.
 ESTIMATION OF N2 CONTENT BY LUNGE
NITROMETER

• CALCULATION & ESTIMATION OF NITROGEN CONTENT-

• THEN TAKE THE TOTAL VOLUME (TV) AT NITROMETER ARM
TO GIVE HOW MUCH NO GAS IS LIBERATED IN MLS.

TV X FACTOR OF NITROMETER X
BAROMETRICPRESSURE ( ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE )
N2 % =--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WT OF SAMPLE X TEMP. IN DEGREE KELVIN
 Cup
NITROMETER
Open / Close

Reaction Bulb

Graduations in ml

Mercury
Mercury Reservoir

Stop Cock Attention

 BERGMANN JUNK TEST
• IN THIS TEST THE NUMBER OF CUBIC
CENTIMETERS OF NITROGEN DIOXIDE
PRODUCED BY HEATING A 5 GM. SAMPLE FOR 5
HOURS AT 132 0C IS REPORTED.
• THE DETERMINATION WAS ORIGINALLY MADE
BY ABSORBING THE GAS IN FERROUS SULPHATE
SOLUTION, LIBERATING THE NITRIC OXIDE BY
WARMING, & MEASURING ITS VOLUME.
• A METHOD BASED UPON THE ADSORPTION OF
THE GAS IN CAUSTIC SODA SOLUTION & THE
TITRATION FOR ITS ACIDITY IS NOW OFTEN USED
INSTEAD.
 CALORIMETRIC VALUE

• THE CALORIMETRIC VALUE OF A PROPELLANT IS

MEASURE OF THE HEAT ENERGY LIBERATED BY
ITS COMBUSTION IN ITS OWN OXYGEN.
• THE CALORIMETRIC VALUE IS A FAIR
INDICATION OF THE POWER OF A PROPELLANT.
• THE CALORIMETRIC VALUE IS DEFINED AS THE
NUMBER OF CALORIES OF HEAT LIBERATED BY
THE BURNING OF ONE GRAM OF PROPELLANT.
• THE CALORIMETRIC VALUE IS DEPENDENT ON
THE PROPELLANT COMPOSITION.
 BOMB CALORIMETER
• ASSEMBLY AND OPERATION -
• IMPRESSION IS PLACED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE
JACKET.
• BUCKET IS PLACED ON THE STAR SHAPED
SUPPORT.
• BOMB IS PLACED INSIDE THE STAINLESS STEEL
CONTAINER (BUCKET).
• SUPPLY CONNECTIONS ARE ATTACHED TO THE
ELECTRODES OF THE BOMB.
• COMBINED LID OF BUCKET AND OUTER JACKET IS
PLACED.
• VIBRATOR - TIMER MAGNIFIER UNIT AND
BEEKMEN THERMOMETER ARE ASSEMBLED CARE-
FULLY.
• STIRRER ASSEMBLY IS MOUNTED ON THE STIRRER
ROD.
 BOMB CALORIMETER

• METHOD
• 0.4 TO 0.5 GM PROPELLANT IS WEIGHED IN THE
CRUCIBLE.
• A PIECE OF FIRING WIRE IS STRETCHED ACROSS
THE ELECTRODES WITH IN THE BOMB.
• BOMB IS PLACED IN THE BUCKET AND BUCKET IS
FILLED WITH TWO LITRES (TEMPERATURE
ADJUSTED) DISTILLED WATER.
• ASSEMBLY AND CONTINUITY ARE CHECKED AND
BOMB IS FIRED.
• DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURE IS RECORDED.
 BOMB CALORIMETER

• CALCULATION :- WATER EQUIVALENT OF

CALORIMETER IS DETERMINED OF FIRING
STANDARD PROPELLANT WHOSE CALORIMETRIC
VALUE IS KNOWN -
• WATER EQUIVALENT (W) = MH/T (CAL/DEG C)
• WHERE
M = MASS OF THE STANDARD PROPELLANT
H = CALORIMETRIC VALUE OF STANDARD
PROPELLANT
T = DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURE.
 BOMB CALORIMETER

• B. EVALUATIONS OF CALORIFIC VALUE

OF PROPELLANT UNDER TEST -
H = WT/M (CAL/DEG C)
WHERE
W == WATER EQUIVALENT OF CALORI
METER (FROM A)
T = DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURE.
M = MASS OF THE PROPELLANT
 BOMB CALORIMETER

• PRECAUTION :- 1. CALORIMETER SHOULD

BE USED IN A ROOM WHERE MOISTURE IN
TEMPERATURE MAY BE AVOIDED.
• 2. ALL PARTS OF CALORIMETER SHOULD
BE CLEANED AND DRY. INSIDE WALLS OF
THE JACKET SHOULD BE WIPED CLEAN TO
REMOVE ANY MOISTURE WHICH MAY
HAVE CONDENSED AS THE WALLS.
 CHROMATOGRAPHY
• Chromatography A chemist uses liquid
chromatography to analyse a complex mixture of
substances. The chromatograph utilizes an
adsorptive medium, which, when placed in contact
with a sample, adsorbs the various constituents of
the sample at different rates. In this manner, the
components of a mixture are separated.
Chromatography has many valuable applications,
such as determining the level of pollutants in air,
analysing drugs, and testing blood and urine
samples.Phototake NYC/Mitch Kezar
• Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia © 1993-
2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
• FLAME TEST
• The flame test is a well established laboratory procedure to
identify the presence of a particular element in a chemical
sample. The flame of a Bunsen burner is adjusted until it is
colourless. A small amount of the substance to be tested is
placed on the tip of a clean rod made of platinum or of the
nickel-chromium alloy Nichrome, and the rod is inserted in
the flame. The elements shown give their characteristic
colours to the flame. In this diagram, Ca2+ refers to
doubly ionized calcium—that is, calcium in which each
atom has lost two electrons, leaving it with a double
positive charge—and so on for the other elements named.
• Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia © 1993-2004
Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.