Research/Patents/US 4718955
US 4718955

METHOD OF RECOVERING POWERED ALUMINUM FROM ALUMINUM-POLYMER MIXTURES

Assignee

MORTON THIOKOL, INC., 110 NORTH WACKER DRIVE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 60606, A CORP OF DELAWARE

Filed

Dec 4, 1985

Granted

Jan 12, 1988

Location

BRIGHAM CITY UT US

Abstract

Solid composite propellants for rocket motors normally consist of an oxidizer and and aluminum powder cured in a polymeric binder system. The oxidizer, ammonium perchlorate, can be readily removed by suitable solvents leaving a residue consisting primarily of aluminum and polymer. The aluminum and polymer are separated by a process that is based upon the differential oxidation of the polymer leaving the aluminum in its original powder form. Aluminum metal forms, on exposure to air, an extremely tough inert aluminum oxide coating. Because of this, aluminum is extremely resistant to further oxidation even at temperatures up to its melting point at 660 DEG C. Most organic compounds, including polymers, are oxidized to carbon dioxide at much lower temperatures (400 DEG -600 DEG C.). Due to this difference in reactivity, it is possible to remove the polymer from the aluminum as carbon dioxide leaving the aluminum residue.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Imposed

May 19, 1986

Rescinded

Jul 23, 1987

Duration

1 year, 2 months

Inventor

  • 1RALPH C. RAISOR

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Back to patent indexSource: USPTO 35 USC §181 secrecy order records