Hydrogen Bonding in Nitrocellulose and Its Implications on Deterring of Small Arms Propellant

Abstract

Abstract The hydrogen bonding characteristics of well-characterized nitrocellulose samples were studied by means of IR spectroscopy. Results obtained for nitrocellulose samples of varying nitrogen content showed that the strength of the hydrogen bond increases with decreasing nitrogen content. In addition, atmospheric moisture was found to hydrogen bond with nitrocellulose hydroxyl groups. The implications of these findings on the deterring phase of the small arms propellant manufactruring process are discussed.