Tatarstan's Powders

TATARSTAN'S POWDERS

Pyroxiline, doublebase and composite powders;
Propellant charges for all barreled systems - from gas pistols to main artillery pieces, mortars and grenade launchers;
Ejection charges and quick-action multipurpose self-contained gas generators;
Rounds offering invariably superior ballistic characteristics;
Extensive raw materials base and high flexibility and safety of powder manufacturing processes combined with ecological expertise;
New technological processes: original methods for obtaining special grades of cellulose and nitrocellulose, single- and double base nitrocellulose powders, and also composite powders;
Two hundred years of tradition and advanced scientific and technical potential resulting from close cooperation between the production association and research and design institutes.
Competing with leading artillery and small arms manufacturing countries, Tatarstan's powder manufacturers have produced a wide range of nitrocellulose and composite powders for small arms, mortars and close combat systems. In this we are unique in the world.
The efficiency of Kalashnikov submachine guns, machine guns and artillery systems is largely due to Tatarstan powders.
Relying on scientific achievements in polymer processing and flexible technologies for rolling, extrusion and emulsion granulation, Tatarstan's powder manufacturing enterprises are capable of producing ultradispersive (up to 5um) and coarse (up to 5mm), porous (weight density under 0.5) and dense (1.2), slow and quick-burning, high-yield and cold-burning powders on a single and double base, as well as composite types. Many powders have of late been successfully adapted to US and NATO small arms and artillery rounds.
Our range of products for cellulose nitrate and nitrocellulose powders:

Environmentally sound method for regulating molecular weights of cellulose and a dry method for obtaining cellulose powders;
Environmentally sound method for regenerating nitro-sulphuric acid mixtures, an electrochemical method for obtaining nitrogen pentoxide and a nonsulphuric acid method for obtaining cellulose nitrates;
Universal technology for obtaining cellulose nitrates;
Continuous methods for obtaining grain and pellet pyroxiline powders;
Flexible method for obtaining granular powders for 4.6-45mm systems.

PROPELLANT CHARGES FOR FIELD AND NAVAL ARTILLERY ROUNDS

Of all multi-purpose powders and charges in use today, powders and charges for field and naval artillery rounds are the most numerous. The excellent combat and operational characteristics of field and naval artillery weapons are largely due to powders and charges with a wide range of energy, physical -mechanical and specific features and design solutions.

Depending on specific requirements forpropellant charges, they may feature different shapes of powders and their elements or a combination thereof. The optimal design of propellant charges is based on the choice of the composition, shape and arrangement of powders, the design, composition, number and arrangement of igniters, flash reduction charges, muzzle flash and back blast, deterrents, decopperers, seals, fasteners and corresponding products. For example, the world's market cannot match charges incorporating flame reducers for a special class of powders which, combined with other charge elements, make it possible to use them for firing from weapons with muzzle brakes up to 70 percent efficiency (other countries only achieve 40 percent).


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Shape     I           Dimensions, mm                I Calorific  I Force    I  Combustion
of        I-----------------------------------------I heat value I tcm/kg   I temperature
powder    I Thickness of I Channel     I  Length    I kcal/gk    I          I k
element   I combustion   I  dia.       I            I            I          I
          I     arc      I             I            I            I          I
----------+--------------+-------------+------------+------------+----------+---------------
Single-   I              I             I            I            I          I
seven-    I   0,3...2,5  I 0,15... 1,0 I 2,5...20,0 I 700...970  I 90...112 I 2290...3060
perforatedI              I             I            I            I          I
grain     I              I             I            I            I          I
----------+--------------+-------------+------------+            I          I
Tube      I   0,8...4,0  I 1,5 ... 5,0 I 170...800  I            I          I
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is noteworthy that over the last thirty years all artillery rounds in this country are being exclusively filled with propellant charges developed by the State Research Institute of the Chemical Industry (GosNIIKhP) because of its advanced technological and production potential. These charges include those for artillery systems D-30, D-20, 2S1, 2S3, 2A36, 2A5, 2A63, 2S19, 2S7, AK-100 and AK-130.
Comparative analysis of ballistic, operational and other parameters fro artillery systems and rounds in different countries shows that, using the existing scientific and technological solutions, GosNIIKhP can develop and organize the production of charges for the artillery systems of NATO states.

CHARGES IN CARTRIDGES WITH COMBUSTIBLE CASES
FOR TANK AND ANTITANK ROUNDS

The Kazan factory was one of the first in Russia to introduce many original technologies for the manufacture of powders and propellant charges, including pyroxiline powders (1890s), corned powder (1920s) etc.
In the second half of the 1950s, the factory launched series production of a new combustible material based on pyroxiline-cellulose cloth and trotyl and cartridges with combustible cases for charges used in D 25T and M 62T2 122mm tank gun rounds, which was unprecedented in world practice.

Charges in combustible cases for tank guns were extensively used throughout the world owing to their technical, ergonomic and production advantages overmetal cartridges (lower gas contamination in the fighting compartment, less use of costly metals such as brass, etc.). Specialists from the State Research Institute of the Chemical Industry developed methods for the design and production of propellant charges in combustible cartridge cases and improved the composition and industrial methods used in the manufacture of combustible elements.
Production of combustible case rounds for the 120mm Rheinmetall tank gun began in the late 1970s in the Federal Republic of Germany and later in the United States.
In the late 1960s, GosNIIKhP developed and put into mass production a series of charges for rounds of the D-81 125mm tank gun.
The institute carried out highly important studies into combustion processes in combustible cases and quick-flow processes inside the powder chamber, which provided the basis for the development of methods for preventimg anomalous phenomena during firing a weapon.
As tactical and technical requirements became more stringent, the institute worked to enhance the operational reliability and the technological and technical parameters of charges for both standard and uprated D-81 tank gun rounds installed in contemporary Russian tank types T-64, T-72 and T-80:

Charge ind. 4Zh52 using fully corned powder instead of charge ind. 4ZH40 consisting of a combination of tubular and corned powders;
Charge 4Zh63 using high-energy powders to replace charge 4ZH40, which allowed the muzzle energy of a solid-core armour piercing projectile to be increased by more than 5 percent compared to the preceding type. This charge also retained its properties of complete combustion, reliable function under all operating conditions and other essential qualities.

Besides combat rounds, the factory also makes practice rounds in the form of the Mumiya solid-core armour-piercing projectile and an original blank round ind. 4Kh33. Developed exclusively by the institute's specialists, it is used for simulating combat firing during troop exercises and manoeuvres.
The institute and the factory employ competent specialists with a wide range of qualifications, capable of improving the existing methods and developing new technological processes for the manufacture of combustible elements, automation and mechanisation of processes for manufacture and assembly of rounds. This ensures a higher level of product quality.
The reliability and excellent operational parameters of charges in combustible cartridge cases have been confirmed during lengthy service in the armed forces in many regions of the world.

MORTAR CHARGES

A new generation of charges for mortar systems has been developed recently. These charges feature considerably higher operational qualities and meet contemporary requirements for highly productive automated technological process.
The main charges are enclosed in stamped cases; this fully precludes moistures ingress from the environment under any climatic or meteorological conditions.
Powder increments are placed in stamped cases made of reinforced film.
The charges are kept in sets packed in polymer containers. The structure and packing of the charges ensure a rapid preparation process and firing at the gun positions.

CHARGES FOR CLOSE COMBAT SYSTEMS

GosNIIKhP is vastly experienced in developing and manufacturing propellant charges for anti-tank and anti-personnel grenade launcher rounds and anti-tank guided missiles, propellant charges for reactive armour used in protecting tanks and special installations, ejection charges for aerial bombs, cluster and engineer ammunition, and charges for auxiliary systems in space missile equipment.
The dozens of charges to the foregoing types of armament systems are characterised by a vast range of powders (from highly porous fine-grain pyroxiline powder to thick-arched tubular and telescopic elements) and numerous varied design solutions. They either conform to or are superior to the best foreign designs. For instance, the brush-type charges of high-density pyroxiline powder used in rocket boosters for RPG26 Aglen, RPG-27 Tavolga and RPG-29 Vampir grenade launchers. These raise the powder-toweight ratio of boosters by 10 - 20 percent compared with the charges of the best foreign antitank grenade launchers such as APYLAS (France) and LAW-80 (Great Britain). Besides, the charges developed by GosNIIKhP can be manufactured using straightforward and low-cost processes.

CHARGES FOR SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT ARTILLERY

Tatarstan's specialists have developed standard powders and propellant charges for the whole range of cartridges used in small arms (5.45 - 14.5mm calibre) and cartridges for the ground, airborne and naval artillery (23-30mm calibre). This makes the effectiveness of the round equal to that of the best foreign competition (see figure). The newly developed high-density charges are superior to standard Russian and foreign-made charges in their effectiveness (see figures). The latest technological solution can be adapted to foreign cartridges, as is the case with M16, Winchester and Parabellum systems.

from "MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, Special Issue", 1994