scope:

This Defence Standard describes a method for determining the volatile matter content of solvent and solventless extruded propellants and casting powders. It may also be used to determine the volatile matter content of a propellant during and after manufacture, as necessary, for the following purposes:

To determine when stoving is complete.

To correct the results obtained in the chemical analysis of the propellant.

To use in the assessment of the ballistic properties of the propellant.

The constitution of the volatile matter varies with the propellant concered. Solventless propellants contain water, picrite propellants contain water and acetone; nitrocellulose propellant and casting powders generally contain ether, ether alcohol and water.

The method described in this Defence Standard determines the total volatile matter. The method is not recommended for propellants containing triacettin. When this material is present, excessive condensation occurs on the cone and spurious results are obtained.