THE APPLICATION OF INFRARED MICROIMAGING FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THEDISTRIBUTION, PENETRATION DEPTH, AND DIFFUSION PROFILE OF METHYL CENTRALITE AND DIBUTYL PHTHALATE DETERRENTS IN NITROCELLULOSE MONOPERFORATED PROPELLANT

Infrared microspectroscopy was used to determine quantitatively and qu alitatively methyl centralite (MC) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) diffusi on profiles in cross sections of nitrocellulose-based monoperforated p ropellant grains. The absorbance values of the C = O peak of DBP at 17 17 cm-1 and the aromatic C - C peak of MC at 1496 cm-1 were measured r elative to the NO2 overtone peak of the nitrocellulose at 2555 cm-1 at 10 mum intervals from the outside edge inward (external profile) and the perforation edge inward (internal profile). Infrared microimaging was used to determine the distribution and penetration depth of the DB P and MC using the C = 0 peak of DBP at 1717 cm-1 and the aromatic C - C peak of MC at 1496 cm-1 as diagnostic of the two deterrents to obta in the contour and axonometric displays of the distribution.