Gas—liquid chromatographic determination of nitrate esters, stabilizers and plasticizers in nitrocellulose-base propellants

Abstract A gas—liquid chromatographic method has been developed for determining nitrate esters as well as stabilizers and plasticizers in a wide variety of nitrocellulose-base propellants. Separation are performed on short columns containing light loadings of OV-101, -210, and -225. Retention data obtained for twenty-four components permit the selection of columns and identification of the components in unknown propellants. The precision and accuracy of determinations were evaluated by statistical procedures using HEN-12 double-base propellant and a simulated composite-modified double-base propellant. Semimicro calibration and extraction procedures substantially reduced analysis time. A special study was made of experimental factors that influence the reliability of nitrate ester determination.