Re: Binary Propellant Guns

I doubt that binary propellants will be as safe as you think.  The
reason
binary elements are split is because it is safer then the combination. 
To
claim that they are inert is to violates basic chemistry.  You have to
have
a propellent and an oxidizer.

One problem with BP small arms is that of catastrophic damage.	It is
possible for a conventional round in a magazine to have its primary hit
by
shrapnel, etc., but is very small and only the charge for one round will
go
off.  But with BP, you have to large storage tanks (compared to one
conventiol round) to be detonated.  Although each BP will be "safer"
then
the propellent in one conventional round, there will also be MUCH more
of
it.

One other problem with BP small arms is heat.  The cookoff temprature
(and
probably the boiling temprature as well) of the BP is going to have to
be
very high, far more so then convenetional small arms propellents.  Why? 
The
metal cases make very good heat sinks.	This was a major problem with
the
development of the HK G-11.  HK eventually solved the problem by going
to a
solid rocket propellant.

IAS