Common Propellants
Black Powder
Nitrocellulose
Double Base Powder
Double-base powder, in a nutshell, is mostly nitrocellulose and a little nitroglycerin. My understanding is that modern powders are usually double-base.
Chemical Precursors
All the common propellants are nitrate-based. Black-powder uses potassium nitrate (KNO3) as a component. Nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin are created via nitration reaction in a bath containing nitric and sulfuric acids.
Nitric Acid
- Birkeland-Eyde
- Oswaldt Process
Sulfuric Acid
- Chamber Process
- Over the Counter