3601 00 — Propellent powders

Propellent powders are mixtures which, on combustion, release large volumes of hot gases. These gases produce a propellent effect. In the case of propellent powders for firearms, combustion takes place in a confined space of practically constant volume, and the pressure thus created in the barrel imparts a high velocity to the projectile. In the case of propellent powders for rockets, combustion produces a constant pressure, and the propellent effect results from the ejection of the gases through a nozzle. The propellent powders of this heading contain both combustible ingredients and those which support combustion. They may also contain ingredients which regulate the rate of combustion.

This heading covers: (1) Black powder (gunpowder). Black powder is an intimate mixture of potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal. This powder, which varies in colour from black to brown, is slightly hygroscopic and is used as a sporting powder and as a blasting explosive. In the former case it is in the form of round or calibrated grains; in the latter case the grains may be either of varying size or ground (blasting powder for use in mining). (2) Propellent powders for use in firearms (other than black powder). (a) Smokeless powders. These are prepared on the basis of nitrocellulose (cellulose nitrates), usually nitrocotton or nitrocellulose intended for blasting work, together with other products and, in particular, stabilisers such as diphenylamine. These powders may be made either from nitrocellulose and solvents, or from nitrocellulose to which barium nitrate or potassium nitrate, alkali metal dichromates, etc. and a solvent have been added, or by mixing nitroglycerol (glycerol trinitrate) with nitrocellulose (ballistite, cordite, etc.). Smokeless powders are usually made in the form of sticks, small cylinders, discs, flakes or grains. (b) Composite powders. Components such as nitroguanidine, hexogen (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane) or octogen (1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane) may be added to the basic products (nitrocellulose, nitroglycerol) of composite powders to improve their combustion characteristics. Polymeric binders combined with the same ingredients (but not containing nitrocellulose) may also be used to obtain propellent powder. (3) Propellent powders for rockets. (a) Homogeneous powders. These consist mainly of nitrocellulose and organic nitrates with other products added (stabilisers, ballistic catalysts, etc.). They are presented in the form of charges, usually cylindrical, which are placed in the combustion chamber in the form of a cartridge. (b) Composite powders. These are products composed of substances which support combustion (ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, etc.) and a reducing agent (usually synthetic rubber) and, possibly, also a metallic reducing agent (aluminium, etc.). The heading excludes: (a) Separate chemically defined compounds (generally Chapter 28 or 29); (b) Prepared explosives of heading 3602; (c) Nitrocellulose (cellulose nitrates), i.e., nitrocotton (heading 3912).

Notes

English text as published in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2021/1832 (Combined Nomenclature). The EAEU tariff and the EU nomenclature copy these notes from the same convention. For a Russian declaration the binding version is the Russian one: Annex to Decision No 80 of the EEC Council of 14 September 2021.

1. This chapter does not cover separate chemically defined compounds other than those described in note 2(a) or (b) below.

2. The expression ‘articles of combustible materials’ in heading 3606 applies only to:

(a) metaldehyde, hexamethylenetetramine and similar substances, put up in forms (for example, tablets, sticks or similar forms) for use as fuels; fuels with a basis of alcohol, and similar prepared fuels, in solid or semi-solid form;

(b) liquid or liquefied-gas fuels in containers of a kind used for filling or refilling cigarette or similar lighters and of a capacity not exceeding 300 cm3; and

(c) resin torches, firelighters and the like.