AbstractThe effect of certain lead and copper salts of organic acids and metallic oxides was studied on the burning rates and heat of explosion of CMDB propellants containing AP. Among lead and copper salts, basic lead salicylate gave increased burning rates, whereas lead methylene disalicylate and basic copper salicylate did not produce catalytic effect. In the case of metallic oxides, ferric oxide and cobalt oxide gave better catalytic activity than copper and chromium oxides. On crosslinking of nitrocellulose with an isocyanate, catalytic activity of ballistic modifiers was reduced. Burning rates obtained in a rocket motor (2‐kg propellant) were higher by about 15%‐20% than by strand burner (Crawford Bomb) met