The use of 2,3-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dinitro-1,4-butanediol tetranitrate (SMX) as an oxidizer for solid composite rocket propellants was evaluated by the authors. SMX is an attractive alternative to the oxidizer used more traditionally, ammonium perchlorate (AP) because it is less toxic to the environment. It was found that SMX is very similar to AP in its handling characteristics, and thermal diffusivity; however, its thermal conductivity was lower than that of AP....