Method and apparatus for a projectile incorporating a metasable interstitial composite material

• US 20060288897A1
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEWTEC Services Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NEWTEC Services Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Maston, Michael Joseph, Williams, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,770,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/364
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/22 with fragmentation-hull construction
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/56 for dispensing discrete solid bodies F42B12/70 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body

Abstract

A method and apparatus for incorporating nanophase elemental materials and metastable interstitial composite materials into projectiles, projectile fragments, ordnance casings, warheads and structural components. The projectile, fragments and casings include an elemental material capable of oxidizing. A coating material that is capable of preventing oxidation of the elemental material and an oxidizing agent may be present and be capable of reacting with the elemental material so that a self-propagating high temperature synthesis reaction from a stabilized solid material is yielded for the purpose of rendering terminal effects or thermal impact to a target at impact.

Claims

1. A projectile for creating a thermal event, comprising:

an elemental material with a purity of at least 90% that is at least one of aluminum, iron, magnesium, molybdenum, titanium, tantalum, lanthanum, uranium, or zirconium, and wherein said elemental material is configured to oxidize to result in a thermal event; and

a coating material capable of preventing oxidation of said elemental material.

2. The projectile as in claim 1, further comprising an oxidizing agent capable of reacting with said elemental material so as to cause oxidation of said elemental material to result in a thermal event.

3. The projectile as in claim 1, wherein impact of said projectile causes said elemental material to be exposed to air so as to cause oxidation of said elemental material to cause a thermal event.

4. The projectile as in claim 1, wherein said coating material surrounds said elemental material such that at least some of said elemental material is separated from others of said elemental material.

5. The projectile as in claim 1, wherein said coating material comprises at least one of Teflon®

, nylon, PVC vinyl, steric acid, or carbonyl acid.

6. The projectile as in claim 2, wherein said oxidizing agent comprises at least one of bismuth oxides, tungsten oxides, molybdenum oxides, titanium oxides, iron oxides, magnesium oxides, including silicon, or boron.

7. The projectile as in claim 1, wherein said elemental material and said coating material are configured into a ballistic shape having a front end and a distal end.

8. The projectile as in claim 1, further comprising a full metal jacket surrounding said elemental material and said coating material.

9. The projectile as in claim 1, further comprising a ballast material substantially reactively inert with said elemental material and said coating material.

10. The projectile as in claim 1, wherein said elemental material and said coating material are formed into a plurality of fragments.

11. The projectile as in claim 10, wherein at least some of said plurality of fragments include a jacket that encases said elemental material and said coating material.

12. The projectile as in claim 10, wherein said plurality of fragments are contained in a sleeve or casing.

13. The projectile as in claim 10, wherein said plurality of fragments include a metal jacket that encases said elemental material and said coating material, and wherein said plurality of fragments are arranged next to one another so as to form a plurality of fitting lines that compose the whole or part of a sleeve or casing.

14. The projectile as in claim 13, further comprising:

an energetic component configured to release energy so as to break apart said fragments along said fitting lines; and

a stress cushion layer located intermediate said energetic component and said fragments, said stress cushion layer configured for controlling separation and directional pattern flight of said fragments.

15. The projectile as in claim 1, further comprising an explosive charge configured for creating an explosion sufficient to cause said elemental material to oxidize to result in a thermal event.

16. A projectile for creating a thermal event, comprising:

an elemental material having a purity of at least 75% and capable of oxidizing so as to result in a rapid thermal event; and

a coating material capable of preventing oxidation of said elemental material.

17. The projectile as in claim 16, further comprising

an oxidizing agent mixed with said elemental material and said coating material and isolated from said elemental material by said coating material, wherein said oxidizing agent is capable of reacting with said elemental material to result in the rapid thermal event;

an explosive charge configured for creating an explosion sufficient to induce the oxidation of said elemental material and said oxidizing agent; and

a detonator operatively connected with said explosive charge for igniting said explosive charge.

18. The projectile as in claim 16, wherein said elemental material, said coating material and said oxidizing agent define a longitudinal bore, and wherein said explosive charge and said detonator are located in said longitudinal bore.

19. A method of causing a thermal event, comprising the steps of:

firing a projectile having an elemental material capable of oxidizing, an oxidizing agent capable of reacting with said elemental material, and a coating material capable of preventing reaction between said elemental material and said oxidizing agent;

breaking said projectile such that said elemental material and said oxidizing agent react with one another, wherein the reaction is a thermal event that includes oxidation of said elemental material.

20. The method as in claim 19, wherein said breaking step includes fragmenting said projectile into a plurality of fragments that subsequently strike a target so as to induce the thermal event between said elemental material and said oxidizing agent.

21. A projectile for creating a thermal event, comprising:

an elemental material having a purity of at least 75% and capable of oxidizing so as to result in a rapid thermal event.

22. The projectile as in claim 21, further comprising a coating material capable of preventing oxidation of said elemental material.

23. The projectile as in claim 21, further comprising an oxidizing agent capable of reacting with said elemental material so as to cause oxidation of said elemental material to result in a thermal event.

24. The projectile as in claim 21, wherein said elemental material is non-passivated.