Metal matrix composite energetic structures

• US 20070277914A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Hugus, George D., Sheridan, Edward W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 149/19.920
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 21/005 By a process involving melting at least part of the ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 33/00 Compositions containing particulate metal, alloy, boron, silicon, selenium or tellurium with at least one oxygen supplying material which is either a metal oxide or a salt, organic or inorganic, capable of yielding a metal oxide
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/00 Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product explosive charges of particular form or shape F42B1/00, F42B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/04 comprising solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix not used for explosives where the matrix consists essentially of nitrated carbohydrates or a low molecular organic explosive
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/20 of high-explosive type F42B12/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/76 of the casing

Abstract

A munition includes a structural component formed from a composite material comprising a energetic material dispersed in a metallic binder material. A method is also provided that includes forming a energetic material, combining the energetic material with a metallic binder material to form a mixture, and shaping the mixture to form a composite structural munition component.

Claims

1. A munition comprising:

a structural component formed from a composite material comprising a energetic material dispersed in a metallic binder material.

2. The munition of claim 1, wherein the structural component comprises one or more of a warhead casing, a shaped charge liner, a casing insert, a sensor component, a control surface component, a skin enclosure component, an electronic enclosure component, a propulsion component, a propulsion fuel storage component, or a supporting structural framework component.

3. The munition of claim 1, wherein the metallic binder has a density of about 1.0 to about 17.0 g/cm3.

4. The munition of claim 5, wherein the metallic binder has a density of at least 7.5 g/cm³.

5. The munition of claim 1, wherein the metallic binder material comprises one or more of bismuth, lead, tin, indium, and alloys thereof.

6. The munition of claim 1, wherein the energetic material is flaked, powdered, or crystallized.

7. The munition of claim 1, wherein the energetic material comprises a thin layered structure, the thin layered structure comprises at least one layer comprising a reducing metal or metal hydride and at least one layer comprising a metal oxide.

8. The munition of claim 7, wherein the layers have a thickness of about 10 to about 10000 nm.

9. The munition of claim 1, wherein the composite additionally comprises one or more of:

an organic material, and inorganic material, a metastable intermolecular composite, or a hydride.

10. The munition of claim 1, wherein the composite is reinforced with one or more reinforcements comprising organic or inorganic materials in the form of:

chopped fibers, whiskers, a structural preform, a woven fibrous material, a nonwoven fibrous material, or a dispersed particulate.

11. The munition of claim 10, wherein at least one of the energetic material, the metallic binder material, and the one or more reinforcements are surface treated to promote wetting.

12. The munition of claim 1, wherein the munition comprises a warhead, the warhead comprising a penetrator casing formed at least in part from the composite.

13. A method comprising:

forming an energetic material;

combining the energetic material with a metallic binder material to form a mixture; and

shaping the mixture to form a composite structural munition component.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the energetic material comprises a thin layered structure, the thin layered structure comprises at least one layer comprising a reducing metal and at least one layer comprising a metal oxide.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein forming an energetic material comprises:

forming a thin layered structure by forming layers of a reducing metal and a metal oxide material in a vacuum deposition process; and

reducing a size of the pieces of thin film to form particles.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the layers have a thickness of about 10 to about 10000 nm.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the metal oxide material is an oxide of a transition metal element;

and wherein the reducing metal is aluminum or aluminum-based.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the metallic binder has a density of about 1.0 to 17.0 g/cm3.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the metallic binder has a density of at least 7.5 g/cm³.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the metallic binder material comprises of one more of bismuth, lead, tin, indium, and alloys thereof.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising adding one or more of the following to the mixture:

an organic material, and inorganic material, a metastable intermolecular composite, or a hydride.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising adding one or more reinforcements of organic or inorganic materials in the form of:

chopped fibers, whiskers, a structural preform, a woven fibrous material, a nonwoven fibrous material, or a dispersed particulate.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising treating the surface of at least one of the energetic materials, the metallic binder material, and the one or more reinforcements in order to promote wetting.

25. The method of claim 13, further comprising shaping the mixture to form a penetrator casing of a warhead.