Energetic thin-film based reactive fragmentation weapons

• US 20080202373A1
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• 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 7,955,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/506
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/202 for attacking land area or area targets, e.g. airburst
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/204 for attacking structures, e.g. specific buildings or fortifications, ships or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/22 with fragmentation-hull construction
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/44 of incendiary type F42B12/46 takes precedence

Abstract

A munition is described including a reactive fragment having an energetic material having a least one layer of a reducing metal or metal hydride and at least one layer of a metal oxide dispersed in a binder material. A method is also described including forming a energetic material; including combining the energetic material having a least one layer of a reducing metal or metal hydride and at least one layer of a metal oxide with a polymeric binder material to form a mixture; and shaping the mixture to form a reactive fragment. The munition may be in the form of a warhead, and the reactive fragment may be contained within a casing of the warhead.

Claims

1. A munition comprising:

a reactive fragment comprising an energetic material dispersed in a binder material, the energetic material comprises a thin layered structure, and 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.

2. The munition of claim 1, wherein the reactive fragment is shaped as a cylinder or a polygon.

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

4. The munition of claim 1, wherein the layers have a thickness of about 10 to about 10000 nm.

5. The munition of claim 1, wherein the reactive fragment additionally comprises one or more of:

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

6. The munition of claim 1, wherein at least one of the energetic materials and the binder material is surface treated to promote wetting.

7. The munition of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing agent comprising one or more of fibers, filaments, dispersed particulates, and mixtures thereof.

8. The munition of claim 1, wherein the binder comprises a polymer.

9. The munition of claim 8, wherein the binder comprises:

an epoxy;

a polymer containing at least one azide group.

10. The munition of claim 9, wherein the binder comprises at least one of:

polyethylene, polypropylene, polyetherimide, polyethylene teraphthalate, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

11. The munition of claim 1, wherein the munition comprises a warhead, the warhead comprising a casing, and wherein the reactive fragment is disposed within the casing.

12. The munition of claim 11, further comprising a high explosive contained within the casing.

13. A method comprising:

forming an energetic material comprising a thin film or thin layered structure, the structure comprises at least one layer comprising a reducing metal and at least one layer comprising a metal oxide;

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

shaping the mixture to form a reactive fragment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein shaping the mixture comprises imparting a cylindrical or polygonal or other shape to the fragment.

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

forming layers of a reducing metal and a metal oxide material by a vacuum deposition or mechanical mixing process;

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

16. The method of claim 13, 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, 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.

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

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising adding one or more of fibers, filaments, dispersed particulates, and mixtures thereof to the binder.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the binder comprises a polymer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the binder comprises:

an epoxy;

a polymer containing at least one azide group.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the binder comprises at least one of:

polyethylene, polypropylene, polyetherimide, polyethylene teraphthalate, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising placing the reactive fragment within a casing of a warhead.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising adding a high explosive with the mixture within the casing.