Structural metallic binders for reactive fragmentation weapons

• US 20100024676A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 02/04/2010
• 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., Brooks, George W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/514
• 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 45/04 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 12/207 characterised by the explosive material or the construction of the high explosive warhead, e.g. insensitive ammunition
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/22 with fragmentation-hull construction
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/32 the hull or case comprising a plurality of discrete bodies, e.g. steel balls, embedded therein or disposed around the explosive charge
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/36 for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/44 of incendiary type F42B12/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/56 for dispensing discrete solid bodies F42B12/70 takes precedence

Abstract

A munition is described including a reactive fragment having an energetic material dispersed in a metallic binder material. A method is also described including forming a energetic material; combining the energetic material with a metallic 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 a plurality of discrete structures dispersed in a metallic binder material, and

wherein each structure comprises an energetic material, the energetic material including a first material that is a reducing metal or metal hydride and a second material that is a metal oxide.

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

3. The munition of claim 1, wherein the fragment comprises an outer periphery that is at least partially case-hardened or jacketed.

4. The munition of claim 1, wherein the metallic binder has a density of at least about 7.5 g/cm³.

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

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

7. The munition of claim 1, wherein the discrete structures are in the form of flakes, powder, or crystals.

8. The munition of claim 1, wherein at least one of the discrete structures comprises a plurality of layers including at least one layer comprising a reducing metal or metal hydride and at least one adjacent layer comprising a metal oxide.

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

10. 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.

11. The munition of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of discrete structures and the metallic binder material is surface treated to promote wetting.

12. The munition of claim 1, wherein the reactive fragment further comprises a reinforcing agent comprising one or more of fibers, filaments, dispersed particulates, and mixtures thereof.

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

14. A method comprising:

forming a energetic material;

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

shaping the mixture to form a reactive fragment.

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

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the energetic material comprises 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.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein forming an energetic material comprises:

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

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

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

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the metal oxide material is an oxide of a transition metal element;

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

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising subjecting the fragment to at least one of case-hardening and jacketing.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the metallic binder has a density of at least about 7.5 g/cm³.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the metallic binder has a density within the range of 1.0 to 17.0 g/cm³.

23. The munition of claim 14, wherein the metallic binder material comprises one more of bismuth, lead, tin, indium, and alloys thereof.

24. The method of claim 14, 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.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising treating the surface of at least one of the energetic material and the metallic binder material in order to promote wetting.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising adding one or more of fibers, filaments, dispersed particulates, and mixtures thereof to the metallic binder.

27. The method of claim 14, further comprising placing the reactive fragment within a casing of a warhead.

28. The munition of claim 1, further comprising an explosive charge, wherein the munition is configured to allow release of thermal energy into a target from the reactive fragment after release of thermal energy from the explosive charge.

29. The munition of claim 28, wherein the explosive charge surrounds the reactive fragment.

30. The munition of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of reactive fragments disposed completely within the casing.

31. The munition of claim 1, wherein the metallic binder material is an alloy of zinc.

32. A munition comprising:

a penetrator casing; and

at least one reactive fragment, the reactive fragment being contained entirely within the penetrator casing, the reactive fragment comprising an energetic material dispersed in a metallic binder.

33. The munition of claim 32, further comprising a plurality of the reactive fragments contained completely within the penetrator casing.