High- and low-temperature-stable thermite composition for producing high-pressure, high-velocity gases

• US 4,963,203 A
• Filed: 03/29/1990
• Issued: 10/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Department of Energy
• Original Assignee: United States Department of Energy
• Inventors: Mohler, Jonathan H., Halcomb, Danny L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US07/500,829
• Time in Patent Office: 201 Days
• Field of Search: 149/37, 149/108.2, 149/109.2
• US Class Current: 199/36
• 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: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

A high- and low-temperature-stable thermite composition for producing high-pressure and high-velocity gases comprises an oxidizable metal, an oxidizing reagent, and a high-temperature-stable gas-producing additive selected from the group consisting of metal carbides and metal nitrides.

Claims

1. A high- and low-temperature-stable thermite composition for producing high-pressure, high-velocity gases, consisting essentially of

(a) an oxidizable metal;

(b) an oxidizing reagent;

(c) a high-temperature-stable gas-producing additive selected from the group consisting of metal carbides and metal nitrides.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said oxidizable metal is selected from the group consisting of AlSi, AlMg, Mg and aluminum.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said oxidizable metal is provided in the range of from about 7.5% to about 35.5% by weight of the composition.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said oxidizing reagent is selected from the group consisting of CuO, Cu₂ O, Cr₂ O₃, WO₃, Fe₂ O₃, Fe₃ O₄, MnO₂, and PbO₂.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said oxidizing reagent is provided in the range of from about 64.0% to about 92.0% by weight of the composition.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said metal carbide group is comprised of SiC, TiC, B₄ C and VC.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said metal nitride group is comprised of SiN and TiN.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said gas-producing additive is provided in the range of from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the composition.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the composition is thermally stable to a temperature of about 500°

C.

10. A high- and low-temperature-stable thermite composition for producing high-pressure, high-velocity gases, comprising:

(a) an oxidizable metal in the range of from about 7.5% to about 35.5% by weight of the composition;

(b) an oxidizing reagent in the range of from about 64.0% to about 92.0% by weight of the composition;

(c) a high-temperature-stable gas-producing additive in the range of from about 0.5% to about 10.0% by weight of composition and selected from the group consisting of metal carbides and metal nitrides.

11. The composition of claim 10, wherein:

(a) said oxidizable metal is selected from the group consisting of AlSi, AlMg, Mg and Al.

12. The composition of claim 10, wherein:

(a) said oxidizing reagent is selected from the group consisting of CuO, Cu₂ O, Cr₂ O₃, WO₃, Fe₂ O₃, Fe₃ O₄, MnO₂, and PbO₂.

13. The composition of claim 10, wherein:

(a) said metal carbide group is comprised of SiC, TiC, B₄ C and VC.

14. The composition of claim 10, wherein:

(a) said metal nitride group is comprised of SiN and TiN.

15. The composition of claim 10, wherein:

(a) said oxidizable metal is Al and comprises about 17.5% by weight of the composition;

(b) said oxidizing reagent is CuO and comprises about 79.5% by weight of the composition; and

(c) said gas-producing additive is SiC and comprises about 3.0% by weight of the composition.

16. The composition of claim 10, wherein:

(a) said oxidizable metal is Al and comprises about 20% by weight of the composition;

(b) said oxidizing reagent is CuO and comprises about 77% by weight of the composition; and

(c) said gas-producing additive is SiC and comprises about 3.0% by weight of the composition.