Obscuring and nontoxic smoke compositions

• US 5,154,782 A
• Filed: 08/15/1991
• Issued: 10/13/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Thiokol Corporation (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Summers, Stanley G., Jones, Leon L., Shaw, Graham C., Nielson, Daniel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lovering, Richard D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US07/745,501
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 252/305, 149/117, 149/19.5, 149/19.6, 149/19.8, 149/42, 149/85
• US Class Current: 149/19.5
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 29/02 of an alkali metal
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 3/00 Generation of smoke or mist (chemical part) compositions used as biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators A01N25/18
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 149/117 Smoke or weather composition contains resin

Abstract

A composition which is capable of producing an obscuring white smoke is disclosed which employs a dicarboxylic acid as the primary smoke producing agent. It is found that by using a dicarboxylic acid smoke producing agent, a generally non-toxic and non-corrosive smoke is achieved. Also included within the composition are a binder, a fuel or coolant, and an oxidizer. The binder may be any one of a number of binders such as nitrocellulose or a polymer binder. A low energy fuel is preferred in order to minimize heat and flame produced. Such fuels may include, for example, starch, dextrose, lactose, sucrose, or sulphur. The presently preferred oxidizer is KCLO₃. Other substances may also be added to the composition. For example, sodium bicarbonate may be added to act as a buffer for the KCLO₃ and as a further coolant. In some cases it may also be desirable to add aluminum for purposes of producing more uniform burning and increased thermal conductivity through out the composition.

Claims

1. A smoke producing composition which is generally non-toxic and non-corrosive comprising:

at least one smoke producing agent selected from the group consisting of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids;

at least one binder; and

at least one oxidizer.

2. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one fuel or coolant.

3. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 2 wherein said fuel is selected from the group consisting of starch, dextrose, sucrose, sulfur and lactose.

4. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said smoke producing agent comprises from about 37 percent to about 65 percent of the total composition.

5. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said oxidizer comprises KCLO₃.

6. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one binder comprises nitrocellulose.

7. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one binder comprises a polyester-ether.

8. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one binder comprises a poly ether-sulfide polymer.

9. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 1 further comprising sodium bicarbonate.

10. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid is saturated.

11. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid comprises from about 6 to about 12 total carbon atoms.

12. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 1 further comprising aluminum.

13. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said aliphatic dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azealic acid and sebacic acid.

14. A smoke producing composition comprising:

from about 37% to about 65% of at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid;

from about 3% to about 30% of at least one binder; and

from about 25% to about 35% of at least one oxidizer.

15. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 14 further comprising from about 10% to about 30% low energy fuel.

16. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 14 further comprising from about 2% to about 7% of at least one coolant and buffer compound.

17. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 16 wherein said coolant and buffer compound comprises sodium bicarbonate.

18. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 14 wherein said at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid comprises from about 6 to about 12 total carbon atoms.

19. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 14 wherein said at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid comprises a straight chain molecule.

20. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 14 wherein said oxidizer is KCLO₃.

21. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 14 wherein said binder is nitrocellulose.

22. A smoke producing composition as defined in claim 14 wherein said bind is a polymeric binder.

23. A smoke producing composition comprising:

from about 37% to about 65% of at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 total carbon atoms;

from about 3% to about 30% of at least one binder;

from about 25% to about 35% of KCLO3;

from about 10% to about 30% low energy fuel; and

from about 2% to about 7% sodium bicarbonate.