Enhanced performance, high reaction temperature explosive

• US 5,467,714 A
• Filed: 12/16/1993
• Issued: 11/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Thiokol Corporation (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lund, Gary K., Braithwaite, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US08/168,714
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 102/284, 102/288, 102/289, 149/14, 149/15
• US Class Current: 102/284
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 27/00 Compositions containing a metal, boron, silicon, selenium or tellurium or mixtures, intercompounds or hydrides thereof, and hydrocarbons or halogenated hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/14 a layer or zone containing an inorganic explosive or an inorganic explosive or an inorganic thermic component
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/34 the compound being an organic explosive or an organic thermic component

Abstract

High reaction temperature explosive compositions which provide enhanced air blast and extended reaction times are disclosed. The explosive compositions include a separate acceptor phase and a separate explosive phase. The acceptor phase contains a halogenated polymer and a reactive metal which are capable of reacting at high temperature and pressure. The explosive phase includes a nonmetallized explosive. Suitable explosives produce a detonation pressure in excess of 200 kilobars at the Chapman-Jouget (C-J) condition.

In the explosive compositions disclosed herein, at least a portion of the explosive phase surrounds the acceptor phase. In this configuration, detonation of the explosive phase exposes the acceptor phase to high temperatures and pressures which permit the metal and halogenated polymer to efficiently react and produce even greater temperatures and pressures.

Claims

1. An explosive composition comprising:

an acceptor phase containing a halogenated polymer phase and a reactive metal phase; and

an explosive phase which is substantially free of metal, wherein at least a portion of said explosive phase encapsulates the acceptor phase and wherein said explosive phase is capable of producing a detonation pressure in excess of 200 kilobars at the Chapman-Jouget (C-J) condition;

wherein the explosive composition has a detonation velocity in excess of 5000 meters per second.

2. An explosive composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the reactive metal phase is mixed within the halogenated polymer phase to form the acceptor phase.

3. An explosive composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the reactive metal phase is separate and distinct from the halogenated polymer phase.

4. An explosive composition as defined in claim 3, wherein the reactive metal phase and the halogenated polymer phase are configured as layers.

5. An explosive composition as defined in claim 4, wherein the explosive phase, the reactive metal phase, and the halogenated polymer phase are each configured as layers.

6. An explosive composition as defined in claim 4, wherein the explosive phase, the reactive metal phase, and the halogenated polymer phase are each configured as alternating spiral layers.

7. An explosive composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the explosive phase, the reactive metal phase, and the halogenated polymer phase are each configured as concentric cylinders wherein the explosive phase is included in an outer concentric cylinder.

8. An explosive composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the explosive phase and the acceptor phase are configured as layers.

9. An explosive composition as defined in claim 8, wherein the explosive phase and the acceptor phase are each configured as alternating spiral layers.

10. An explosive composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the explosive phase and the acceptor phase are each configured as concentric cylinders wherein the explosive phase is included in an outer concentric cylinder.

11. An explosive composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the explosive phase comprises a high explosive selected from CL-20, HMX, RDX, ADN, TNAZ, and PETN.

12. An explosive composition as defined in claim 11, wherein the explosive phase further comprises a polymeric binder system.

13. An explosive composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the reactive metal phase comprises a reactive metal selected from Al, B, Ca, Li, Mg, Si, Zn, Ti, and Zr.

14. An explosive composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the halogenated polymer phase comprises a partially halogenated polymer.

15. An explosive composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the halogenated polymer phase comprises a fully halogenated polymer.

16. An explosive composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the halogenated polymer phase includes a halogenated polymer selected from tetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer, chlorotrifluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride copolymer, perfluoropolyether diol, polyvinylidene fluoride, polydifluorochloroethylene, fluorinated polyethers, polyvinyl chloride, perfluoroacrylate, and mixtures thereof.

17. An explosive composition as defined in claim 16, wherein the halogenated polymer phase further includes an ingredient selected from plasticizers, stabilizers, curatives, cross-linkers, and cure catalysts.

18. An explosive composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the acceptor phase further comprises a metal hydride.

19. An explosive composition as defined in claim 18, wherein the metal hydride is selected from NaBH₄, LiAlH₄, TiH₂, LiH, and ZrH₂.

20. A high reaction temperature explosive composition comprising:

an acceptor phase containing a halogenated polymer phase and a reactive metal phase, said halogenated polymer phase including a halogenated polymer selected from tetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer, chlorotrifluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride copolymer, perfluoropolyether diol, polyvinylidene fluoride, polydifluorochloroethylene, fluorinated polyethers, polyvinyl chloride, perfluoroacrylate, and mixtures thereof, and said reactive metal phase containing a reactive metal selected from Al, B, Ca, Li, Mg, Si, Zn, Ti, and Zr; and

an explosive phase which is substantially free of metal, wherein at least a portion of said explosive phase encapsulates the acceptor phase and wherein said explosive phase is capable of producing a detonation pressure in excess of 200 kilobars at the Chapman-Jouget (C-J) condition;

wherein the explosive composition has a detonation velocity in excess of 5000 meters per second.

21. A high reaction temperature explosive composition as defined in claim 20, wherein the explosive phase and the acceptor phase are configured as layers.

22. A high reaction temperature explosive composition as defined in claim 20, wherein the explosive phase and the acceptor phase are each configured as alternating spiral layers.

23. A high reaction temperature explosive composition as defined in claim 20, wherein the explosive phase and the acceptor phase are each configured as concentric cylinders wherein the explosive phase is included in an outer concentric cylinder.

24. A high reaction temperature explosive composition as defined in claim 20, wherein the reactive metal phase is mixed within the halogenated polymer phase to form the acceptor phase.

25. A high reaction temperature explosive composition as defined in claim 20, wherein the reactive metal phase is separate and distinct from the halogenated polymer phase.

26. A high reaction temperature explosive composition as defined in claim 20, wherein the explosive phase comprises a high explosive selected from CL-20, HMX, RDX, ADN, TNAZ, and PETN.

27. A high reaction temperature explosive composition as defined in claim 26, wherein the explosive phase further comprises a polymeric binder system.

28. A high reaction temperature explosive composition as defined in claim 20, wherein the acceptor phase further comprises a metal hydride.

29. A high reaction temperature explosive composition as defined in claim 28, wherein the metal hydride is selected from NaBH₄, LiAlH₄, TiH₂, LiH, and ZrH₂.

30. A high reaction temperature explosive composition as defined in claim 20, wherein the halogenated polymer phase further includes an ingredient selected from plasticizers, stabilizers, curatives, cross-linkers, and cure catalysts.