Tracer mixture for use with laser hardened optics

• US 5,472,536 A
• Filed: 12/19/1994
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Martin, Raymond, Doris, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US08/358,290
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 149/42, 149/41, 149/43, 149/70, 149/77, 149/108.2, 149/123
• US Class Current: 149/41
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 33/14 at least one being an inorganic nitrogen-oxygen salt
• CPC Class Codes: C06C 15/00 Pyrophoric compositions; Flints chemical lighters C06C9/00; alloys in general C22C
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 149/123 Tagged compositions for identifying purposes

Abstract

A pyrotechnic mixture for use in tracer rounds of projectiles to increase sibility under high speed conditions when viewed through laser hardened optics, comprising, in percentages by weight, an admixture of 20% to 40% magnesium, 10% to 30% strontium nitrate, 3% to 8% sodium nitrate, 3% to 20% barium peroxide and 1% to 5% viton. Additional ingredients that increase the pyrotechnic effectiveness are 0% to 5% aluminum, 0% to 15% potassium perchlorate, 0% to 5% manganese dioxide, 0% to 10% iron oxide as Fe₂ O₃, 0% to 15% potassium nitrate, 0% to 10% Teflon and 0% to 1% ethyl cellulose.

Claims

1. A pyrotechnic mixture for use in tracer rounds of projectiles to increase visibility under high speed conditions when viewed through laser hardened optics, comprising, in percentages by weight:

an admixture of 20% to 40% magnesium, 10% to 30% strontium nitrate, 3% to 8% sodium nitrate, 3% to 20% barium peroxide and 1% to 5% viton.

2. The mixture of claim 1, which further includes in said admixture, in percentages by weight one of the following:

0% to 5% aluminum, 0% to 15% potassium perchlorate, 0% to 5% manganese dioxide, 0% to 10% iron oxide as Fe₂ O₃, 0% to 15% barium peroxide, 0% to 10% polyvinyl chloride, 0% to 15% potassium nitrate, 0% to 10% Teflon and 0% to 1% ethyl cellulose.

3. The mixture of claim 2, comprising:

40% magnesium,

20% strontium nitrate,

5% sodium nitrate,

5% viton,

5% manganese dioxide,

9% iron oxide as Fe₂ O₃,

15% potassium nitrate, and

1% ethyl cellulose.

4. The mixture of claim 2, comprising:

35% magnesium,

20% strontium nitrate,

5% sodium nitrate,

10% barium peroxide

5% viton,

5% aluminum,

5% manganese dioxide, and

5% potassium nitrate.

5. The mixture of claim 2, comprising:

40% magnesium,

20% strontium nitrate,

5% sodium nitrate,

5% viton,

5% polyvinyl chloride,

10% barium peroxide, and

15% potassium perchlorate.

6. The mixture of claim 1, incorporated in a tracer round of 25 mm or smaller.

7. A pyrotechnic mixture for use in tracer rounds of projectiles to increase visibility under high speed conditions when viewed through laser hardened optics, comprising, in percentages by weight:

an admixture of 20% to 40% magnesium, 10%. to 30% strontium nitrate, 3% to 8% sodium nitrate, 3% to 20% barium peroxide and 1% to 5% viton, 0% to 5% aluminum, 0% to 15% potassium perchlorate, 0% to 5% manganese dioxide, 0% to 10% iron oxide as Fe₂ O₃, 0% to 15% potassium nitrate, 0% to 10% Teflon and 0% to 1% ethyl cellulose.

8. The mixture of claim 7, incorporated in a tracer round of 25 mm or smaller.