Infrared tracer compositions

• US 5,639,984 A
• Filed: 05/22/1996
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Thiokol Corporation (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nielson, Daniel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hardee, John R.
• Application Number:
  US08/651,617
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 102/335, 102/336, 149/116, 149/19.1, 149/22, 149/61, 149/75, 149/35, 149/110
• US Class Current: 102/336
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 43/00 Compositions characterised by explosive or thermic constituents not provided for in groups C06B25/00 - C06B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C06C 15/00 Pyrophoric compositions; Flints chemical lighters C06C9/00; alloys in general C22C
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 149/116 Flare contains resin

Abstract

Convert infrared tracer compositions are provided. The compositions are formed using peroxide such as strontium peroxide and barium peroxide. Added to these materials is a burn rate catalyst such as boron, iron oxide, cupric oxide, manganese dioxide, carbon, silicon, graphite fibrils, amorphous silica, copper oxide, potassium dodecaborate, the dipotassium salt of bitetrazole amine, and the potassium salt of dilituric acid. The composition also includes alkali metal compounds in order to enhance the infrared emissions. The compositions are bound together using a binder such that the composition results in a granular material having a mean particle size in the range of from about 500μ to about 800μ.

Claims

1. An infrared tracer composition comprising:

from about 30% to about 98% by weight of at least one peroxide;

from about 1% to about 20% by weight binder;

from about 0.5% to about 15% by weight burn rate catalyst; and

from about 0.5% to about 55% by weight alkali metal compound, said alkali metal compound being selected from the group consisting of alkali metal perchlorates, bitetrazole amines, cyanates, sebacic acids, azides, oxalic acids, bicarbonates, 3-nitro-1,2,4,-triazol-5-ones, thiocyanates, carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof.

2. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said binder is selected such that the composition is granular in consistency having a mean particle size in the range of from about 500μ

to about 800μ

.

3. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said binder is a vinylacetate alcohol resin binder.

4. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said binder is nylon.

5. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 1 further comprising an alkali metal nitrate.

6. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said burn rate catalyst is boron.

7. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said burn rate catalyst is silicon.

8. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said burn rate catalyst is selected from the group consisting of boron, iron oxide, cupric oxide, manganese dioxide, carbon, silicon, graphite fibrils, amorphous silica, copper oxide, potassium dodecaborate, the dipotassium salt of bitetrazole amine, the potassium salt of dilituric acid, or mixtures thereof.

9. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said peroxide is selected from the group consisting of strontium peroxide, barium peroxide, or mixtures thereof.

10. An infrared tracer composition comprising:

from about 30% to about 98% by weight of at least one peroxide;

from about 1% to about 20% by weight binder, wherein said binder is selected such that the composition is granular in consistency having a mean particle size in the range of from about 500μ

to about 800μ

;

from about 0.5% to about 15% burn rate catalyst selected from the group consisting of boron, iron oxide, cupric oxide, manganese dioxide, carbon, silicon, graphite fibrils, amorphous silica, copper oxide, potassium dodecaborate, the dipotassium salt of bitetrazole amine, the potassium salt of dilituric acid, or mixtures thereof; and

from about 0.5% to about 55% alkali metal compound, wherein said alkali metal compound is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal perchlorates, bitetrazole amines, cyanates, sebacic acids, azides, oxalic acids, bicarbonates, 3-nitro-1,2,4,-triazol-5-ones (BTA), thiocyanates, carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof.

11. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 10 wherein said binder is a vinylacetate alcohol resin binder.

12. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 10 wherein said binder is nylon.

13. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 10 wherein said peroxide is selected from the group consisting of strontium peroxide, barium peroxide, or mixtures thereof.

14. An infrared tracer composition comprising:

from about 30% to about 98 % by weight peroxide selected from the group consisting of strontium peroxide, barium peroxide, or mixtures thereof;

from about 1% to about 20% by weight binder, wherein said binder is selected such that the composition is granular in consistency having a mean particle size in the range of from about 500μ

to about 800μ

;

from about 0.5% to about 15% burn rate catalyst; and

from about 0.5% to about 55% alkali metal compound, wherein said alkali metal compound is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal perchlorates, bitetrazole amines, cyanates, sebacic acids, azides, oxalic acids, bicarbonates, 3-nitro-1,2,4,-triazol-5-ones (BTA), thiocyanates, carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof.

15. An infrared tracer composition as defined in claim 14 wherein said burn rate catalyst is selected from the group consisting of boron, iron oxide, cupric oxide, manganese dioxide, carbon, silicon, graphite fibrils, amorphous silica, copper oxide, potassium dodecaborate, the dipotassium salt of bitetrazole amine, and the potassium salt of dilituric acid, or mixtures thereof.