High-nitrogen energetic material based pyrotechnic compositions

• US 5,917,146 A
• Filed: 05/29/1997
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Los Alamos National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Hiskey, Michael A., Chavez, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Edward A.
• Application Number:
  US08/865,412
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 149/36, 149/46, 149/76, 149/61
• US Class Current: 149/36
• CPC Class Codes: C06C 15/00 Pyrophoric compositions; Flints chemical lighters C06C9/00; alloys in general C22C

Abstract

A low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition including a high-nitrogen content, low-carbon content energetic material; an oxidizing agent; and, a colorant is disclosed.

Claims

1. A low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition comprising:

a high-nitrogen content, low-carbon content energetic material selected from the group consisting of dihydrazino-s-tetrazine, derivatives of dihydrazino-s-tetrazine and salts of dihydrazino-s-tetrazine;

an oxidizing agent; and

,

a colorant.

2. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 1 wherein said high-nitrogen content, low-carbon content energetic material is dihydrazino-s-tetrazine.

3. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 1 wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of ammonium perchlorate and ammonium nitrate with the proviso that said pyrotechnic composition includes at least one chlorine containing material.

4. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 1 wherein said colorant is a metal salt.

5. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 4 wherein said metal salt includes a metal selected from the group consisting of calcium, barium, strontium, potassium, sodium, copper, and antimony.

6. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 3 wherein said high-nitrogen content, low-carbon content energetic material is dihydrazino-s-tetrazine.

7. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 6 wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of ammonium perchlorate and ammonium nitrate with the proviso that said pyrotechnic composition includes at least one chlorine containing material.

8. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 6 wherein said oxidizing agent is ammonium perchlorate.

9. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 6 wherein said oxidizing agent is ammonium nitrate with the proviso that said pyrotechnic composition further includes at least one chlorine containing material selected from the group of ammonium perchlorate and a metal chloride salt.

10. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 1 wherein said composition includes from about 40 to about 60 percent by weight dihydrazino-s-tetrazine, from about 40 to about 60 percent by weight ammonium perchlorate, and from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight colorant.

11. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 1 wherein said composition includes from about 30 to about 60 percent by weight dihydrazino-s-tetrazine, from about 40 to about 60 percent by weight ammonium nitrate, from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight ammonium perchlorate, and from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight colorant.

12. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 1 wherein said colorant includes about one part by weight copper sulfide to about 8 parts by weight barium nitrate, said composition characterized as yielding a turquoise color.

13. A pyrotechnic composition comprising:

a high-nitrogen content, low-carbon content energetic material selected from the group consisting of dihydrazino-s-tetrazine, derivatives of dihydrazino-s-tetrazine and salts of dihydrazino-s-tetrazine;

ammonium nitrate; and

,

a strontium-containing colorant, said pyrotechnic composition further characterized as producing a strobe light effect upon combustion.

14. The pyrotechnic composition of claim 13 wherein said colorant includes a copper-containing colorant metal, a barium-containing colorant and a strontium-containing colorant.

15. The pyrotechnic composition of claim 13 wherein said high-nitrogen content, low-carbon content energetic material is dihydrazino-s-tetrazine.

16. The pyrotechnic composition of claim 14 wherein said high-nitrogen content, low-carbon content energetic material is dihydrazino-s-tetrazine.

17. The pyrotechnic composition of claim 14 wherein said colorant includes about one part by weight copper sulfide to about one part by weight barium nitrate to about three parts by weight strontium nitrate, said composition characterized as yielding a red-purple color.