Non-toxic composite projectiles having a biodegradable polymeric matrix for hunting or shooting cartridges

• US 6,101,949 A
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snpe Materiaux Energetiques (Government of France)
• Original Assignee: Societe Nationale Des Poudres Et Explosifs
• Inventors: Maucourt, Jacques, Combette, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEITEY, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US09/071,780
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 102/448, 102/439, 102/501, 102/517
• US Class Current: 102/517
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 32/0094 with organic materials as the main non-metallic constituent, e.g. resin
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 7/046 Pellets or shot therefor

Abstract

Composite spherical projectiles are provided for shotgun cartridges which are environmentally compatible, relatively inexpensive and have ballistic properties similar to lead shot or projectiles and which consist of metal particles dispersed in a biogradable polymeric solid matrix which includes a hydrocarbon binder containing ester functional groups which are linked to C_1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon chains, starch, and titanium dioxide.

Claims

1. Non-toxic composite projectile for hunting or shooting shotgun cartridges, consisting of metal particles dispersed in a polymeric solid matrix, characterized in that the polymeric solid matrix is biodegradable and includes:

a hydrocarbon binder containing ester functional groups which are linked to hydrocarbon chains chosen from the group consisting of saturated or unsaturated aliphatic chains containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;

starch; and

titanium dioxide.

2. Projectile according to claim 1, characterized in that its density is between 7.5 g/cm³ and 10.5 g/cm³.

3. Projectile according to claim 2, characterized in that the metal particles consist of tungsten or of an alloy containing tungsten.

4. Projectile according to claim 3, characterized in that the alloy containing tungsten is a tungsten-iron alloy.

5. Projectile according to claim 1, characterized in that the titanium dioxide is in anatase form.

6. Projectile according to claim 1, characterized in that the aliphatic hydrocarbon chains contain from 2 to 12 carbon atoms.

7. Projectile according to claim 1, characterized in that the binder also contains urethane and/or amide functional groups.

8. Projectile according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymeric matrix also contains at least one additive chosen from the group consisting of alkali metal stearates, alkaline-earth metal stearates, alkali metal carbonates, alkaline-earth metal carbonates, alkali metal sulphates and alkaline-earth metal sulphates.

9. Projectile according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymeric matrix also contains a plasticizer.

10. Projectile according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymeric matrix contains:

at least 75% by weight of binder;

at least 2.5% by weight of starch;

at least 0.5% by weight of titanium oxide in anatase form;

at least 0.5% by weight of calcium carbonate;

at least 0.5% by weight of calcium stearate; and

at least 1% by weight of a trialkylacetyl citrate.