High performance explosive containing CL-20

• US 6,214,137 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cordant Technologies, Inc. (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Kenneth E., Nicolich, Steve, Mezger, Mark, Hatch, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Edward A.
• Application Number:
  US09/166,842
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 149/19.7, 149/92
• US Class Current: 149/19.7
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 21/0066 by granulation, e.g. flaking
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 23/005 Desensitisers, phlegmatisers coolants for mining explosives C06B23/04; deactivating C06B21/0091
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 25/34 the compound being a nitrated acyclic, alicyclic or heterocyclic amine

Abstract

High performance explosive compositions and ordnances using the explosive compositions as an explosive ingredient for high performance, low sensitivity explosive applications are disclosed. The explosive formulation includes CL-20 as an explosive ingredient, and a binder system including cellulose acetate butyrate as a non-energetic binder and bis-dinitropropyl acetal and bis-dinitropropyl formal as an energetic plasticizer. The CL-20 may be present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of from about 85 wt % to about 96 wt %. The formulation is preferably sufficiently pressable and/or extrudable to permit it to be formed into grains suitable for ordnance and similar applications, including use as grenades, land mines, missile warheads, and demolition explosives.

Claims

1. A pressable or extrudable explosive formulation comprising:

2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.0^5,9.0^3,11]-dodecane (CL-20) having a concentration in the explosive formulation of from about 85 wt % to about 96 wt %;

a non-energetic binder comprising cellulose acetate butyrate; and

an energetic plasticizer comprising bis-dinitropropyl acetal and bis-dinitropropyl formal.

2. A formulation according to claim 1, wherein the CL-20 is present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of from about 85 wt % to about 95 wt %.

3. A formulation according to claim 1, wherein the CL-20 is present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of from about 94 wt % to about 95 wt %.

4. A formulation according to claim 1, wherein the CL-20 is present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of about 94 wt %.

5. A formulation according to claim 2, wherein the cellulose acetate butyrate is present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of from about 2 wt % to about 2.8 wt %.

6. A formulation according to claim 2, wherein the energetic plasticizer is present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of from about 3.2 wt % to about 4 wt %.

7. A formulation according to claim 1, wherein the CL-20 is present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of from about 94 wt % to about 95 wt %, wherein the cellulose acetate butyrate is present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of from about 2 wt % to about 2.8 wt %, and wherein energetic plasticizer is present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of from about 3.2 wt % to about 4 wt %.

8. A formulation according to claim 1, wherein the CL-20 is present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of about 94 wt %, wherein the cellulose acetate butyrate is present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of about 2.4 wt %, and wherein the energetic plasticizer is present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of about 3.6 wt %.

9. A formulation according to claim 1, wherein a weight ratio of bis-dinitropropyl acetal to bis-dinitropropyl formal is between about 45:

55 and about 55;

45.

10. A formulation according to claim 1, wherein a weight ratio of bis-dinitropropyl acetal to bis-dinitropropyl formal in the plasticizer is about 50:

50.

11. A formulation according to claim 1, wherein the formulation further comprises an stabilizer.

12. A formulation according to claim 11, wherein the stabilizer is at least one member selected from the group consisting of diphenylamine and n-alkyl nitroanilines.