Low-smoke pyrotechnic compositions

• US 6,312,537 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1999
• 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., Naud, Darren L., Chavez, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FELTON, AILEEN BAKER
• Application Number:
  US09/615,929
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 149/36, 149/46, 149/61, 149/76
• US Class Current: 149/36
• 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: C06B 47/08 a component containing hydrazine or a hydrazine derivative
• 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 oxidant and a colorant is disclosed together with the use of selected metal salts of a high-nitrogen content, low-carbon content energetic material as the colorant.

Claims

1. In a low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition including a low smoke fuel;

an oxidizing agent; and

, a colorant, the improvement wherein said colorant is a metal salt of a high-nitrogen content, low-carbon content energetic material selected from the group consisting of 5,5′

-bis-1H-tetrazole, bis(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine, and the monohydrate of bis(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine.

2. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 1 wherein said metal salt includes a metal selected from the group consisting of calcium, barium, strontium, potassium, iron, sodium, copper and antimony.

3. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 1 wherein said low smoke fuel is from the group of dihydrazino-s-tetrazine, derivatives of dihydrazino-s-tetrazine and salts of dihydrazino-s-tetrazine.

4. The low-smoke producing pyrotechnic composition of claim 1 wherein said oxidant is selected from the group consisting of ammonium perchlorate and ammonium nitrate.

5. A blue emitting pyrotechnic composition comprised of a high-nitrogen content, lowcarbon content energetic material selected from the group consisting of 5,5′

-bis-1H-tetrazole, salts of 5,5′

-bis-1H-tetrazole, bis(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine, the monohydrate of bis(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)amine, salts of bis(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine, dihydrazino-s-tetrazine, derivatives of dihydrazino-s-tetrazine and salts of dihydrazino-s-tetrazine, an oxidizer and a copper salt of a high-nitrogen content, low-carbon content energetic material selected from the group consisting of 5,5′

-bis-1H-tetrazole, bis(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine, and the monohydrate of bis(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine, said blue emitting pyrotechnic composition further characterized as having C.I.E. 1931 chromaticity diagram index values of x<

0.20 and y<

0.18.

6. A composition of matter comprising a salt of 5,5′

-bis-1H-tetrazole, said salt including a cation selected from the group consisting of NH₂NH₃⁺, NH₃OH⁺, Sr⁺ and ⁺H₃NHN—

(C₂N₄)—

NHNH₃⁺ wherein said (C₂N₄) is a tetrazine ring system.