Pyrotechnic thermite composition

• US 6,627,013 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Son & Carter, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Son & Carter, Inc.
• Inventors: Carter, Greg Jr., Carter, Greg Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FELTON, AILEEN BAKER
• Application Number:
  US10/062,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 149/19.1, 149/37, 149/40
• US Class Current: 149/37
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 33/00 Compositions containing particulate metal, alloy, boron, silicon, selenium or tellurium with at least one oxygen supplying material which is either a metal oxide or a salt, organic or inorganic, capable of yielding a metal oxide
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 33/12 the material being two or more oxygen-yielding compounds

Abstract

A thermite composition for pyrotechnics having high heat transfer charactistics comprising a strongly reducible metal oxide, a thermally decomposable heat transfer agent consisting of Cu₂O, and a strong reducing agent. It is desirable that the stoichiometerics and mechanics of the thermite reaction is such that there is a substantial excess of oxygen. Also, other ingredients may be added to the composition such as gas generating compounds, binders, diluents and supplemental oxidizing agents.

Claims

1. A thermite composition for pyrotechnics having high heat transfer charactistics comprising:

(a) a strongly reducible metal oxide;

(b) a strong reducing agent; and

(c) a thermally decomposable heat transfer agent consisting of Cu₂O.

2. The thermite composition of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the strongly reducible metal oxide is taken from the group consisting of FeO, Fe₂O₃, CoO, NiO, Cu₂O, CuO, Sb₂O₃, MoO₂, MoO₃, Cr₂O₃, PbO₂, WO₂, and WO₃; and

(b) the strong reducing agent is taken from the group consisting of Al, Si, Zr, Be, Mg, Ba, Ti, and B.

3. The thermite composition of claim 1, wherein the strongly reducible metal oxide is taken from the group consisting of Fe₂O₃, NiO, CuO, and CoO and the strong reducing agent is taken from the group consisting of Al, Si, Mg, and B.

4. The thermite composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further contains:

(a) a supplemental strong oxidizing agent taken from the group consisting of metal oxides, chlorates, perchlorates, peroxides, nitrites and nitrates or a combination thereof; and

(b) a binder.

5. The thermite composition of claim 1, wherein the strongly reducible metal oxide is CuO, the strong reducing agent is Al, and the supplemental strong oxidizing agent is NaClO₃.

6. The thermite composition of claim 1, wherein the strongly reducible metal oxide is Fe₂O₃, the strong reducing agent is Al, and the supplemental strong oxidizing agent is NaClO₃.

7. The thermite composition of claim 1, wherein the strongly reducible metal oxide is CuO, the strong reducing agent is Al and the supplemental strong oxidizing agent is a nitrate.

8. The thermite composition of claim 1, wherein the strongly reducible metal oxide is Fe₂O₃, the strong reducing agent is Al, and the supplemental strong oxidizing agent is a nitrate.

9. The thermite composition of claims 5, wherein the composition further contains a binder.

10. The thermite composition of claim 1, wherein the strongly reducible metal oxide is CuO provided in the range of about 35-55% by weight, the supplemental strong oxidation agent is NaClO3 provided in the range of about 0-12% by weight, and the binder is polyethylene glycol provided in the range of 0-1.5% by weight.

11. The thermite composition of claim 1, which further contains a supplemental strong oxidizing agent, a binder and a diluent taken from the group consisting of LiF, NiF₃, FeCl₃, AlF₃, NiF₂, CaF₂, CrF₂, CrCl₃, CaO, Na₂SO₄, SiO₂, KCl, TiO₂, CrF₃, MgCl₂, CaCl₂, NiF₃, FeCl₃, MgF₂, MnO, Fe₂O₃, B₂O₃, MgO, and Al₂O₃ or a combination thereof.

12. A thermite composition for pyrotechnics having a high heat transfer, comprising:

(a) a strongly reducible metal oxide taken from the group consisting of FeO, Fe.sub2 O3, CoO, NiO, Cu.sub2 O, CuO, Sb2 3O, MoO2, MoO3, Cr2 O3, PbO2, WO2, and WO3;

(b) a strong reducing agent taken from the group consisting of Al, Si, Zr, Be, Mg, Ba, Ti, and B;

(c) a strong supplemental oxidation agent taken from the group consisting of metal oxides, chlorates, perchlorates, peroxides, nitrites and nitrates or a combination thereof; and

(d) a binder.

13. A thermite composition of claim 12, which further comprise a gas generating compound taken from the group consisting of carbides, nitrides and nitrates.