Shock initiation devices including reactive multilayer structures

• US 7,278,354 B1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Surface Treatment Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Surface Treatment Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Langan, Timothy, Riley, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bergin; James S.
• Application Number:
  US10/855,298
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 102/306, 102/307, 102/308, 102/309, 102/310, 102/475, 102/476, 102/275.11, 102/205, 149/14, 149/15, 149/16, 149/37, 428/607, 428/615, 428/548, 427/455, 89/360.2, 89/361.7
• US Class Current: 102/306
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/14 a layer or zone containing an inorganic explosive or an inorganic explosive or an inorganic thermic component
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 1/032 characterised by the material of the liner
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/06 with hard or heavy core; Kinetic energy penetrators F42B12/16, F42B12/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/76 of the casing
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/00 Packaging or storage of ammunition or explosive charges; Safety features thereof; Cartridge belts or bags

Abstract

The invention provides shock initiation devices comprising multilayer structures with constituent layers that undergo an exothermic self-propagating reaction once initiated by shock. The multilayer structures may be used as components in shaped charges, EFP devices, warheads, munition casings, interceptors, missiles, bombs, and other systems. The reactive layer materials may be selected based on required structural properties, density and reaction temperature.

Claims

1. A shock initiation device comprising:

a reactive multilayer structure including repeating layers of reactive components which are capable of subsequently reacting with each other; and

explosive means for shock initiation of the reactive multilayer structure, wherein the device is a reactive shaped charge.

2. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein one of the reactive components is selected from the group consisting of Ni, Si, Ti, Ta, V, Zr, Nb, W, Mo, Cr, Rh and Ir, and another of the reactive components is selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Mg, Ni, C and B.

3. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein one of the reactive components is selected from the group consisting of TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₃O₄, SiO₂ and NiO₂, and another of the reactive components is selected from the group consisting of Al, Fe, Ni, B₂O₃ and TiO₂.

4. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein the reactive components are provided in sufficient amounts to form an intermetallic compound upon reaction.

5. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein one of the reactive components comprises Ni and another one of the reactive components comprises Al.

6. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein the reactive components comprise different metals provided in amounts selected to form a specified intermetallic comprising the metals upon exothermic reaction of the reactive metal components.

7. The shock initiation device of claim 6, wherein the intermetallic comprises nickel aluminide and/or titanium aluminide.

8. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein each of the layers has a thickness of from about 10 nanometers to about 1 micron.

9. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein the layers of reactive components are directly adjacent each other.

10. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein the reactive structure has a porosity of less than about 10 volume percent.

11. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein the reactive structure has a tensile yield strength of at least 5 ksi.

12. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein the reactive structure is at least partially coated with a fire retardant layer comprising a ceramic.

13. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein the reactive structure is at least partially coated with at least one layer of substantially non-reactive mechanically shock resistant rubber or polymer.

14. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein the means for shock initiation comprises an explosive.

15. The shock initiation device of claim 1, wherein the means for shock initiation comprises an object which impacts the reactive multilayer structure.