Energetic material composition

• US 8,414,718 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheridan, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCDONOUGH, JAMES E
• Application Number:
  US10/923,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,150 Days
• Field of Search: 149/37, 149/108.2, 149/108.4, 149/109.2, 149/109.4
• US Class Current: 149/37
• 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: C06C 15/00 Pyrophoric compositions; Flints chemical lighters C06C9/00; alloys in general C22C
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 3/00 Generation of smoke or mist (chemical part) compositions used as biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators A01N25/18

Abstract

An energetic material composition includes a reducing material and an oxide of phosphorus. The reducing material includes a reducing metal and, in an optional hydride form, auto disperses products of the reaction by the formation of a gaseous product. The composition can be included in a cavity of a warhead. A method of neutralizing a targeted species and a method of reducing structural integrity of civil engineering structures by reacting the composition are also provided.

Claims

1. An energetic material composition comprising:

a reducing material and an oxide of phosphorus,

wherein the reducing material and the oxide of phosphorus react as follows;

2. The energetic material composition of claim 1, wherein the reducing material is a reducing metal.

3. The energetic material composition of claim 2, wherein the reducing material is selected from the group consisting of Li, Be, Mg, Ca, Al, Ga, Ti, Zr, Zn, Cd, and alloys or mixtures thereof.

4. The energetic material composition of claim 2, wherein the reducing material is a hydride of the reducing metal.

5. The energetic material composition of claim 4, wherein the reducing material is selected from the group consisting of Li, Be, Mg, Ca, Al, Ga, Ti, Zr, Zn, Cd, and alloys or mixtures thereof.

6. The energetic material composition of claim 1, wherein the reducing material has a sufficiently high negative enthalpy in reaction with the oxide of phosphorus to produce a sufficient heat to neutralize a targeted agent.

7. The energetic material composition of claim 6 arranged within a warhead.

8. The energetic material composition of claim 7, wherein the targeted agent is a biological or chemical species.

9. The energetic material composition of claim 1, wherein the reducing material and the oxide of phosphorus are a mixture.

10. The energetic material composition of claim 1, wherein the reducing material and the oxide of phosphorus are a layered structure, wherein a first layer is the reducing material and a second adjacent layer is the oxide of phosphorus.

11. The energetic material composition of claim 1, wherein the reducing material and the oxide of phosphorous are each in powder form and the powders of the reducing material and the oxide of phosphorus are layered with a compositional transition area therebetween.

12. The energetic material composition of claim 7, arranged within a cavity of the warhead.

13. The energetic material composition of claim 1, wherein the dispersing aid is a gaseous product formed by a reaction of the composition.

14. The energetic material composition of claim 1, wherein the dispersing aid is a high explosive.

15. The energetic material composition of claim 14, wherein the high explosive is separated from the composition by a membrane.

16. The energetic material composition of claim 1, wherein the elemental phosphorus is a solid.

17. The energetic material composition of claim 1, wherein the elemental phosphorus exists as an allotrope.

18. The energetic material composition of claim 17, wherein the allotrope comprises white phosphorus (P₄).