Structural metallic binders for reactive fragmentation weapons

• US 8,746,145 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheridan, Edward W., Brooks, George W., Hugus, George D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BERGIN, JAMES S
• Application Number:
  US13/526,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20120255457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 102/494, 102/495, 102/496, 102/497, 102/517, 102/518, 102/519, 102/473, 86/51, 86/52, 86/53, 86/56, 86/54, 86/55, 149/109.6, 149/109.2, 149/108.2
• US Class Current: 102/494
• 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 45/04 comprising solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix not used for explosives where the matrix consists essentially of nitrated carbohydrates or a low molecular organic explosive
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/207 characterised by the explosive material or the construction of the high explosive warhead, e.g. insensitive ammunition
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/22 with fragmentation-hull construction
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/32 the hull or case comprising a plurality of discrete bodies, e.g. steel balls, embedded therein or disposed around the explosive charge
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/36 for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/44 of incendiary type F42B12/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/56 for dispensing discrete solid bodies F42B12/70 takes precedence

Abstract

A munition is described including a reactive fragment having an energetic material dispersed in a metallic binder material. A method is also described including forming a energetic material; combining the energetic material with a metallic binder material to form a mixture; and shaping the mixture to form a reactive fragment. The munition may be in the form of a warhead, and the reactive fragment may be contained within a casing of the warhead.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

forming a plurality of discrete structures, each discrete structure comprising an energetic material, the energetic material including a first material that is a reducing metal or a metal hydride and a second material that is a metal oxide;

combining the plurality of discrete structures with a metallic binder material to form a mixture; and

shaping the mixture to form a reactive fragment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein shaping the mixture comprises imparting a cylindrical or polygonal or other shape to the reactive fragment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each discrete structure comprises a thin film or thin layered structure, each discrete structure comprising at least a first layer comprising the reducing metal and at least a second layer comprising the metal oxide.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the layers have a thickness of about 10 to about 10000 nm.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second material is an oxide of a transition metal element, and wherein the first material is aluminum or aluminum-based.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising subjecting the reactive fragment to at least one of case-hardening and jacketing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the metallic binder material has a density of at least about 7.5 g/cm³.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the metallic binder material has a density within the range of 1.0 to 17.0 g/cm³.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the metallic binder material comprises one or more of bismuth, lead, tin, indium, and alloys thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding one or more of the following to the mixture:

an organic material, an inorganic material, a metastable intermolecular composite, or a hydride.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising treating the surface of at least one of the energetic material and the metallic binder material in order to promote wetting.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding one or more of fibers, filaments, dispersed particulates, and mixtures thereof to the metallic binder material.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the reactive fragment within a casing of a warhead.