Flexible energetic materials and related methods

• US 9,908,823 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Original Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Inventors: Heaps, Ronald J
• Primary Examiner(s): MCDONOUGH, JAMES E
• Application Number:
  US14/940,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20170137337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 149 40, 149 37, 149 42, 1491092
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 21/0025 the ingredient being a polymer bonded explosive or thermic component
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 23/001 Fillers, gelling and thickening agents (e.g. fibres) , absorbents for nitroglycerine binders, plasticisers for propellants C06B45/10; crosslinking or curing agents C06B45/10
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 33/12 the material being two or more oxygen-yielding compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/14 a layer or zone containing an inorganic explosive or an inorganic explosive or an inorganic thermic component

Abstract

Energetic compositions and methods of forming components from the compositions are provided. In one embodiment, a composition includes aluminum, molybdenum trioxide, potassium perchlorate, and a binder. In one embodiment, the binder may include a silicone material. The materials may be mixed with a solvent, such as xylene, de-aired, shaped and cured to provide a self-supporting structure. In one embodiment, one or more reinforcement members may be added to provide additional strength to the structure. For example, a weave or mat of carbon fiber material may be added to the mixture prior to curing. In one embodiment, blade casting techniques may be used to form a structure. In another embodiment, a structure may be formed using 3-dimensional printing techniques.

Claims

1. A material composition comprising:

aluminum (Al) in an amount of approximately 15 to 20% by weight (wt %);

molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) present in an amount of approximately 32 to 41% by wt %;

potassium perchlorate (KClO₄) present in an amount of approximately 9 to 10% by wt %; and

a binder.

2. The material composition of claim 1, wherein the binder comprises silicone.

3. The material composition of claim 2, further comprising a solvent.

4. The material composition of claim 3, wherein the solvent comprises xylene.

5. The material composition of claim 4, wherein silicone is present in an amount of approximately 25 to 28 wt %, and xylene is present in an amount of approximately 9 to 10 wt %.

6. The material composition of claim 4, wherein aluminum is present in amount of approximately 15.2 wt %, KClO₄ is present in an amount of approximately 9.3 wt %, MoO₃ is present in amount of approximately 40.6 wt %, silicone is present in amount of approximately 25.6 wt %, and xylene is present in amount of approximately 9.3 wt %.

7. The material composition of claim 6, wherein silicone is present in amount of approximately 25.6 wt % and xylene is present in amount of approximately 9.3 wt %.

8. The material composition of claim 4, wherein aluminum is present in amount of approximately 19.4 wt %, KClO₄ is present in an amount of approximately 10 wt %, and MoO₃ is present in an amount of approximately 32.6 wt %.

9. The material composition of claim 2, wherein the Al and the MoO3 are present in powder form.

10. The material composition of claim 9, wherein the Al powder exhibits an average size of approximately 0.08 microns.

11. The material composition of claim 10, wherein the MoO3 powder exhibits an average size of approximately 14.0 microns.

12. The material composition of claim 1, further comprising a solvent, wherein the composition contains approximately 55% solids concentration by volume.

13. The material composition of claim 8, wherein silicon is present in an amount of approximately 28 wt % and xylene is present in amount of approximately 10 wt %.