US4425170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Desensitizing explosives
Assignee: BAE Systems Global Combat Systems Munitions Ltd
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Filing: 1980-07-29
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Granted: 1984-01-10
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Expires: 2000-07-29
Abstract
Abstract Sensitive explosive materials such as RDX or HMX may be desensitized by stirring them up with micronised wax in a liquid medium, usually water. The wax is in the form of particles having a mean size of less than 20 microns, preferably less than 6 microns, and particularly preferred is a wax having a mean particle size of from 2 to 4 microns and a specific surface area of from 15000 to 30000 cm2/cm3. Wax in this form adheres to the explosive material and even as little as 1% of wax produces significant desensitization. The invention provides a method by which, in particular, waxes of high melting and softening points which cannot be melted onto the explosives material by conventional methods, can be applied to sensitive explosives materials and thereby provide effective desensitization even at relatively high temperatures.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter T. Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:31
CPC Classifications
C; C06; C06B; C06B23/00; C06B23/005; C06B21/00; C06B21/0083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A process for the preparation of a desensitized explosive by treatment of a particulate explosive with a wax comprising the steps of: (a) forming a paste of a particulate explosive in a liquid medium that is a non-solvent for the explosive and for said wax, (b) adding to said paste, with stirring, said wax in a particulate form with a mean particle size of less than 20 microns, and a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters and sodium alkyl sulphates of higher fatty alcohols to form a treated explosive, and (c) filtering off said treated explosive, wherein each of steps (a), (b) and (c) is performed in the cold and further wherein the amount of wetting agent added is about 0.05% to about 0.2% (by wt) of the dry explosive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A process for the preparation of a desensitized explosive by treatment of a particulate explosive with a wax comprising the steps of: (a) forming a paste of a particulate explosive in a liquid medium that is a non-solvent for the explosive and for said wax, (b) adding to said paste, with stirring, said wax in a particulate form with a mean particle size of less than 20 microns, and a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters and sodium alkyl sulphates of higher fatty alcohols to form a treated explosive, and (c) filtering off said treated explosive, wherein each of steps (a), (b) and (c) is performed in the cold and further wherein the amount of wetting agent added is about 0.05% to about 0.2% (by wt) of the dry explosive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said wax has a mean particle size of less than 6 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said wax has a mean particle size of 2 to 4 microns and a specific surface area in the range of from about 15,000 to about 30,000 cm 2 /cm 3 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said liquid medium is an aqueous medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said paste contains from about 15 to 50% by weight of the explosive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process according to claim 5 wherein said paste contains 25% by weight of the explosive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said wax comprises from about 1 to about 10% by weight of the desensitized explosive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said wetting agent comprises from about 0.05 to about 0.20% by weight of the dry explosive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said wetting agent comprises about 0.1% by weight of the dry explosive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising (d) drying the treated explosive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 10 further including (e) allowing the treated explosive to cool, and (f) mixing the cooled treated explosive with powdered aluminium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 11, wherein said aluminium comprises from about 15 to about 30% by weight of the total composition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the explosive is cyclotriethylene trinitramine, cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, diaminotrinitrobenzene, or nitroguanidine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said wax has softening and melting points which are in the region of or above the safe decomposition temperature of the explosive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
128 words
A process for coating a particulate explosive with a wax to desensitize the explosive which comprises (a) stirring a paste containing from about 15% to about 50% by weight of said explosive and a wax having a mean particle size of less than 20 microns in a non-solvent for the explosive and the wax which contains a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters and sodium alkyl sulphates of higher fatty alcohols until the explosive is coated with said wax, and (b) filtering the paste to recover the resulting wax-coated explosive, wherein each of steps (a) and (b) is performed in the cold and further wherein the amount of wetting agent added is about 0.05% to about 0.2% (by wt) of the dry explosive.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
128 words
A process for coating a particulate explosive with a wax to desensitize the explosive which comprises (a) stirring a paste containing from about 15% to about 50% by weight of said explosive and a wax having a mean particle size of less than 20 microns in a non-solvent for the explosive and the wax which contains a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters and sodium alkyl sulphates of higher fatty alcohols until the explosive is coated with said wax, and (b) filtering the paste to recover the resulting wax-coated explosive, wherein each of steps (a) and (b) is performed in the cold and further wherein the amount of wetting agent added is about 0.05% to about 0.2% (by wt) of the dry explosive.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-09 | 1987-07-11 | 1988-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-09 | 1991-07-11 | 1992-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-09 | 1995-07-11 | 1996-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |