US4600452A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Eutectic microknit composite explosives and processes for making same
Assignee: Ireco Inc
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Filing: 1984-02-08
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Granted: 1986-07-15
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Expires: 2004-02-08
Abstract
Abstract A new arrangement of matter is developed which can be formulated to be a high explosive, a propellant or a gas generator. The new arrangement of matter in its explosive embodiment is known as a eutectic microknit explosive (EMCX) in which an essentially anhydrous eutectic mixture of ammonium nitrate, soluble explosive, and other oxidizing salts is mixed with surfactants and organic fuels while the eutectic mixture is molten, and a microcrystalline property is created which imparts a hard, machinable characteristic to the arrangement of matter. The invention includes three processes for making MCX compositions; (1) dissolving surfactants, crystal-habit modifiers, thickeners or combinations into the molten eutectic mixture in a manner which permits supercooling with subsequent solidification; (2) forming an unstable oil-continuous emulsion as a preliminary step, followed by a controlled disruption of the oil-phase continuum which causes the composition to solidify after supercooling, and (3) retarding crystal nucleation in salt-continuous emulsions by introducing surfactants, thickeners, crystal-habit modifiers or combinations, along with immiscible fuels, resulting in supercooling and subsequent solidification to a hard composition.
Inventors
- 👤 Harvey A. Jessop
- 👤 M. Taylor Abegg
- 👤 John A. Peterson
- 👤 Jay W. Butler
- 👤 Ronald F. McCormick
- 👤 Ormond F. Lavery
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:23
CPC Classifications
C; C06; C06B; C06B47/00; C06B47/14; C06B47/145; C06B45/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An arrangement of matter which is a solid, microcrystalline explosive, propellant or gas generator, comprising in combination: an essentially anhydrous mixture of ammonium nitrate and soluble explosives(s), surfactant(s), hydrocarbon fuel(s) and other inorganic oxidizer salt(s), including at least one such salt which is not a nitrate salt, involving the intimate mixing or dissolving of ingredients while they are in the molten state, the intimately mixed fluid having the property of permitting the molten salt(s) to be supercooled before the occurrence of crystal nucleation and reversion from the fluid state and wherein moisture which may be present is water of hydration or because of the hygroscopic nature of said oxidizer salts or explosive and is limited to 3% maximum by weight of the composiition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An arrangement of matter which is a solid, microcrystalline explosive, propellant or gas generator, comprising in combination: an essentially anhydrous mixture of ammonium nitrate and soluble explosives(s), surfactant(s), hydrocarbon fuel(s) and other inorganic oxidizer salt(s), including at least one such salt which is not a nitrate salt, involving the intimate mixing or dissolving of ingredients while they are in the molten state, the intimately mixed fluid having the property of permitting the molten salt(s) to be supercooled before the occurrence of crystal nucleation and reversion from the fluid state and wherein moisture which may be present is water of hydration or because of the hygroscopic nature of said oxidizer salts or explosive and is limited to 3% maximum by weight of the composiition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein soluble fuels or soluble compound explosives may be employed in the oxidizer portion of the originally fluid mixture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the oxygen balance is between +5% and -30%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the composition employs metallic fuels, in which case the oxygen balance is between +5% and -50%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the surfactant concentration is from 0.05% to 10% of the composition by weight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein other inorganic nitrates or perchlorates may be added in conjunction with NH 4 NO 3 ; the total concentration of the added salt or salts is limited to 48% by weight of the composition; and no single added salt is present in concentration greater than the percentage by weight of NH 4 NO 3 in the composition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An explosive of claim 6 wherein the added oxidizers are selected from the group consisting of alkali and alkaline earth nitrates and perchlorates and NH 4 CLO 4 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An explosive of claim 7 wherein the added oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of Zn(NO 3 ) 2 , Mn(NO 3 ) 2 , Cu(NO 3 ) 2 , Pb(NO 3 ) 2 and their perchlorate analogs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An explosive of claim 6 wherein any soluble and compatible potassium salt is added to phase stabilize the NH 4 NO 3 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the fuel is polymerizable or crosslinkable and where polymerization or crosslinking or both may be accomplished in situ.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the fuel is a thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
An explosive of claim 10 wherein the polymerizable fuels are selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyethers, polydienes, polysulfides, polyperflourocarbons, polyolefins, polyamines, polyalkanes, polyphenols and polyacetylenes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is nonpolymerizable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the surfactants are emulsifiers selected from the group having R-groups greater than 12 carbon atoms in length ordinarily used to form oil-continuous emulsions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the surfactants are selected from the group having a carbon chain length of from 6 to 12 carbon atoms ordinarily used for water-continuous emulsions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein additives selected from the aromatic or alkylaryl surfactants may be employed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the surfactants are crystal habit modifiers selected from the dialkylnaphthalene-sulfonates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the originally fluid mixture may be employed as a matrix into which insoluble solids may be added.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
An explosive of claim 18 wherein the added solid is a compound explosive.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
An explosive of claim 18 wherein the added solid is a metallic fuel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the soluble compound explosive is the nitrate or perchlorate adduct of an alkylamine or alkanolamine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the soluble compound explosive is an oxidizer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein molten compound explosives which are insoluble may be dispersed in the originally fluid mixture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
An explosive of claim 18 wherein the insoluble solid additive may be an oxidizer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the compound explosive is selected from the group consisting of hexamethylenetetraminenitrates or hexamethylenetetramine perchlorates made in situ.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein a compound explosive selected from the group consisting of metal ammonia coordination compounds is added.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein the soluble compound explosive is a nitroazole salt.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
An explosive of claim 4 wherein density control or sensitization is achieved by the use of additives selected from microballoons, perlite, fumed silica, entrained gas, or gas generated in situ.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
An explosive of claim 1 wherein no sensitization is effected by either density control or the addition of compound explosives.
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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) | 1989-07-14 | 1990-01-13 | 1990-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-14 | 1994-01-13 | 1994-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-14 | 1998-01-13 | 1998-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |