US5067995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for enhancing stability of high explosives, for purposes of transport or storage, and the stabilized high explosives
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1989-06-15
•
Granted: 1991-11-26
•
Expires: 2009-06-15
Abstract
Abstract The stability of porous solid high explosives, for purposes of transport or storage, is enhanced by reducing the sensitivity to shock initiation of a reaction that leads to detonation. The pores of the explosive down to a certain size are filled under pressure with a stable, low melt temperature material in liquid form, and the combined material is cooled so the pore filling material solidifies. The stability can be increased to progressively higher levels by filling smaller pores. The pore filling material can be removed, at least partially, by reheating above its melt temperature and drained off so that the explosive is once more suitable for detonation.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald L. Nutt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:11
CPC Classifications
C; C06; C06B; C06B21/00; C06B21/0083; C06B21/0091
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for suppressing the tendency of a porous solid high explosive to ignite and detonate, comprising: filling substantially all the pres of the solid high explosive material with a predetermined pore radius of at least 10 μm with a relatively inert, stable, pore filling material in liquid form, the pore filling material being selected from gallium, rubidium-potassium eutectic, and Wood's metal; and solidifying the pore filling material in the pores of the explosive material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for suppressing the tendency of a porous solid high explosive to ignite and detonate, comprising: filling substantially all the pres of the solid high explosive material with a predetermined pore radius of at least 10 μm with a relatively inert, stable, pore filling material in liquid form, the pore filling material being selected from gallium, rubidium-potassium eutectic, and Wood's metal; and solidifying the pore filling material in the pores of the explosive material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of filling the pores is performed by pressurizing the liquid pore filling material to a pressure sufficient to infiltrate substantially all the pores of at least the predetermined radius.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising heating the pre filling material to a temperature above its melt temperature prior to filling the pores.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for suppressing the tendency of a porous solid high explosive to ignite and detonate, comprising: filling substantially all the pores of the solid high explosive material of at least a predetermined pore radius with a relatively inert, stable, pore filling material in liquid form; solidifying the pore filling material in the pores of the explosive material; and removing the pore filling material from the high explosive material prior to detonating the high explosive.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for suppressing the tendency of a porous solid high explosive to ignite and detonate, comprising: filling substantially all the pores of the solid high explosive material of at least a predetermined pore radius with a relatively inert, stable, pore filling material in liquid form; solidifying the pore filling material in the pores of the explosive material; and removing the pore filling material from the high explosive material prior to detonating the high explosive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 4 comprising removing the pore filling material by heating the explosive material filled with the pore filling material to a temperature above the melt temperature of the pore filling material to liquefy the pore filling material and removing the liquid pore filling material for the explosive material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of substantially filling the pores of a pore size is carried out so as to prevent shock initiated detonation above a predetermined shock pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A stabilized solid high explosive comprising: a porous solid high explosive material; a relatively inert, solidified, stable pore filling material selected from gallium, rubidium-potassium eutectic and Wood's metal filling substantially all the pores of the explosive material of at least a predetermined pore radius.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A stabilized solid high explosive comprising: a porous solid high explosive material; a relatively inert, solidified, stable pore filling material selected from gallium, rubidium-potassium eutectic and Wood's metal filling substantially all the pores of the explosive material of at least a predetermined pore radius.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The explosive of claim 7 wherein the pore filling material is substantially solidified or hardened in the pores at ambient temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The explosive of claim 7 wherein the predetermined pore size is selected to prevent shock initiated detonation below a predetermined shock pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The explosive of claim 7 wherein the pore filling material has a melt temperature in the range of about 30° C. to about 70° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The explosive of claim 7 wherein the explosive material is selected from PBX 9404, HMX, TATB, LX-17 and PETN.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The explosive of claim 7 wherein the predetermined pore radius is about 10 μm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of solidifying is performed by decreasing the temperature of the pore filling material to a lower ambient temperature where the pore filling material hardens and becomes substantially solid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3544360A
Cited
US4163681A
Cited
US3702792A
Cited
US4363273A
Cited
US4452653A
Cited
US4097317A
Cited
US4425170A
Cited
US4430132A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-25 | 1995-05-27 | 1995-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-25 | 1999-05-27 | 1999-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-25 | 2003-05-27 | 2003-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |