Primer for firearms and other munitions

A primer, comprising:

• a substrate having a deposition surface and a rear surface, the substrate being structured to be dented upon impact by a conventional firing pin for a conventional firearm;
• alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal deposited upon the substrate, the alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal being structured to react with each other in response to an impact applied to the rear surface of the substrate;
• and
• each of the layers of metal oxide and reducing metal defining a thickness, the thicknesses of the layers of metal oxide and reducing metal that are in closer proximity to the substrate being smaller than the thicknesses of layers of metal oxide and reducing metal that are farther from the substrate.

A primer, comprising:

• a substrate having a deposition surface and a rear surface, the substrate being a malleable metal that is structured to be dented upon impact by a conventional firing pin for a conventional firearm;
• alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal deposited upon the substrate;
• an interface between each metal oxide layer and adjacent reducing metal layer, the interface being a reducing metal oxide layer that is sufficiently thin so that most of the interface is non-measurable using high resolution transmission electron microscope detection;
• and
• the alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal being structured to react with each other in response to an impact applied to the rear surface of the substrate.

A primer, comprising:

• a substrate having a deposition surface and a rear surface, the substrate being structured to be dented upon impact by a conventional firing pin for a conventional firearm;
• alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal deposited upon the substrate, each of the layers of metal oxide and reducing metal defines a thickness, the thickness of at least some of the layers of metal oxide and reducing metal being sufficiently thin so that the metal oxide and reducing metal with react with each other in response to an impact applied to the rear surface of the substrate, the thicknesses of the layers of metal oxide and reducing metal that are in closer proximity to the substrate being smaller than the thicknesses of layers of metal oxide and reducing metal that are farther from the substrate;
• an interface between each metal oxide layer and adjacent reducing metal layer, the interface being either substantially free of metal oxide, or the interface being a reducing metal oxide layer having a thickness of less than 2 nm;
• and
• the alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal being structured to react with each other in response to an impact applied to the rear surface of the substrate.

A primer, comprising:

• a substrate having a deposition surface and a rear surface, the substrate being structured to be dented upon impact by a conventional firing pin for a conventional firearm;
• alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal deposited upon the substrate, at least some of the alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal having expansion or contraction stresses therebetween;
• an interface between each metal oxide layer and adjacent reducing metal layer, the interface being either substantially free of metal oxide, or the interface being a reducing metal oxide layer having a thickness of less than 2 nm;
• and
• the alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal being structured to react with each other in response to an impact applied to the rear surface of the substrate.

A primer, comprising:

• a substrate having a deposition surface and a rear surface, the substrate having a beveled edge defining a shelf extending around a periphery of the primer, the substrate being structured to be dented upon impact by a conventional firing pin for a conventional firearm;
• alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal deposited upon the substrate;
• an interface between each metal oxide layer and adjacent reducing metal layer, the interface being either substantially free of metal oxide, or the interface being a reducing metal oxide layer having a thickness of less than 2 nm;
• and
• the alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal being structured to react with each other in response to an impact applied to the rear surface of the substrate.