# US 11,112,222 B2 · Propellant with pattern-controlled burn rate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,112,222 B2 - Document ID: US11112222B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/748,068 - Filed: 2020-01-21 - Published: 2020-07-23 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-21 - Assignees: Spectre Materials Sciences, Inc.; University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Applicants: Spectre Materials Sciences, Inc.; University of Central Florida Research Foundation - Inventors: Kevin R. Coffey; Timothy Mohler; Daniel Yates - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112222B2 ## CPC - F42B 5/16: characterised by composition or physical dimensions or form of propellant charge, {with or without projectile,} or powder (chemical composition C06B; {F42B5/24 takes precedence}) - C06B 45/12: having contiguous layers or zones - F42C 19/0807: {characterised by the particular configuration of the transmission channels from the priming energy source to the charge to be ignited, e.g. multiple channels, nozzles, diaphragms or filters} - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) - C06B: EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS (blasting F42D); MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES (compounds in general C01, C07 or C08; {demolition agents based on cementitious or like materials C04B41/0009}) - F42C: AMMUNITION FUZES (blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/10; chemical aspects C06C); ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR (filling fuzes F42B33/02; fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes F42B33/04; containers for fuzes F42B39/30) ## Abstract A propellant is made from a flexible sheet that in some examples is nitrocellulose. An ignitable material is deposited on one side of the flexible sheet. The ignitable material is a series of triangles having a base adjacent to one edge of the sheet, and an apex adjacent to the other side of the sheet. Some examples of the ignitable material may be thermite compositions. The flexible sheet is rolled around a nonburnable tube and placed within a firearm casing, with the triangle bases being adjacent to the back of the casing, and the triangle apexes being adjacent to the front of the casing. The nonburnable tube is disposed over the primer pocket, so that ignition products from the primer travel through the tube, igniting the propellant adjacent to the front of the casing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A propellant, comprising a flexible sheet defining a first surface, a first edge, and a second edge, the flexible sheet being burnable or explosive, the flexible sheet having an ignitable material deposited thereon, the imitable material being deposited in a pattern, the pattern defining at least one covered sheet portion upon which ignitable material has been deposited and at least one uncovered sheet portion upon which ignitable material is not present, the covered and uncovered sheet portions being predetermined to provide a changing ignition rate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The propellant according to claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet is made from nitrocellulose. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The propellant according to claim 1, wherein the ignitable material includes a metal oxide and a reducing metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The propellant according to claim 3, wherein the metal oxide and reducing metal are present as alternating layers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The propellant according to claim 4, wherein the metal oxide is cupric oxide, and the reducing metal is magnesium. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The propellant according to claim 1: further comprising a nonbumable tube; and the flexible sheet being rolled around the nonbumable tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The propellant according to claim 1, wherein the pattern includes at least one triangular covered sheet portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The propellant according to claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet comprises a polymer layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The propellant according to claim 8, wherein the flexible sheet further comprises a reactive metal layer disposed between a pair of passivation layers. ### Claim 10 A propellant, comprising a flexible sheet defining a first surface, a first edge, and a second edge, the flexible sheet having an ignitable material deposited thereon, the ignitable material being deposited in a pattern, the pattern defining at least one covered sheet portion upon which ignitable material has been deposited and at least one uncovered sheet portion upon which ignitable material is not present, the covered and uncovered sheet portions being predetermined to provide a predetermined ignition rate or a predetermined pressure curve within a pressure vessel; wherein the pattern includes a series of triangular covered portions, each covered portion defining a base adjacent to the first edge, and an apex adjacent to the second edge. ### Claim 11 A propellant, comprising a flexible sheet defining a first surface, a second surface, a first edge, and a second edge, the flexible sheet having an ignitable material deposited on the first surface, the ignitable material being deposited in a pattern, the pattern defining at least one covered sheet portion upon which ignitable material has been deposited and at least one uncovered sheet portion upon which ignitable material is not present, the covered and uncovered sheet portions being predetermined to provide a predetermined ignition rate or a predetermined pressure curve within a pressure vessel; and further comprising boron deposited on the second surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The propellant according to claim 11, further comprising an adhesion layer deposited between the second surface and the boron. ### Claim 13 A propellant, comprising: a flexible sheet defining a first surface, a second surface, a first edge, and a second edge, the flexible sheet having an ignitable material deposited on the first surface, the ignitable material being deposited in a pattern, the pattern defining at least one covered sheet portion upon which ignitable material has been deposited and at least one uncovered sheet portion upon which ignitable material is not present, the covered and uncovered sheet portions being predetermined to provide a predetermined ignition rate or a predetermined pressure curve within a pressure vessel; boron deposited on the second surface; and a capping layer deposited on the boron. ### Claim 14 A firearm cartridge, comprising: a casing, the casing having a side wall, an interior portion within the side wall, an open front end, a back end, a primer pocket defined within the back end, and a flash hole defined between the primer pocket and the interior portion; a propellant, comprising a flexible sheet defining a first surface, a first edge, and a second edge, the flexible sheet having an ignitable material deposited thereon, the ignitable material being deposited in a pattern, the pattern defining at least one covered sheet portion upon which ignitable material has been deposited and at least one uncovered sheet portion upon which ignitable material is not present, the covered and uncovered sheet portions being predetermined to provide a predetermined ignition rate or a predetermined pressure curve within a pressure vessel; a nonburnable tube defining a pair of ends and a passageway therebetween; the flexible sheet being rolled around the nonburnable tube; the propellant being disposed within the interior portion of the casing, the first edge of the flexible sheet being adjacent to the back end of the casing, the second edge of the flexible sheet being adjacent to the front end of the casing, one end of the nonburnable tube being disposed over the flash hole, with the flash hole being in communication with the passageway. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The firearm cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the flexible sheet is made from nitrocellulose. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The firearm cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the ignitable material includes a metal oxide and a reducing metal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The firearm cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the metal oxide and reducing metal are present as alternating layers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The firearm cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the metal oxide is cupric oxide, and the reducing metal is magnesium. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The firearm cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the pattern includes at least one triangular covered sheet portion. ### Claim 20 A firearm cartridge comprising: a casing, the casing having a side wall, an interior portion within the side wall, an open front end, a back end, a primer pocket defined within the back end, and a flash hole defined between the primer pocket and the interior portion; a propellant, comprising a flexible sheet defining a first surface, a first edge, and a second edge, the flexible sheet having an ignitable material deposited thereon, the ignitable material being deposited in a pattern, the pattern defining at least one covered sheet portion upon which ignitable material has been deposited and at least one uncovered sheet portion upon which ignitable material is not present, the covered and uncovered sheet portions being predetermined to provide a predetermined ignition rate or a predetermined pressure curve within a pressure vessel, wherein the pattern includes a series of triangular covered portions, each covered portion defining a base adjacent to the first edge, and an apex adjacent to the second edge; a nonbumable tube defining a pair of ends and a passageway therebetween; the flexible sheet being rolled around the nonburnable tube; and the propellant being disposed within the interior portion of the casing, the first edge of the flexible sheet being adjacent to the back end of the casing, the second edge of the flexible sheet being adjacent to the front end of the casing, one end of the nonburnable tube being disposed over the flash hole, with the flash hole being in communication with the passageway. ### Claim 21 A firearm cartridge, comprising: a casing, the casing having a side wall, an interior portion within the side wall, an open front end, a back end, a primer pocket defined within the back end, and a flash hole defined between the primer pocket and the interior portion; a propellant, comprising a flexible sheet defining a first surface, a second surface, a first edge, and a second edge, the flexible sheet having an ignitable material deposited on the first surface, the ignitable material being deposited in a pattern, the pattern defining at least one covered sheet portion upon which ignitable material has been deposited and at least one uncovered sheet portion upon which ignitable material is not present, the covered and uncovered sheet portions being predetermined to provide a predetermined ignition rate or a predetermined pressure curve within a pressure vessel; a nonburnable tube defining a pair of ends and a passageway therebetween; the flexible sheet being rolled around the nonburnable tube; the propellant being disposed within the interior portion of the casing, the first edge of the flexible sheet being adjacent to the back end of the casing, the second edge of the flexible sheet being adjacent to the front end of the casing, one end of the nonburnable tube being disposed over the flash hole, with the flash hole being in communication with the passageway; and further comprising boron deposited on the second surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The firearm cartridge to claim 21, further comprising an adhesion layer deposited between the second surface and the boron. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The firearm cartridge according to claim 21, further comprising a capping layer deposited on the boron. ### Claim 24 A firearm cartridge, comprising: a casing, the casing having a side wall, an interior portion within the side wall, an open front end, a back end, a primer pocket defined within the back end, and a flash hole defined between the primer pocket and the interior portion; a propellant, comprising a flexible sheet defining a first surface, a first edge, and a second edge, the flexible sheet having an ignitable material deposited thereon, the ignitable material being deposited in a pattern, the pattern defining at least one covered sheet portion upon which ignitable material has been deposited and at least one uncovered sheet portion upon which ignitable material is not present, the covered and uncovered sheet portions being predetermined to provide a predetermined ignition rate or a predetermined pressure curve within a pressure vessel, the flexible sheet comprising a polymer layer; a nonburnable tube defining a pair of ends and a passageway therebetween; the flexible sheet being roiled around the nonburnable tube; the propellant being disposed within the interior portion of the casing, the first edge of the flexible sheet being adjacent to the back end of the casing, the second edge of the flexible sheet being adjacent to the front end of the casing, one end of the nonburnable tube being disposed over the flash hole, with the flash hole being in communication with the passageway. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The firearm cartridge according to claim 24, wherein the flexible sheet further comprises a reactive metal layer disposed between a pair of passivation layers.