High energy reduced sensitivity tactical explosives
AssigneeBAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc.
InventorsThomas Brian ALEXANDER, David Wilson PRICE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high energy explosive having reduced shock sensitivity for tactical weapon platforms to increase the safety margins to the warfighter if the weapon became involved in an unplanned event on the battlefield. The high energy explosive having a reduced crystalline particle size below about 30 microns, preferably 10 microns, and coated with a thermoplastic elastomer, which is capable of being compressed into a warhead configuration and attached to a weapon. The high energy explosive having a greater than 25% reduction in shock sensitivity compared to the same crystalline energetic material without undergoing size reduction prior to being coated.
Claims20
A high energy insensitive explosive composition, the composition comprising:
- a plurality of crystalline energetic particles coated with at least one elastomeric material, wherein at least 20% of the plurality of crystalline energetic particles have an average particle size of less than about 30 microns, and wherein the plurality of coated crystalline energetic particles have an average particle size greater than about 50 microns.
A method of manufacturing a high energy insensitive explosive composition, the method comprising:
- coating a plurality of crystalline energetic particles with at least one elastomeric material to provide a plurality of coated crystalline energetic particles, wherein at least 20% of the crystalline energetic particles prior to being coated having an average particle size less than about 30 microns, and wherein the plurality of coated crystalline energetic particles have an average particle size greater than about 50 microns.
An explosive device, the device comprising:
- a compressed high energy insensitive explosive composition, the compressed high energy insensitive explosive composition comprising a plurality of crystalline energetic particles coated with at least one thermoplastic elastomer, wherein at least 20% of the plurality of crystalline energetic particles have an average particle size of less than 30 microns prior to being coated, and wherein the plurality of coated energetic particles have an average particle size greater than about 50 microns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.