Apparatus for manufacture of sensitized fine particle penetaerythritol tetranitrate
AssigneeTeledyne McCormick Selph
InventorCharles D. Forrest
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus to allow manufacture of fine particle PETN (penetaerythritol tetranitrate) having a sensitivity to propagate in thin layers in slurry and having a particle size which presents advantages in safety of handling and ability to obtain higher solids loading in slurries and flexible explosive binder systems due to a lower surface area, and a wider particle size distribution, compared to previous PETN of similar sensitivity to propagation in thin layers, i.e., as the major explosive ingredient in flexible sheet explosive formulations, and to propagation as a high velocity detonation in small core loads, i.e., 1 grain/ft., in mild detonating fuse, confined detonating fuse, and the like.
Claims6
Apparatus operable for making sensitized fine particle penetaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) comprising:
- A. first mixing means operable for dissolving PETN in solvent to form a solution at a temperature not exceeding the solvent boiling point said first means including an outlet for said solution;
- B. second means operable for intermingling the PETN solution with a miscible non-solvent in the form of fine sprays said second means comprising a main chamber, a first inlet chamber in flow connection with a source of a miscible non-solvent, wherein said first and second inlet chambers are uniform diameter right circular cylinders that, at one end, open into said main chamber to define an included angle, between the centerlines of said inlet chambers, of substantially 90.degree. and each inlet chamber further includes, at its other end, nozzle means operable to form sprays, wherein the average spray droplet size expressed in mean diameter is between about 1 micron and about 200 microns, whereby said PETN solution and said non-solvent are formed as respective sprays within said first and second inlet chambers and thereafter directed to impinge on each other within said main chamber to therein form a mixed stream;
- C. third means in flow connection with the mixed stream efflux from said chamber operable for collecting and filtering precipitated PETN to remove free liquid;
- and
- D. said third means including further means operable for drying the PETN particles until substantially free of included liquid, including inter-particle liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.