Explosive composition and method
AssigneeGolden Power of Texas, Inc.
InventorEarl F. Kurtz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Certain classes of organic acids, and salts of those acids and in particular ascorbic acid and erythorbic acid and the salts thereof, and mixtures thereof, which have certain antioxidant and food preservative properties, have been found to be capable of being reacted together with sources of nitrate, including inorganic nitrates, ammonium nitrate, organic nitrates, and the like, at temperatures below 480.degree. F. to produce compositions which are capable of being molded into specific shapes or used in a powdered form as a gunpowder substitute, an explosive or a propellent when properly ignited.
Claims35
A consumable cartridge comprising:
- (a) priming means
- (b) projectile means;
- and
- (c) a molded cartridge case containing said priming means for receiving said projectile for use in a firearm, said molded cartridge case consisting essentially of a composition produced by heating a mixture comprising nitrate-containing oxidizer and an organic acid or acid salt or mixtures thereof selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid and alkali metal salts and alkaline earth salts thereof, to a temperature below about 480.degree. F. but sufficiently high to initiate an observable reaction.
A method of making a consumable cartridge comprising the steps of (1) forming a slurry and solution of a nitrate-containing oxidizer and an organic acid, salt, or mixtures thereof selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid and alkali metal salts and alkaline earth salts thereof;
- (2) heating the slurry and solution mixture at a temperature below about 480.degree. F. but at a temperature high enough to produce a color change and for a sufficient period of time to become a pliable mass;
- and, (3) compacting the mixture in a mold to a preselected shape using between 10,000 lbs. per square inch and 50,000 lbs. per square inch.
A method of making a consumable shaped solid comprising the steps of (1) forming a slurry and solution of a nitrate-containing oxidizer component and an organic component consisting of an organic acid, acid salt, or mixtures thereof selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid and alkali metal salts and alkaline earth salts thereof;
- (2) heating the slurry and solution at a temperature of from between about 300.degree. F. to about 400.degree. F. until reacted;
- (3) cooling the dried material;
- (4) grinding the dried material to a preselected size;
- and (5) compacting the material into a preselected shape under sufficient pressure to form a finished solid which when properly ignited and burned is essentially totally consumed.
A consumable cartridge case comprising:
- a molded cartridge case containing priming means and means for receiving a projectile in association therewith for use in a firearm, said molded cartridge case having a generally cylindrical shape comprising:
- a shaped composition comprising the reaction product of heating a mixture of an inorganic nitrate oxidizer and an organic component consisting of an organic acid, acid salt, or mixtures thereof selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid and the alkali metal salts and alkaline earth salts thereof.
A method of making a consumable cartridge case comprising the steps of (1) forming a slurry and solution in water of a nitrate containing oxidizer and an organic component consisting of organic acids, organic acid salts and mixtures thereof selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid, alkali metal ascorbate salts, alkaline earth ascorbate salts, alkali metal erythorbate salts and alkaline earth erythorbate salts;
- (2) heating the slurry and solution mixture at a temperature below about 480.degree. F. from a sufficient period of time to react;
- and, (3) compressing the mixture in a mold to a preselected generally hollow cylindrical shape using sufficient pressure to form the finished shape.
A gunpowder substitute comprising:
- the product of heating a mixture of nitrate-containing oxidizer and an organic acid or acid salt or mixture thereof wherein the organic acid has the empirical formula C.sub.6 H.sub.8 O.sub.6.
A method of making a pyrotechnic composition comprising the steps of (1) forming a slurry and solution of an oxidizer and an organic component;
- (2) heating the slurry and solution mixture at a temperature below about 480.degree. F. for a sufficient period of time to react;
- (3) cooling the reacted mixture to product a friable solid;
- and (4) grinding the solid into a powder form.
An explosive composition comprising in a major proportion, the product of heating a mixture of 50%-75% by weight of KNO.sub.3 and 25%-50% by weight of an organic acid or salt or mixture thereof wherein the organic acid has the empirical formula C.sub.6 H.sub.8 O.sub.6.
A composition suitable for use as a solid propellent comprising in a major proportion, the product of heating a mixture of 50%-75% by weight of KNO.sub.3 and 25%-50% by weight of an organic acid or salt or mixtures thereof wherein the organic acid has the empirical formula C.sub.6 H.sub.8 O.sub.6, for a sufficient period of time and at a sufficient temperature to produce a product having a flashpoint in excess of about 480.degree. F., capable of being used as an explosive or a gunpowder substitute.
A composition suitable for use as a gunpowder substitute, a propellent, explosive and the like comprising the product of subjecting a mixture of an inorganic nitrate and an organic acid compound exhibiting antioxidant properties, wherein the organic acid has the empirical formula C.sub.6 H.sub.8 O.sub.6 ;
- to a sufficient temperature, for a sufficient period of time and under sufficient pressure to form a reaction product which after cooling is a friable solid having a flash point in excess of 480.degree. F.
A method of continuously producing a composition suitable for use as a gunpowder substitute, a propellent, explosive and the like comprising the steps of coextruding a mixture of an inorganic nitrate and an organic acid compound exhibiting antioxidant properties wherein the organic acid has the empirical formula C.sub.6 H.sub.8 O.sub.6 ;
- to a sufficient temperature, for a sufficient period of time and under sufficient pressure to form a reaction product which after cooling a is friable solid having a flash point in excess of 480.degree. F.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.