Method of making a propellant and explosive composition
OwnerAnthony Cioffeinventor
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Abstract
A low temperature and low humidity process of making a pyrotechnic composition useful as gunpowder, a propellant or an explosive. The composition comprises an organic acid such as ascorbic or erythorbic acid, a nitrate salt oxidizer, and about 6-15% of potassium perchlorate, and has reduced residue upon use.
Claims10
A process for the preparation of a propellant and explosive composition which process comprises (1) forming an intimate admixture of finely fractured nitrate-containing oxidizing agent and finely fractured potassium perchlorate, and (2) blending the intimate admixture from step (1) with an organic acid or salt thereof until a uniform and homogeneous mixture is obtained, wherein steps (1) and (2) are carried out at a temperature of between 20.degree. C. to -20.degree. C. and at a relative humidity of less than 40%.
A process for preparing a propellant and explosive mixture comprising a uniform homogeneous blend of finely fractured particles of (A) potassium perchlorate, (B) an organic or inorganic nitrate-containing or nitroguanidine oxidizing agent and (C) an organic acid fuel, said process comprising
- (1) finely fracturing particles of oxidizing agent (B) at a temperature of between -20.degree. C. and 20.degree. C. and at a relative humidity of less than 40%;
- (2) finely fracturing particles of potassium perchlorate (A) at a temperature of between -20.degree. C. and 20.degree. C. and at a relative humidity of less than 40%;
- (3) blending the finely fractured particles from steps (1) and (2) at a temperature of between -20.degree. C. and 20.degree. C. and at a relative humidity of less than 40% and with sufficient contact between the particles to form an intimate and homogeneous mixture thereof;
- (4) uniformly blending the organic acid fuel (C) with the intimate and homogeneous mixture from step (3) at a temperature of between -20.degree. C. and 20.degree. C. and at a relative humidity of less than 40%, to form a uniform and homogeneous blend;
- (5) curing the uniform and homogeneous blend from step (4) by exposing the blend to an atmosphere having a relative humidity of 65 to 75% until a color change is observed;
- (6) drying the cured composition from step (5).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.