US 5,665,276 A · Process for the production of a pyrotechnic or explosive device

Abstract

The invention provides an improved process for the production of a pyrotechnic or explosive device containing encased hazardous solid material wherein the material is dispersed in an inert liquid, the dispersion is formed into droplets and the droplets are solidified in a cooling medium. The solidified droplets are loaded into a casing and freeze-dried in situ in the casing to produce dry particles of the hazardous material, which may optionally be pressed within the casing, advantageously under vacuum, Only the operations (if any) subsequent to the freeze-drying need special precautions to be taken to prevent damage to personnel or equipment. The invention is advantageous for the preparation of detonators, igniters and other devices containing hazardous materials for example lead azide, lead styphnate, pentaerythritol tetranitrate and boron/potassium nitrate mixtures.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A process for preparing a pyrotechnic or explosive device containing a hazardous solid pyrotechnic or explosive material in a casing, the process comprising the steps of:

forming a dispersion of the ingredients of said pyrotechnic or explosive material in a sufficient quantity of inert liquid to prevent ignition or detonation of the material by impact, friction, heat or electrostatic discharge;
forming the said dispersion into droplets;
feeding said droplets into a cooling medium at a temperature below the freezing point of said inert liquid whereby said droplets are frozen into solidified droplets;
loading a charge of said solidified droplets into a casing for said pyrotechnic device;
freeze-drying said charge of solidified droplets in situ in said casing to produce particles of said hazardous material;
and, optionally, pressing the said particles within said casing.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process for the production of a pyrotechnic or explosive device

Life of this patent

Process for the production of a pyrotechnic or explosive device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14