Non-lead environmentally safe projectiles and explosive container
AssigneeLockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Lowden, Thomas M. McCoig, Joseph B. Dooley, Cyrus M. Smith
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Abstract
A solid object having controlled frangibility, such as a bullet or a container for explosives, is made by combining two different metals in proportions calculated to achieve a desired density, without using lead. A wetting material is deposited on the base constituent which is made of a relative dense, hard material. The wetting material enhances the wettability of the base constituent with the binder constituent, which is lighter and softer than the base constituent.
Claims75
A projectile formed of a non-sintered solid body comprising:
- a base constituent having a density higher than lead;
- a lead-free binder constituent made of a metallic phase and having sufficient malleability and ductility to bind together with the base constituent into a solid body of desired shape when subjected to a consolidation process without sintering;
- and
- a wetting constituent of a type and quantity sufficient to increase the wetting capacity of the base constituent by the binder constituent.
A container for explosives formed of a non-sintered solid body comprising:
- a base constituent having a density higher than lead;
- a lead-free binder constituent made of a metallic phase and having sufficient malleability and ductility to bind together with the base constituent into a solid body of desired shape when subjected to a consolidation force, and
- a wetting constituent having the capacity to increase the wetting capacity of the base constituent by the binder constituent,
- the base constituent and the binder constituent being sized, apportioned, and consolidated in a manner selected to achieve a desired frangibility, thereby providing controllability of at least one of a direction, force and fragmentation of explosion.
A composite material comprising:
- a base constituent having a density higher than lead;
- a lead-free binder constituent made of a metallic phase and having sufficient malleability and ductility to bind together with the base constituent into a solid body of desired shape when subjected to a consolidation force without sintering;
- and
- a wetting constituent having the capacity to increase the wetting capacity of the base constituent by the binder constituent.
An article comprising:
- a solid body made of a composite material, the composite material including a base constituent having a density higher than lead, a lead-free binder constituent made of a metallic phase and having sufficient malleability and ductility to bind together with the base constituent to form the solid body of desired shape when subjected to a consolidation force without sintering, and a wetting constituent having the capacity to increase the wetting capacity of the base constituent by the binder constituent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.