Non-toxic, heavy-metal free sensitized explosive percussion primers and methods of preparing the same

A primer composition comprising:

• a composite explosive component as a primary explosive, the composite explosive component comprising
• at least one moderately insensitive explosive selected from the group consisting of nitrocellulose, pentaerythritol tetranitrate (“PETN”), 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.0.5,903,11]-dodecane (“CL-20”), cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (“RDX”), cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (“HMX”), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (“TNT”), nitroguanidine, styphnic acid, potassium dinitrobenzofuroxan (“KDNBF”), and mixtures thereof;
• and
• at least one fuel component having an average particle size of about 3 microns to about 12 microns, the at least one fuel component selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, molybdenum, titanium, tungsten, magnesium, melamine, zirconium, calcium silicide, and mixtures thereof;
• wherein the amount of the at least one moderately insensitive explosive is about 5 wt-% to about 40 wt-% of the total weight of the composite explosive component.

A primer composition comprising:

• a composite explosive component as a primary explosive, the composite explosive component comprising:
• a moderately insensitive explosive comprising nitrocellulose and at least one component selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (“PETN”), 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.0.5,903,11]-dodecane (“CL-20”), cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (“RDX”), cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (“HMX”), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (“TNT”), nitroguanidine, styphnic acid, potassium dinitrobenzofuroxan (“KDNBF”), and mixtures thereof;
• and
• at least one fuel component having an average particle size of about 3 microns to about 12 microns, the at least one fuel component selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, molybdenum, titanium, tungsten, magnesium, melamine, zirconium, calcium silicide, and mixtures thereof.

A primer composition comprising:

• a composite primary explosive consisting essentially of nitrocellulose fibers and a fuel component chosen from aluminum, boron, molybdenum, titanium, tungsten, magnesium, melamine, zirconium, calcium silicide, and mixtures thereof, the fuel component having an average particle size from about 3 microns to about 12 microns;
• and
• an oxidizer;
• wherein the primer composition is substantially devoid of a traditional primary explosive including lead styphnate, metal azides, mercury fuminate, and dinitrophenol.

A primer composition comprising:

• a composite primary explosive consisting essentially of nitrocellulose fibers, at least one moderately insensitive explosive chosen from pentaerythritol tetranitrate (“PETN”), 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.0.5.903,11]-dodecane (“CL-20”), cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (“RDX”), cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (“HMX”), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (“TNT”), nitroguanidine, styphnic acid, potassium dinitrobenzofuroxan (“KDNBF”), and a fuel component, the fuel component having an average particle size from about 3 microns to about 12 microns;
• and
• an oxidizer;
• wherein the primer composition is substantially devoid of a traditional primary explosive including lead styphnate, metal azides, mercury fuminate, and dinitrophenol.