Abstract: The present invention relates to a nano-energetic material (nEM) composite having ignition and explosion characteristics by a low-power laser pointer beam and capable of being remotely and optically ignited by adding black powder to nEM composite powder, and a method of preparing the same. The nEM composite includes: nEM composite powder; and black powder used as a mediator for initial ignition to initiate ignition in response to a laser pointer beam and cause a nEM to be continuously ignited and consecutively explode by ignition heat.

Abstract: A priming mixture is provided having a primary explosive and an oxidizer system containing bismuth oxide. The priming mixture generally is applicable to any application or device that employs ignition of a propellant or fuel, including, but not limited to, air bag gas generator systems, signaling devices, ejection seats, small or large arms ammunition primers, and the like.

Abstract: Technology for in situ remediation of undetonated explosive material. An explosive apparatus contains an explosive material in close proximity with a carrier containing microorganisms. An explosive mixture capable of self remediation includes an explosive material that is intermixed with or lies proximate to the carrier. The microorganisms are either mobile or temporarily deactivated by freeze drying until rehydrated and remobilized. The microorganisms are capable of metabolizing the explosive material. Examples of such microorganisms include Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia spp., Morganella spp., Rhodococcus spp., Comamonas spp., and denitrifying microorganisms. If the explosive material fails to detonate, the explosive is remediated by the action of the microorganisms. Remediation includes both disabling of the explosive material and detoxification of the resulting chemical compositions.

Abstract: A firing mixture which contains explosives, oxidizing and reducing agents is characterized in that it contains one or several explosives which can be fired by laser light. Also disclosed is a process for producing the same and its use.

Abstract: Methods for producing a gas generator for a vehicle occupant restraint system with an autoignition means are disclosed. The autoignition composition used in the method preferably comprises Pb(SCN).sub.2 and chlorate oxidizer which undergo rapid autoignition at temperatures from approximately 190.degree.-220.degree. C. The inventive method provides for the use of aluminum for the gas generator housing. Through the method of this invention, autoignition compositions are safely manufactured by wet blending and are installed via automation in the interior of the inflator housing. When aluminum housings are used, a barrier material is used to prevent corrosion of the aluminum by the autoignition composition. Optionally, the dried autoignition material is coated with a protective substance to prevent water absorption and mechanical abrasion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical initiator which can be used with an automobile air bag or seat belt pretensioner. The initiator comprises a header, a cup, conducting pins, epoxy pin seals, a bridgewire, a primer, and an output charge. The header and the cup are composed of an insulating dielectric material capable of being ultrasonically welded together. The header secures the pins. Each pin is electrically conductive and each is formed with a buttress knurl to form a seal when each pin is inserted into the header. Additionally, the pins are further sealed to the header by an epoxy sealant. The bridgewire connects the pins together on one side of the header. An electrical signal through the bridgewire generates heat igniting the primer. Primer reacts with the output charge that in turn ignites a solid gas generant that produces gas that fills air bags or activates the gas generator that drives seat belt pretensioners. The primer contacts the bridgewire. The output charge contacts the primer.

Abstract: An autoignition system for use in a gas generator for a vehicle occupant restraint system is disclosed. The autoignition system comprises a globule of an autoignition composition adhering to the interior wall of an inflator housing. The system additionally comprises a barrier layer between the autoignition globule and an aluminum inflator housing. The system further comprises a coating over the globule to reduce abrasion of and water absorption into the autoignition globule. The autoignition system of the present invention is safely manufactured and installed via automation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical initiator which can be used with an automobile air bag or seat belt pretensioner. The initiator comprises a header, a cup, conducting pins, epoxy pin seals, a bridgewire, a primer, and an output charge. The header and the cup are composed of an insulating dielectric material capable of being ultrasonically welded together. The header secures the pins. Each pin is electrically conductive and each is formed with a buttress knurl to form a seal when each pin is inserted into the header. Additionally, the pins are further sealed to the header by an epoxy sealant. The bridgewire connects the pins together on one side of the header. An electrical signal through the bridgewire generates heat igniting the primer. Primer reacts with the output charge that in turn ignites a solid gas generant that produces gas that fills air bags or activates the gas generator that drives seat belt pretensioners. The primer contacts the bridgewire. The output charge contacts the primer.

Abstract: Electrically ignitable conductive primer mixture comprising aluminum and carbon black and having reduced tetrazene, the mixture also containing lead styphnate, antimony sulfide and barium nitrate.

Abstract: A conducting composition for detonators having insensitivity to one amp of current or one watt of power comprising 40 to 80 parts by weight of lead styphnate 2 to 10 parts by weight of carbon black or graphite and the balance being lead oxide. Firing times of less than eight milliseconds can be achieved where at least one percent of graphite is included in the composition.

Abstract: A conducting composition suitable for use in a firing cap is disclosed. The conducting composition comprises normal lead styphnate which has a mean particle size not less than 55 microns, in admixture with carbon black which has a mean aggregate size between 5 microns and about 15 microns. The conducting composition has less sensitivity than known conducting compositions and therefore when used in a conducting cap renders the cap less likely to unintential ignition by induced e.m.f. such as from radio transmitters or the like.

Abstract: A method of producing a priming composition comprising reacting components to produce a primary explosive and a by-product which remains in the composition.

Abstract: An electric primer for caseless propellant charges comprises an electrically conductive layer composed of an at least partially crystalline explosive and a finely divided, at least partially crystalline electron conductor distributed in the explosive. Optionally, the primer can be arranged on a support, which is preferably an explosive.

Abstract: An improved method for producing known primer constituents lead styphnate and barium nitrate, in situ, plus water. The process is carried out by reacting effective amounts of trinitroresorcinol (TNR), with barium hydroxide, or barium carbonate, and lead nitrate in water.

Abstract: An improved explosive composition is disclosed and comprises a major portion of an explosive having a detonation velocity between about 1,500 and 10,000 meters per second and a minor amount of a getter additive comprising a non-explosive compound or mixture of non-explosive compounds capable of chemically reacting with free radicals or ions under shock initiation conditions of 2,000 calories/cm.sup.2 or less of energy fluence.

Abstract: Production of styphnate and azide explosives in situ in explosive devices including both ammunition and detonators particularly, though not exclusively, involving formation of premixes of relatively insensitive materials.

Abstract: 1. Lead chelate complex compounds selected from the group consisting of lead 3-nitrosalicylaldehyde, lead 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde, lead 5-chlorosalicylaldehyde, lead 2, 4-dihydroxybenzophenone, lead ortho-hydroxyacetophenone, lead 1, 4-dihydroxyanthraquinone, lead 2,5-dihydroxybenzoquinone, lead bis-ortho-hydroxyphenacylphenone, lead phenylsalicylate, lead ethylsalicylate, lead disalicylamide, lead disalicylethylene diamide, lead salicylamide, lead bis-salicylaldehyde-o-phenylene diimine, lead salicylidene acetamide, lead bis-salicylaldehyde-ethylene diimine, and lead (o-carboxyphenyl) salicylaldimine.

Abstract: An extrudable ammunition priming mix with viscosity characteristics which remain relatively stable over an extended time span. The stabilized viscosity is obtained by incorporating an effective amount of guar gum into the priming mix. The primer thus displays improved pot life so that larger batches may be made and used over an extended period of time.

Abstract: Extrudable priming mixture comprising 32-42% normal lead styphnate, 14-16% antimony sulfide, 30-33% barium nitrate, 3.9-4.1% tetracene, 6-8% aluminum powder, and 41/2-8% binder comprising the liquid monomers methyl methacrylate and trimethylolpropanetrimethacrylate, is solidified to a material of admirable percussion sensitivity by radiation polymerization of liquid monomers therein.

Abstract: Ammunition rim fire priming mixtures are commonly prepared by mixing normal lead styphnate, a sensitizer, such as tetracene, an oxygen donor such as lead nitrate, and a frictionator such as ground glass. This invention relates to such a mixture and to center fire priming mixtures which consist of lead styphnate, tetracene, inorganic fuels and barium nitrate and to a method of forming them and is characterized by the use of lead styphnate which is formed in situ by the reaction of a water wet mixture of styphnic acid and a lead compound such as lead oxide (litharge), lead hydroxide, basic lead carbonate, or lead carbonate. Important advantages of this invention are reduced cost, improved safety since it is unnecessary to prepare, precipitate, or separately handle pure or relatively pure lead styphnate and improved percussion sensitivity of the resulting mixtures.

Abstract: An explosive composition consisting of an explosive which contains an eleically conductive ingredient, and having a thermally conductive, electrically insulating substance incorporated therein in order to reduce the sensitivity of the composition to radio frequency.

Abstract: Primary explosives, e.g. lead azide, dispersed in a liquid medium, e.g. enol, are filtered, washed and dried in a novel centrifuge, wherein the rotatable extractor basket has an open bottom, which is closed by peripheral attachment to the large open end of an invertible funnel. The small open end of the funnel is attached to an axial shaft, which can be raised and lowered, whereby said small open end can be held upright to retain the contents in said basket and lowered to invert the funnel to discharge the dried free-flowing explosive particles by gravity through said small open end.

Abstract: A method of treating karaya gum to stabilize it so that it is less sensitive to the presence of certain priming compositions and will exhibit, when used with priming compositions, improved extrusion characteristics and rheological stability. The karaya gum is suspended in an anhydrous alcohol and treated with a reagent which is soluble in the alcohol whereby the gum renders a priming composition suitable for extrusion for mechanically charging primers.

Abstract: Ammunition rim fire priming mixtures are commonly prepared by mixing normal lead styphnate, a sensitizer, such as tetracene, an oxygen donor such as lead nitrate, and a frictionator such as ground glass. This invention relates to such a mixture and to center fire priming mixtures which consist of lead styphnate, tetracene, inorganic fuels and barium nitrate and to a method of forming them and is characterized by the use of lead styphnate which is formed in situ by the reaction of a water wet mixture of styphnic acid and a lead compound such as lead oxide (litharge), lead hydroxide, basic lead carbonate, or lead carbonate. The lead styphnate which results from the practice of this method has been isolated and subjected to X-Ray diffraction analysis confirming that this is a novel form of lead styphnate and is indeed a new compound.

Abstract: A priming composition for use in ammunition, which priming composition contains as a frictionator and sensitizer ground zirconium oxide particles in place of glass.

Abstract: A priming composition for use in ammunition, which priming composition contains as a frictionator and sensitizer ground metallic oxide particles, such as cupric oxide, in place of ground glass.

Abstract: A primary explosive composition consisting of a polybasic lead salt of a di- or a tri-nitro- substituted resorcinol containing 3, 4, 5 or 6 atoms of lead per aromatic nucleus in which a minor proportion of finely-divided boron is entrained within, and dispensed throughout, individual crystals of the polybasic lead salt.

Abstract: A new class of primary explosives which are polybasic lead salts of nitro-substituted resorcinols, optionally containing a minor proportion of finely-divided boron dispersed throughout individual crystals; and processes for their manufacture.