Abstract: Crystallographic orientations of ruthenium films and related methods are disclosed. Single crystal ruthenium films are provided with crystallographic orientations that arrange a c-axis of the ruthenium crystal structure in a direction that corresponds with a plane of the film or along a direction that corresponds with a surface of a substrate on which the film is formed. While ruthenium films typically form with the c-axis perpendicular to the surface of the substrate or as a polycrystalline film with a random crystallographic orientation, substrate surfaces may be configured with a crystallographic surface net that promotes non-perpendicular c-axis orientations of ruthenium. The substrate may be formed with a metal-terminated surface in certain arrangements. In this regard, ruthenium films may be configured as metallic interconnects for devices where directions of lowest electrical resistivity within the crystal structure are arranged to correspond with the direction of current flow in the devices.

Abstract: Crystallographic orientations of ruthenium films and related methods are disclosed. Single crystal ruthenium films are provided with crystallographic orientations that arrange a c-axis of the ruthenium crystal structure in a direction that corresponds with a plane of the film or along a direction that corresponds with a surface of a substrate on which the film is formed. While ruthenium films typically form with the c-axis perpendicular to the surface of the substrate or as a polycrystalline film with a random crystallographic orientation, substrate surfaces may be configured with a crystallographic surface net that promotes non-perpendicular c-axis orientations of ruthenium. The substrate may be formed with a metal-terminated surface in certain arrangements. In this regard, ruthenium films may be configured as metallic interconnects for devices where directions of lowest electrical resistivity within the crystal structure are arranged to correspond with the direction of current flow in the devices.

Abstract: A propellant is made from a flexible sheet that in some examples is nitrocellulose. An ignitable material is deposited on one side of the flexible sheet. The ignitable material is a series of triangles having a base adjacent to one edge of the sheet, and an apex adjacent to the other side of the sheet. Some examples of the ignitable material may be thermite compositions. The flexible sheet is rolled around a nonburnable tube and placed within a firearm casing, with the triangle bases being adjacent to the back of the casing, and the triangle apexes being adjacent to the front of the casing. The nonburnable tube is disposed over the primer pocket, so that ignition products from the primer travel through the tube, igniting the propellant adjacent to the front of the casing.

Abstract: A primer includes a layered thermite coating comprising alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal (thermite) deposited upon a substrate. The layered thermite coating may include a primary ignition portion adjacent to the substrate, and a secondary ignition portion deposited on the primary ignition portion. The alternating thermite layers may be thinner within the primary ignition portion than in the secondary ignition portion. The primary ignition portion is structured for sensitivity to a firing pin strike to the opposite side of the substrate. The secondary ignition portion is structured to burn at a rate that will ignite smokeless powder or other ignitable substances used in munitions.

Abstract: A propellant is made from a flexible sheet that in some examples is nitrocellulose. An ignitable material is deposited on one side of the flexible sheet. The ignitable material is a series of triangles having a base adjacent to one edge of the sheet, and an apex adjacent to the other side of the sheet. Some examples of the ignitable material may be thermite compositions. The flexible sheet is rolled around a nonburnable tube and placed within a firearm casing, with the triangle bases being adjacent to the back of the casing, and the triangle apexes being adjacent to the front of the casing. The nonburnable tube is disposed over the primer pocket, so that ignition products from the primer travel through the tube, igniting the propellant adjacent to the front of the casing.

Abstract: An energetic material having thin, alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal is provided. The energetic material may be provided in the form of a sheet, foil, cylinder, or other convenient structure. A method of making the energetic material resists the formation of oxide on the surface of the reducing metal, allowing the use of multiple thin layers of metal oxide and reducing metal for maximum contact between the reactants, without significant lost volume due to oxide formation. An ignition system for the energetic material includes multiple ignition points, as well as a means for controlling the timing and sequence of activation of the individual ignition points. A gas producing layer is also provided to increase pressure.

Abstract: An energetic material having thin, alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal is provided. The energetic material may be provided in the form of a sheet, foil, cylinder, or other convenient structure. A method of making the energetic material resists the formation of oxide on the surface of the reducing metal, allowing the use of multiple thin layers of metal oxide and reducing metal for maximum contact between the reactants, without significant lost volume due to oxide formation. An ignition system for the energetic material includes multiple ignition points, as well as a means for controlling the timing and sequence of activation of the individual ignition points. The combination of the energetic material and ignition system provides a means of charge and blast shaping, ignition timing, pressure curve control and maximization, and safe neutralization of the energetic material.

Abstract: An energetic material having thin, alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal is provided. The energetic material may be provided in the form of a sheet, foil, cylinder, or other convenient structure. A method of making the energetic material resists the formation of oxide on the surface of the reducing metal, allowing the use of multiple thin layers of metal oxide and reducing metal for maximum contact between the reactants, without significant lost volume due to oxide formation. An ignition system for the energetic material includes multiple ignition points, as well as a means for controlling the timing and sequence of activation of the individual ignition points. The combination of the energetic material and ignition system provides a means of charge and blast shaping, ignition timing, pressure curve control and maximization, and safe neutralization of the energetic material.

Abstract: An energetic material having thin, alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal is provided. The energetic material may be provided in the form of a sheet, foil, cylinder, or other convenient structure. A method of making the energetic material resists the formation of oxide on the surface of the reducing metal, allowing the use of multiple thin layers of metal oxide and reducing metal for maximum contact between the reactants, without significant lost volume due to oxide formation. An ignition system for the energetic material includes multiple ignition points, as well as a means for controlling the timing and sequence of activation of the individual ignition points. The combination of the energetic material and ignition system provides a means of charge and blast shaping, ignition timing, pressure curve control and maximization, and safe neutralization of the energetic material.

Abstract: A primer includes a layered thermite coating comprising alternating layers of metal oxide and reducing metal (thermite) deposited upon a substrate. The layered thermite coating may include a primary ignition portion adjacent to the substrate, and a secondary ignition portion deposited on the primary ignition portion. The alternating thermite layers may be thinner within the primary ignition portion than in the secondary ignition portion. The primary ignition portion is structured for sensitivity to a firing pin strike to the opposite side of the substrate. The secondary ignition portion is structured to burn at a rate that will ignite smokeless powder or other ignitable substances used in munitions.

Abstract: A thermite composition includes at least one composite particle having a convoluted lamellar structure having alternating metal oxide layers including a metal oxide and metal layers including a metal capable of reducing the metal oxide. The metal oxide layers and metal layers both have an average thickness of between 10 nm and 1 ?m. Molar proportions of the metal oxide and metal is within 30% of being stoichiometric for a thermite reaction.

Abstract: A resistor, fabricating method, and thermal sensor material for resistors that incorporate high Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) values and low resistivity for better sensitivity in infrared imaging applications are disclosed. Amorphous oxide thin films, preferably oxides of vanadium (VOx), were deposited on thermally grown silicon dioxide by direct current (DC) magnetron co-sputtering of noble metals (gold and platinum) in a controlled argon/oxygen atmosphere. The ideal conditions for preparing an amorphous vanadium oxide/noble metal thin film are identified. TCR and resistivity results showed that the additions of gold (Au) and platinum (Pt) into VOx reduced the resistivity. However, only gold (Au) was found to improve TCR value. Reducing the amount of oxygen in the thin film, further improved the ratio between TCR and resistivity. Infrared detection and imaging devices can be greatly improved with a “drop-in” amorphous vanadium oxide/noble metal thin film of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for forming a metastable intermolecular composite (MIC) includes providing a vacuum level of <10?8 torr base pressure in a deposition chamber. A first layer of a first material of a metal that is reactive with water vapor is deposited, followed by depositing a second layer of a second material of a metal oxide on the first layer. The first and second material are capable of an exothermic chemical reaction to form at least one product, and the first and second layer are in sufficiently close physical proximity so that upon initiation of the exothermic reaction the reaction develops into a self initiating chemical reaction. An interfacial region averaging <1 nm thick is formed between the first layer and second layer from a reaction of the first material with water vapor. In one embodiment, the first material is Al and the second material is CuOx.

Abstract: A metastable intermolecular composite (MIC) and methods for forming the same includes a first material and a second material having an interfacial region therebetween. The first and second material are capable of an exothermic chemical reaction with one another to form at least one product and are in sufficiently close physical proximity to one another so that upon initiation the exothermic reaction develops into a self initiating reaction. At least one of said first and second materials include a metal that is reactive with water vapor at room temperature. The interfacial region averages <2 nm thick, such as <1 nm thick. In one embodiment, the first material is Al and the second material is CuOx.

Abstract: The invention may include a novel composition for and/or processing of an active element for an EAS marker that achieves the same or better performance of existing materials while solving the problem of higher cost. It may include a magnetomechanical active element formed by planar strip of amorphous magnetostrictive alloy having a composition FeaNibMc wherein a+b+c=100, wherein a is in a range of 40-70 weight percent, b is in a range of 10-50 weight percent, and c is in a range of 10-50 weight percent, and where M is the balance of remaining elements; wherein the magnetomechanical active element is subject to batch annealing in the presence of a magnetic field that is substantially transverse to the ribbon length of the element and at a temperature of less than about 300° C. and for a time greater than at least about one hour.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of composite thermite particles, and thermite particles and consolidated objects formed from a plurality of pressed composite particles. The process includes providing one or more metal oxides and one or more complementary metals capable of reducing the metal oxide, and milling the metal oxide and the metal at a temperature below ?50° C., such as cryomilling, to form a convoluted lamellar structure. The average layer thickness is generally between 10 nm and 1 ?m. The molar proportions of the metal oxide and metal are generally within 30% of being stoichiometric for a thermite reaction.

Abstract: A conduction structure for infrared microbolometer sensors and a method for sensing electromagnetic radiation may be provided. The microbolometer may include a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer. The microbolometer further may include a bolometer layer between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer.

Abstract: A conduction structure for infrared microbolometer sensors and a method for sensing electromagnetic radiation may be provided. The microbolometer may include a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer. The microbolometer further may include a bolometer layer between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer.

Abstract: A material used to form a biasing element for a magnetomechanical EAS marker has a coercivity that is lower than the coercivity of biasing elements used in conventional magnetomechanical markers. The marker formed with the low coercivity material can be deactivated by applying an AC magnetic field at a level that is lower than is required for deactivation of conventional markers. The marker with the low coercivity bias element can also be deactivated when at a greater distance from a deactivation device than was previously practical.

Abstract: A device for deactivating a magnetomechanical EAS marker includes a coil and circuitry for energizing the coil to generate an alternating magnetic field. The coil is wound around a magnetic core. The core may be cruciform with four arms, on each of which a respective coil is provided. Alternatively, the core may be generally square and planar, with two coils wound around the core in different respective directions.