Abstract: This substantially water-free method for preparing high density igniter granules involves uniformly coating fuel and oxidizer particulates dispersed in a non-solvent with a thermoplastic elastomer solution to produce coated igniter granules exhibiting substantially uniform size and shape distributions. The coated igniter granules are especially useful for waterless extrusion into igniters for automobile gas generating inflation devices, solid propellant rocket motors, and thrust decoys.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the preparation of very small particle size, relatively pure 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB). Particles of TATB prepared according to the disclosed method are of submicron size and have a surface area in the range from about 3.8 to 27 square meters per gram.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an article that emits infrared radiation for a period of about 15 minutes or more, depending on the size and shape, and to a process for preparing the article. The article includes, in a preferred embodiment, a combustible aerogel or other nanocellular substrate with iron metal impregnant formed by thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl deposited on and in the substrate in an amount of at least about 5% or at least about 20% of the weight of the substrate, depending on the substrate. The impregnant reacts exothermically on contact with air or an oxygen-containing gas and imparts sufficient energy to the substrate to cause it to burn for about 30 seconds to about 30 minutes depending on size and shape, thereby emitting infrared radiation. The process pertains to deposition of the impregnant on and in the substrate by flowing a carrier gas saturated with the impregnant precursor over and through the substrate.

Abstract: A warhead has polar imbiber masses containing a complexed energetic composition of a cyclodextrin nitrate, a nitrate ester plasticizer, bismuth subsalicylate and a stabilizer that is dispersed into a cloud prior to target impact.

Abstract: The invention relates to fire-extinguishing technology, in particular to pyrotechnical compositions for extinguishing fires and processes for their preparation.

Abstract: The invention relates to fire-extinguishing technology, in particular a process for producing aerosol-forming pyrotechnical compositions for extinguishing fires. The process includes the steps of mixing powdery combustible binder, oxidizing agent and dicyandiamide. The combustible binder is a polycondensate of formaldehyde and a organic compound, of a fraction from 70 to 120 &mgr;m. The oxidizing agent is an alkali nitrate of a fraction from 15 to 25 &mgr;m. The dicyandiamide is a fraction from 40 to 80 &mgr;m. Subsequently, there is added to the above, respective fractions of the combustible binder of 10 to 25 &mgr;m of the oxidizing agent of 1 to 7 &mgr;m and of the dicyandiamide of 7 to 15 &mgr;m. The weight ratios of the fractions of combustible binder, oxidizing agent and dicyandiamide are 70:30, 25:75 and 80:20.

Abstract: A dry water resistant ANFO-explosive, containing one or more organic fuels, one or more inorganic salts, one or more water thickening agents, and a gas generating substance which develops a gas when it gets in contact with water in a blast hole, and thereby transforms itself into a watergel slurry.

Abstract: Molecular sieve zeolites are incorporated in the inflator device to assist in the inflation of airbags in passenger vehicles. The pre-loading of the molecular sieve zeolites with gases such as air or nitrogen or carbon dioxide provides for rapid airbag inflation and following inflation, additionally provides the remediation of at least a portion of the toxic waste gases generated by the exploding inflator device. Molecular sieve zeolites, particularly zeolites X, having been exchanged with lithium or calcium, provide high-capacity gas storage and enhanced toxic waste gas adsorption. The use of molecular sieve zeolites reduces risk of injury to occupants of vehicles from exposure to hot, toxic waste gases following airbag deployment.

Abstract: The invention is a composition containing high loadings of TNAZ that are made by crash precipitation with water as the precipitation agent. The compositions are in the form of powders, which can be formed and shaped by presseing, extrusion, etc. The TNAZ can be from about 94 to about 99% by weight of the composition.

Abstract: A method of making a gas generant formulation which contains a transition metal diammine dinitrate is provided wherein a transition metal nitrate is reacted with an ammonia source to form an aqueous slurry containing a corresponding reaction mixture. A spray dryable precursor to the gas generant formulation is formed including at least a gas generating fuel and a sufficient quantity of water to render the precursor spray dryable. The precursor is subsequently spray dried to form a gas generant powder. The method may also include a relatively mild heat treatment of the dried material, either as a part of the spray drying or subsequent to such spray drying.

Abstract: A processing procedure for incorporating bismuth compounds into isocyanate cured hydroxy terminated binder propellants has been discovered. When added to the propellant formulation in ballistic modifier amounts (≧0.25%), bismuth salicylate and bismuth &bgr;-resorcylate significantly reduce the potlife to less than 1-hour. It was discovered that to maximize propellant potlife the temperature of the mixture at the time of the addition is critically important. The potlife of propellants containing bismuth compounds can be increased to greater than 15 hours at 70° F., when the temperature of the mixture at the addition step for bismuth, is lowered from the normal addition temperature of 150° F., to 60° F. Depending on the formulation and solids loading, the viscosity of the propellant at 60° F. is not greatly affected.

Abstract: Liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide is used to create an environment for forming nitrating agents and energetic materials.

Abstract: Storage-stable metal-fueled pyrotechnics and methods for manufacturing such compositions are provided. These are manufactured by granulating a mixture of liquid cyclohexane, powdered metal fuel, optional Teflon® powder, and at least one ethylene and vinyl acetate co-polymer, together to form a storage stable powdered metal fuel effectively coated with ethylene and vinyl acetate co-polymer. This provides pyrotechnics with superior resistance to degradation induced by atmospheric moisture, and having other improved properties. The powdered metal fuel includes, for example, powdered magnesium.