Abstract: A lens pigment suitable for manufacturing value documents by printing technology, includes a carrier substrate which forms a lens base and which is supplied on its front side with a first plastic having at least one elevation that produces a microlens and with a second plastic leveling the first plastic.

Abstract: A liquid electrically initiated and controlled composition comprising an oxidizer, soluble fuel additive(s), and other optional additives to enhance the chemical or ballistic properties, or a combination thereof is disclosed. The liquid composition further comprises stabilizers to enhance thermal stability, sequestrants to minimize deleterious effects of transition metal contaminants, and combustion enhancers maximizing efficiency. Buffers and heavy metal sequestering or complexing agents may be used in combination to achieve the highest degree of thermal stability. Additional ionic co-oxidizers may be added to the liquid composition to stabilize the liquid oxidizer and further depress freezing point. The liquid phase of matter allows flow via pipes or tubes from tanks, reservoirs, or other containers, through metering valves, followed by ignition or combustion modulation when stimulated by electrodes, statically or dynamically.

Abstract: Plastic-like compositions having ultra-low contents of petroleum derived materials are provided. The materials comprise up to about 80% by weight of an inorganic salt having an average particle size between about 0.001 and about 300 ?m and a plastic binder. The compositions have a low propensity to ignite or smoke in the presence of heat or flame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lead- and barium-free ignition charge which does not contain any oxidant, and its use.

Abstract: A primer composition that includes red phosphorus having an acid scavenger and a polymer thereon. The primer composition includes at least one other component that is substantially free of lead. The other component is at least one oxidizer, or at least one oxidizer and at least one of at least one secondary explosive composition and at least one energetic binder. The primer composition optionally includes at least one element having an ionic charge to ionic radius ratio of 4 or of 8, such as magnesium, zirconium, aluminum, silicon, titanium, tungsten, alloys thereof, and combinations thereof. The red phosphorus and the at least one oxidizer are present in the primer composition at approximately stoichiometric amounts. An ordnance element including the primer composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cast explosive composition comprising a polymer-bonded explosive and a defoaming agent, and to a process for reducing the number and/or total volume of voids in a cast explosive composition comprising the steps of: combining a polymer-bonded explosive and a defoaming agent; and casting the explosive composition. The defoaming agent may be used for reducing the number and/or total volume of voids in a cast explosive composition and the cast explosive composition may be used in an explosive product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lead- and barium-free ignition charge which does not contain any oxidant, and its use.

Abstract: Systems and methods for chemoremediation or mechanical destruction of undetonated explosive materials. An explosive apparatus contains an explosive material in close proximity to a chemical reagent selected for its chemoremediative properties. A barrier is interposed between the explosive material and the chemical reagent to delay the chemoremediation of the explosive material. Alternatively a water expandable material may be incorporated into the explosive material, whereby upon exposure to moisture the water absorbing material will expand sufficiently to fragment the explosive material into initiation insensitive particles. Initiation insensitivity is achieved by incorporation of water, which acts as a desensitizing agent as well as fragmenting the explosive material into particles sufficiently small that they are below the critical diameter for explosive initiation.

Abstract: The present invention provides pyrotechnic gas generator compounds and a method of obtaining them. Said compounds have a composition which comprises: an oxidizing charge which comprises at least one inorganic perchlorate and which does not comprise a chlorine scavenger; and a crosslinked, oxygen-containing hydrocarbon binder obtained by crosslinking an elastomer in the presence of at least one crosslinking agent and at least one oxygen-containing plasticizer for said elastomer; said elastomer having a molecular weight of more than 200 000 and being preferably selected from polyesters and polyacrylates; said at least one oxygen-containing plasticizer being composed of a plasticizer of which the molecular weight is greater than 350 g/mol and the oxygen balance equal to or greater than ?230 %, of a mixture of such plasticizers with one another or of a mixture of at least one such plasticizer with at least one other oxygen-containing plasticizer. Said compounds can be obtained continuously by extrusion.

Abstract: Provided is a basic metal nitrate suitable as an oxidizing agent for a gas generating agent, which is a basic metal nitrate having a good thermal stability and meeting at least one requirement of the following (a) to (d): (a) a particle diameter of 0.5 to 40 ?m; (b) a degree of crystallinity having 0.4 deg or less of a half band width of the peak in the X-ray analysis; (c) an initiation temperature of weight loss being 220° C. or higher according to TG-DTA analysis; and (d) an impurity content of 1,000 ppm or less based on Na atom. Further provided is a gas generating composition which has a low toxicity, a high burning rate and a low combustion temperature and which is used in a gas generator for an air bag. The gas generating composition comprises (a) tetrazole derivatives, guanidine derivatives or a mixture thereof, (b) a basic metal nitrate and (c) a binder and/or a slag-forming agent.

Abstract: A propellant composition including, about 5 to about 30 weight % of a polymeric binder component having about 4 to about 10 weight % of at least one oxygen-rich pre-polymer, about 0.1 to about 2 weight % of at least one isocyanate curative, wherein the curative(s) react with alcohol groups on said pre-polymer(s) to formulate urethane linkages, about 1 to about 20 weight % of at least one plasticizer to improve processability and for oxygen balance of the composition, about 0.01 to about 1.0 weight % of at least one additive including cure catalyst(s) and stabilizer(s), about 1 to about 40 weight % of a mixture of high oxygen content insensitive gas generators in solid form, about 1 to about 50 weight % of at least one oxidizer, and wherein the composition is free of perchlorate.

Abstract: A precursor composition of a reactive material that comprises a metal material and an energetic material, such as at least one oxidizer or at least one class 1.1 explosive. The metal material defines a continuous phase at a processing temperature of the precursor composition and the energetic material is dispersed therein. The metal material may be a fusible metal alloy having a melting point ranging from approximately 46° C. to approximately 250° C. The fusible metal alloy may include at least one metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth, lead, tin, cadmium, indium, mercury, antimony, copper, gold, silver, and zinc. The reactive composition may have a density of greater than approximately 2 g/cm3. The reactive composition may also include a polymer/plasticizer system.

Abstract: Extrudable gas generant compositions which, upon combustion, produce or result in an improved effluent and related methods for generating inflation gas for use in an inflatable restraint system are provided. Such extrudable gas generant compositions include a non-azide, organic, nitrogen-containing fuel, at least one copper-containing compound, a perchlorate additive and a polymeric binder material. The at least one copper-containing compound may be selected from basic copper nitrate, cupric oxide, a copper diammine-ammonium-nitrate mixture wherein the ammonium nitrate is present in the mixture in a range of about 3 to about 90 weight percent, and/or a copper-nitrate complex resulting from reaction of 5-aminotetrazole with basic copper nitrate.

Abstract: A flexible inflator for an inflation assembly and related gas generating propellant compositions are provided. The flexible inflator includes at least one elongated strand of a propellant co-extruded with a moisture barrier. The propellant compositions are adapted for co-extrusion with a plastic sheath which forms the moisture barrier surrounding the propellant and include a binder fuel component effective to render the composition flexible and to impart sufficient adhesive properties such that the propellant composition and the plastic sheath adhere together, and an oxidizer.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to an explosive capable of enhanced combustion efficiently capable of sustaining a high pressure over a period of time in a confined environment, such as an air tight room or a cave, where oxygen may be in limited supply. An embodiment of the present invention is a metal composite that combines a binder, a reactive metal and an oxidizer. In another embodiment, a plasticizer and a catalyst may be added. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a solid fuel-air explosive (SFAE) having an annular design is used. In a typical annular design, a cylindrical shell of SFAE surrounds the cylindrically shaped high explosive. The SFAE may be selected from the group consisting of reactive metal and metal composite. In addition, the metal composite is formed from at least one reactive metal, at least one binder and an oxidizer.

Abstract: This invention relates to energetic compositions, which offer increased performance in conjunction with a total absence of halogen based oxidizers to eliminate exhaust products, such as hydrogen chloride. The oxidizers of choice are various combinations neat ammonium dinitramide, ammonium dinitramide prills and CL-20, because these oxidizers do not produce halogen containing exhaust products, such as the HCl gas of ammonium perchlorate. The exhaust these novel propellants consist mostly of CO2, H2O, N2, and small amounts of CO. These exhaust species are friendlier and much less hazardous to the environment than those emitted by conventional AP-based propellants. The plasticizers are selected from energetic plasticizers that do not contain halogens, but maintain other desirable properties.

Abstract: A degradable prepolymer for explosive and propellant compositions having increased hydrolyzability comprising at one —O—CH2—O— linkage within the backbone of the prepolymer. The degradable prepolymer is useful as a binder for explosive and propellant compositions.

Abstract: An incendiary composition (14) for a fin-stabilized kinetic energy projectile (1), which can be arranged in the tail region of the projectile (1) and, upon impact with a target (13), penetrates the target (13) as a separate unit behind the penetrator (2) of the kinetic energy projectile (1). To reach the objective of a high destructive effect caused by the incendiary composition (14) within a target (13), despite a small volume and a low mass, and to ensure that the incendiary composition is ignited securely by the shock waves generated upon impact, according to the invention, a titanium sponge is used as the incendiary composition (14), with an epoxide resin or a polyester resin used as a binder.

Abstract: Improved binders for energetic compositions include high molecular weight polyester polyol binder polymers and energetic plasticizers wherein the plasticizer to polymer ratio is 1.6:1 or less.

Abstract: This invention relates to energetic compositions, which offer increased performance in conjunction with a total absence of halogen based oxidizers to eliminate exhaust products, such as hydrogen chloride. The oxidizers of choice are various combinations neat ammonium dinitramide, ammonium dinitramide prills and CL-20, because these oxidizers do not produce halogen containing exhaust products, such as the HCl gas of ammonium perchlorate. The exhaust these novel propellants consist mostly of CO2, H2O, N2, and small amounts of CO. These exhaust species are friendlier and much less hazardous to the environment than those emitted by conventional AP-based propellants. The plasticizers are selected from energetic plasticizers that do not contain halogens, but maintain other desirable properties.

Abstract: This invention relates to energetic compositions, which offer increased performance in conjunction with a total absence of hydrogen chloride in the combustion products. The formulation avoid the use of halogen based oxidizers to prevent the formation of halogen based byproducts. The formulations disclosed herein use ammonium dinitramide as a primary oxidizer, which is a more energetic molecule than ammonium perchlorate. The solid propellant formulations disclosed herein comprise about 5.0 to about 10.0 weight % of at least one energetic binder; about 20.0 to about 35.0 weight % of an energetic plasticizer; about 25.0 to about 45.0 weight % of ammonium dinitramide as a primary oxidizer; about 0.0 to about 20.0 weight % of particulate aluminum having a particle size of about 1 &mgr;m to about 60 &mgr;m; and about 0.0 to about 20.0 weight % of ultrafine aluminum having a particle size of less than 1 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The invention provides an explosive composition comprising A) an oxygen-donating constituent, which forms a disperse phase, B) an organic constituent, which forms a dispersion phase, and C) at least one emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier includes a copolymer comprising, in random or regular order, structural units derived from a) maleic anhydride, b) one or more olefins having more than 40 carbon atoms, and c) a vinyl ester of carboxylic acids having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, where the structural units derived from maleic anhydride have been modified by reaction with alcohols, amino alcohols, ammonia or amines.

Abstract: An energetic and recyclable propellant composition, which is capable of withstanding cold temperature, includes an energetic copolyurethane thermoplastic elastomer. The propellant composition can be used as a gun or rocket propellant, an explosive or in air bag gas generators.

Abstract: Polymerization of &agr;-bromomethyl-&agr;-methyl-&bgr;-propiolactone (BMMPL) or &agr;-chloromethyl-&agr;-methyl-&bgr;-propiolactone (CMMPL) yielded thermoplastic homopolymers that upon azidation led to a novel energetic thermoplastic polyester: poly(&agr;-azidomethyl-&agr;-methyl-&bgr;-propiolactone) (PAMMPL). An energetic copolyether-ester thermoplastic elastomer was prepared by using glycidyl azide polymer, a dihydroxyl terminated energetic polymer, as a macroinitiator for the polymerization of BMMPL or CMMPL. The azidation of the resulting copolyether-ester yielded an energetic thermoplastic elastomer that melted at between 80° C. and 85° C. Polymerization of &agr;-dibromomethyl-&bgr;-propiolactone (DBMPL) resulted in a polymer which upon azidation yielded a new energetic polymer that can be used as a binder or into an energetic thermoplastic elastomer synthesis.

Abstract: The present invention provides energetic thermoplastic elastomers which may be used as binders in propellant, explosive and pyrotechnic applications. The elastomers of the present invention are all hydrolyzable, allowing recycling of the elastomer's constituents and/or facilitating other constituents of the propellant, explosive or pyrotechnic. The elastomers of the present invention contain a first polymer, a second polymer having a repeating unit different from that of the first polymer, and a bridging group. Methods of preparing elastomers of the present invention include reaction of the first and second polymers with a dioic acid, or with an organic diisocyanate and a diol containing a formal linkage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an age-stabilized and/or strengthened ammonium nitrate propellant composition wherein the strengthening agent is selected from the group consisting of azodicarbonamide, dicyandiamide, oxamide and mixtures thereof and wherein the age-stabilizing agent is a molecular sieve having a pore size of 13 angstroms or less.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (16) and a gas generating composition which when ignited produces gas to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (16). The gas generating composition comprises a non-azide nitrogen containing organic fuel, an inorganic salt oxidizer, and a metal organic coolant selected from the group consisting of alkali metal formates, alkaline earth metal formates, alkali metal oxalates, and alkaline earth metal oxalates. The amount of metal organic coolant in the gas generating composition is a cooling amount.

Abstract: A thermoplastic, elastomeric block copolymer comprises at least one poly(butadiene) and at least one pair of poly(lactone) blocks flanking the poly(butadiene) block. Each poly(lactone) block is derived from a lactone having between 8 and 18 carbon atoms in the lactone ring, such as &lgr;-laurolactone and 10-hydroxyl decanoic acid lactone. Alternative methods of making these block polymers are also disclosed. In the first procedure diethyl zinc reacts with the hydroxyl end group of a butadiene polymer to form an intermediate zinc alkoxide-tipped polybutadiene which functions as the active initiating species. The laurolactone polymer then grows off the hydroxyl end groups of the butadiene to form the desired ABA block copolymer. In another related procedure for making ABA block polymers, previously prepared difunctional hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene blocks are linked with monofunctional poly(&lgr;-laurolactone) blocks using a diisocyanate and a catalyst.

Abstract: Improved binders for energetic compositions include high molecular weight polyester polyol binder polymers and energetic plasticizers wherein the plasticizer to polymer ratio is 1.6:1 or less.

Abstract: Solid gas generant compositions produce low particulates (e.g., condensed ash) when ignited. The solid gas generant compositions most preferably include a nitramine, at least one oxidizer selected from nitrates of strontium or cerium, in admixture with or without potassium perchlorate, and a binder. Graphite may optionally be employed. The gas generant compositions are usefully employed in inflatable vehicle occupant passive restraint systems (e.g., air bag systems).

Abstract: An inflator (14) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) comprises a pressurized container (20), a gas generating material stored under pressure in the container (20), and an igniter (36) for igniting the gas generating material in the container. The gas generating material comprises an oxidizer and a fuel. At least a major portion of the oxidizer is nitrous oxide in a liquid-gas state. At least a major portion of the fuel is polyvinyl alcohol in a porous, molded solid state (64). A portion of the liquid nitrous oxide is absorbed into the pores of the molded polyvinyl alcohol (64). The gas generating material upon combustion produces a combustion product consisting essentially of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water.

Abstract: Compositions are provided which, when burned, produce significant levels of infrared radiation, but only limited levels of visible radiation. The basic components of the compositions include a binder, an oxidizer, and a fuel, where the binder also acts the fuel. Preferred oxidizers include those compounds which produce large quantities of infrared radiation when the flare composition is burned. Such oxidizers include potassium nitrate, cesium nitrate, rubidium nitrate, and combinations of these compounds. Selection of the binder is important in order to provide the composition with the desirable characteristics identified above. The binder of the present invention does not produce significant soot. At the same time, the binder serves to form a composition which is processible, avoids chunking, and is compatible with the oxidizers used. It has been found that polymer binders which include relatively short carbon chains (1-6 continuous carbon atoms) are preferred.