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: A method for manufacturing explosive articles which contain primary explosives and therefore present explosion hazards during conventional loading and packaging operations is disclosed which includes desensitizing the primary explosive such as silver fulminate, for example, by admixing therewith an effective amount of a desensitizing agent to form a resulting composition so as to render the primary explosive insensitive to shock, depositing the desensitized primary explosive on a substrate material, and thereafter, resensitizing the primary explosive by allowing decomposition of the resulting composition to thereby recapture the sensitivity of the primary explosive so deposited.
Abstract: A flame-explosion couple is disclosed which upon ignition burns for a period of time in a relatively stable manner and thereafter explodes to produce fragments which continue to burn for a further period of time. The composition may comprise from 40 to 89 percent by weight of a volatile liquid fuel, from 10 to 50 percent by weight of a secondary explosive or strong metal salt oxidizer and from 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of an explosive primer. It is usually desirable to incorporate a gellant in the composition to give it a jellylike consistency of a desired viscosity. The composition may optionally contain combustible metal powders and combustible polymers.