EP2770294B1 - Explosive agent mass for a live ammunition - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an explosive active mass for a combat ammunition and a combat ammunition comprising such an explosive active mass.
From the DE 28 27 155 B1 is a projectile for visualization of the hit by a arranged in this Deutladung known. The projectile has a responsive in the target level sensor, through which the formed as a sudden burning light flash and smoke charge Deutladung can be initiated. The Discharge may be a low-latency pyrotechnic set. The projectile may be both a combat and a practice bullet.
The US 3,712,228 discloses a pyrotechnic marker for a steering column to indicate the point of the warhead detonation, thereby enabling accurate firing of conventional weapons against the chosen target. The entire warhead portion of the projectile can form a marker warhead, which in addition to a Deutladung an explosive charge sufficient to destroy the required for the steering of the basement section.
Further explosive active compounds are from the documents DE 24 14 310 A1 and DE 29 01 517 A1 and DE 296 12 746 U1 and DE 34 01 538 A1 and EP 1 286 129 A1 and EP 2 151 422 A2 known.

Object of the present invention is to provide an active mass that allows an alternative Deutse effect. Furthermore, it is intended to specify a combat munition comprising this active mass.
The object is solved by the features of claims 1 and 11. Advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the features of claims 2 to 10.

According to the invention, an explosive active mass is provided for a combat ammunition, which comprises an explosive and pieces of an indexing agent distributed homogeneously in the explosive active mass. The pieces are formed from at least one of the elements titanium, zirconium, boron or hafnium, a ferrotitanium, a silicide, ferrosilicon or a mixture thereof. When the pieces are formed from the mixture, they may be, for example, pieces of alloy or a mixture of pieces formed from different materials. The pieces have a sponge-like structure. They may in particular be formed from titanium, zirconium or hafnium. The explosive active mass may additionally comprise homogeneously distributed particles formed from at least one of titanium, zirconium, boron or hafnium, a ferrotitanium, a silicide, ferrosilicon or a mixture thereof. In the explosive active mass may also be a mixture of the sponge-like pieces and the particles or of different particles.

Compared to the well-known Deutladungen the explosive active material according to the invention has a much stronger and spatially more extensive German effect. Compared to a corresponding explosive active material without the particles or pieces of the Deutmittels, the explosive active material according to the invention has an at most insignificantly reduced explosive effect. The particles and / or pieces can also contribute to the explosive effect.

Due to the intensive German effect, the hit position of a combat ammunition containing the explosive active material according to the invention can also be located well from a great distance. At the same time, a combat enemy can be fooled and blinded by the actual explosive effect due to an intense optical effect associated with the detonation of the explosive active mass. Due to the intense optical effect, the opponent will assume a much stronger than the actual explosive effect. The explosives active substance according to the invention can thereby also have a psychological effect. In the case of detonation, flying sparks automatically trigger an evasive reaction in humans, which does not trigger conventional splinters. A detonation effect associated with the detonation is much higher than in the detonation of a conventional explosive active material. This effect may be more of a deterrent to certain target groups, such as partisans or occasional fighters, than they are with conventional explosive actives or ammunition with a known one Deutch charge is reached. The psychological effect and / or the dazzling effect can lead to a suppression of an opposing attacking activity.

In a conventional mortar shell used at a greater distance, such as 3 to 4 km, their impact point, especially in unfavorable visibility conditions, is visually difficult to detect and with the well-known Deutladungen not sufficiently well. However, when mortar shells are used to combat single targets, it is necessary to make a shot correction for an un-hit for another shot. However, this is only possible with a precise knowledge of the hit situation. Due to the good visual recognizability of the hit position with the explosive active material according to the invention, a reduction of collateral damage when using mortar shells is possible.

The silicide may comprise magnesium silicide or calcium silicide. When the particles comprise titanium and boron-formed particles, TiB _{2 may} form during the reaction of the explosive active material according to the invention. In this case, a relatively large thermal energy is released and thereby increases the blast effect of the explosive active mass.

In order to increase the range of sparks produced during the detonation, larger pieces of titanium with a sponge-like structure or larger particles are used. It has proved to be advantageous if the particles and / or the pieces have an equivalent diameter in the range of 0.1 to 3 mm. To determine the equivalent diameter, a measurable property of the particles is determined. The determined property is then related to spheres having the same property. The equivalent diameter is the diameter of these balls. The equivalent diameter may in particular be a screen diameter. The particles may be spherical particles. In this case, the equivalent diameter is identical to the actual diameter of the particles. The smaller the equivalent diameter of the particles, the faster they are converted in a reaction of the explosive active material. This enhances the blasting and blinding effect. The larger the equivalent diameter of the particles, the longer it takes their burning and their flight. As a result, they continue to fly and produce a longer and more distant visible sparks of sparks than particles with a smaller equivalent diameter. In order to achieve a broad spectrum of action is therefore a mixture of particles with different equivalent diameter and possibly the Pieces or from the particles and the pieces favorably. By means of a suitable combination of particles and / or pieces, a cascading effect can be achieved when the explosive active mass burns off.

The explosive active material according to the invention comprises a further fog-forming deuterium. This may be a so-called Berger mixture, in particular a zinc-CCl4 mixture, preferably comprising Zn, ZnO, MgO and CCl4 act. Alternatively, the further reductant may include red phosphorus and an oxidizing agent, especially potassium nitrate, and optionally a binder. By generating a mist is achieved that the German effect is well detectable even in bright daylight and especially in bright sunshine. Without the further, fog-forming Deutmittel the German effect at night, twilight or on cloudy days is easily seen, but in very bright sunlight only very limited from several kilometers distance. At the same time, fogging can disrupt an opponent's view and increase the psychological effect on the enemy.

The explosive active mass may comprise the pieces and the further deuter means may be included in the sponge-like structure of the pieces. As a result, the pieces burning in the air create a smoke trail in the air and at the same time produce a bright light. As a result, the German effect is easily detected under all lighting conditions from a large distance.

The further deuterium or the pieces with the further deuterium added in the sponge-like structure of the pieces may be enveloped by a combustible coating, a combustible polymer or the binder. It can thereby be achieved that another deuterium, whose reaction would reduce the detonation performance of the explosive active mass without the sheathing, has no or no significant effect on the detonation performance of the explosive active mass. Such another Deutmittel is z. B. another deuterating agent comprising red phosphorus. By enveloping the reaction of further Deutmittels is delayed so far with the formation of explosive swaths that the performance of the explosive is not or not significantly affected. Even by the mere introduction of the further Deutsche means in the sponge-like structure of the pieces can already be achieved a delay in the reaction of the further Deutmittel, which is sufficient to prevent a reduction in detonation performance, at least largely.

In one embodiment of the invention, the explosive active mass comprises the pieces which have a sponge-like structure, the pieces being formed from titanium. Titanium emits a particularly bright light when burned, which is clearly visible even in daylight. It has proved to be particularly effective if the active mass comprises, in addition to the pieces of titanium, said particles, in particular when the further deuterium has been taken up in the sponge-like structure of the pieces. It is advantageous if the particles are also formed of titanium, in particular, if the particles are spherical.

In one embodiment of the explosive active mass according to the invention, the explosive active mass comprises further particles which are formed from magnesium and / or aluminum. In this case, aluminum increases the explosive effect, while magnesium increases the lighting effect during the implementation of the explosive active mass.

The total proportion of the particles and / or pieces and optionally of the further deuterium and / or the further particles in the active material can be in the range from 5 to 15% by weight.

The invention further relates to a combat ammunition comprising an explosive active material according to the invention, wherein the combat ammunition does not comprise any further explosive active mass or comprises a further explosive active mass, wherein the further explosive active mass is surrounded by the explosive active mass. The total proportion of the particles and / or pieces and optionally of the further deuterium and / or the further particles in the sum of the weight of the explosive active material and the further explosive active mass may be 5 to 15% by weight. The combat ammunition may be, for example, a grenade, in particular a fragmentation grenade or an infantry grenade, in particular an infantry grenade with a caliber of 40 mm, or a mortar shell, in particular a mortar shell with a caliber of 60 mm act.

By way of example, the use of explosives and particles and / or pieces of a deuterium for producing an explosive active mass for a combat ammunition is described, wherein the particles and the pieces each independently of each other from at least one of the elements titanium, zirconium, boron or hafnium, a ferrotitanium, a silicide , Ferrosilicon or a mixture thereof. The pieces have a sponge-like structure. Furthermore, another, fog-forming Deutmittel for the preparation of the explosive active material be used. Furthermore, further particles formed from magnesium and / or aluminum can be used to produce the explosive active mass. The deuterating agent may be such a deuterating agent and / or the further deuterating agent may be such another deutering agent, as defined in each case for the explosive active material according to the invention. The invention will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments.

Example 1:

In a fragmentation grenade is in the explosive material "Hexal" usually used, which consists of 65 wt .-% Hexogen, 30 wt .-% aluminum powder and 5 wt .-% wax and has a moderate fragmentation effect with high explosive effect, the proportion Aluminum powder reduced to 15 wt .-%. Instead of this proportion of aluminum powder, 15% by weight of titanium-formed pieces having a sponge-like structure and an equivalent diameter of 1 to 2 mm are introduced into the explosive active mass and homogeneously distributed in the explosive active mass. As a result, a fragmentation grenade is obtained with at most insignificantly reduced explosive effect and very strong Deutwirkung. By means of this fragmentation grenade an enemy position including adjacent objects of the hit position, such as vehicles in a convoy, can be marked and the hit position, for example for a shot correction, clearly displayed. Such a fragmentation grenade has a strong psychological effect, because it suggests a stronger than the actual explosive effect. In addition, the enemy can be dazzled by it and its attacking activity can be suppressed.

Example 2:

30 g of an explosive active substance according to the invention were prepared as an experimental charge. The size of this cargo is the size of cargo commonly used in infantry grenades of 40 mm caliber. To prepare the test load, the explosive DXP-2380, which consists of 92% by weight of RDX (hexogen) and 8% by weight of binder, was coated with 10% by weight of titanium-formed pieces having a sponge-like structure and an equivalent diameter of 1 up to 2 mm added. The dry active mass was mixed. From each 30 g heavy test loads were pressed with a diameter of about 30 mm and a height of 40 mm. For comparison, however, equally heavy test loads of the same geometry were pressed without the pieces of titanium.

The test cargoes were placed on a 5 mm thick steel plate in order to detect the explosive effect by punching out a metal plate from the deuter plate. The test charges were each ignited with a so-called HWC booster (94.5 wt .-% hexogen, 4.5 wt .-% wax, 1 wt .-% graphite) and an electric detonator capsule. The blasts were carried out on a rack at a height of 1 m above a floor and recorded by a high-speed video camera.

Upon ignition of the experimental charge from conventional explosives active mass, essentially only one cloud of smoke could be seen 10 ms after the blasting. Upon ignition of the experimental charge from the explosive active material according to the invention, the pieces of titanium, which have a very high specific surface area due to their sponge-like structure, were ignited during the detonation and ejected in all directions. This resulted in a visually impressive spark cascade that has spread radially to a distance of about 10 meters from the initial location of the experimental charge. The burning titanium pieces were slowed down in the air and remained practically in the air after about 10 m flight. At this point, the pieces burned for about half a second. The result was a strong, well-visible spark cloud. The entire lighting effect took a total of about one second. The blast from the detonation was also intensified by the burning titanium pieces.

The performance of the experiment with experimental charges from the explosive active material according to the invention and the conventional explosive active mass showed in comparison that the splintering performance and the explosive effect are virtually unaffected by the introduction of the pieces of titanium. The experiment also showed that an explosive active substance according to the invention can be produced from a conventional explosive active substance by admixing the excipient. It is therefore not necessary to achieve the desired effect, to develop new explosive formulations.

It has also been shown that the effect can not be significantly increased by a larger proportion or a larger amount of titanium pieces. A test load of the same composition but three times its weight (90 g) showed a denser cloud of sparks 30 ms after blasting than the 30 g test charge, but without assuming a larger or substantially different shape. It showed almost the same dazzling effect as the only 30 g test load. This means that it is sufficient for larger loads for larger shells to replace a smaller proportion of the conventional explosives active material by the deuterium. As a result, the other effects of the explosives active mass are influenced even less than is already the case. The deuterium can be incorporated into virtually any conventional explosives active material without significantly altering their effect.

Claims (11)

1. Active explosive agent for combat ammunition, comprising an explosive and pieces of an indicator means homogeneously distributed in the active explosive agent,
   wherein the pieces are formed from at least one of the elements titanium, zirconium, boron or hafnium, a ferrotitanium, a silicide, ferrosilicon or a mixture of these,
   wherein the pieces exhibit a sponge-like structure, wherein the active explosive agent comprises a further indicator means creating a smoke screen, wherein the further indicator means is accommodated in the sponge-like structure of the pieces.
2. Active explosive agent according to Claim 1,
   wherein the silicide comprises magnesium silicide or calcium silicide.
3. Active explosive agent according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the active explosive agent comprises particles homogeneously distributed in the active explosive agent, which particles are formed from at least one of the elements titanium, zirconium, boron or hafnium, a ferrotitanium, a silicide, ferrosilicon or a mixture of these.
4. Active explosive agent according to Claim 3,
   wherein the particles comprise particles made of titanium and of boron.
5. Active explosive agent according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the particles and/or pieces have an equivalent diameter in the region of 0.1 to 3 mm and are optionally spherical.
6. Active explosive agent according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the further indicator means comprises red phosphorous and an oxidation means and an optional binding agent.
7. Active explosive agent according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the pieces are encased in a combustible coating, a combustible polymer or the binding agent.
8. Active explosive agent according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the pieces are formed from titanium.
9. Active explosive agent according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the active explosive agent comprises further particles which are formed from magnesium and/or aluminium.
10. Active explosive agent according to one of the preceding claims,
    wherein the total proportion of particles and/or pieces and, optionally, of the further indicator means and/or the further particles in the active agent fall within the range of 5 to 15 % by weight.
11. Combat ammunition comprising an active explosive agent according to one of the preceding claims,
    wherein the combat ammunition does not comprise a further active explosive agent or comprises a further active explosive agent,
    wherein the further active explosive agent is surrounded by the active explosive agent.