US2836484A - Aqueous metal powder explosive - Google Patents

Aqueous metal powder explosive Download PDF

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Publication number
US2836484A
US2836484A US506066A US50606655A US2836484A US 2836484 A US2836484 A US 2836484A US 506066 A US506066 A US 506066A US 50606655 A US50606655 A US 50606655A US 2836484 A US2836484 A US 2836484A
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United States
Prior art keywords
mixture
explosive
aluminum
weight
metal powder
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Expired - Lifetime
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US506066A
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Alex G Streng
Abraham D Kirshenbaum
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Reynolds Metals Co
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Reynolds Metals Co
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Priority to US506066A priority Critical patent/US2836484A/en
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Publication of US2836484A publication Critical patent/US2836484A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
    • C06B47/00—Compositions in which the components are separately stored until the moment of burning or explosion, e.g. "Sprengel"-type explosives; Suspensions of solid component in a normally non-explosive liquid phase, including a thickened aqueous phase
    • C06B47/14—Compositions in which the components are separately stored until the moment of burning or explosion, e.g. "Sprengel"-type explosives; Suspensions of solid component in a normally non-explosive liquid phase, including a thickened aqueous phase comprising a solid component and an aqueous phase
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S149/00—Explosive and thermic compositions or charges
    • Y10S149/11—Particle size of a component
    • Y10S149/114—Inorganic fuel

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a high explosive mixture incorporating a finely divided metal, and relates in particular to such a mixture incorporating aluminum powder.
  • a further object is to provide a metal powder explosive mixture that can be mixed and stored safely prior to the time of detonation.
  • a further object is to provide a metal powder explosive mixture which is easy to mix, so that the mixture may be made up at the site where it is to be used.
  • a high explosive comprising an aqueous mixture, or dispersion of finely divided aluminum powder and a stable oxidizing salt.
  • Other combustible solids or liquids may be present.
  • the presence of water renders the explosive mixture safer to handle and increases the power of the explosive as compared to the dry mixture heretofore proposed.
  • Aluminum powder is available commercially in various mesh sizes and in the form of flakes and granules. We prefer to employ a mixture of granular and flake powders having a mesh size of 120 or finer in order to obtain a good consistency in the final mixture.
  • the flake powder favorably influences the explosive properties of the mixture.
  • the salts suitable for use in the present invention include ammonium nitrite, ammonium nitrate and ammonium perchlorate. Although the alkali metal salts of some of these acid radicals are stable and can be used, the brisance of mixtures employing alkali metal salts is not as great as where the ammonium salts are used.
  • the compositions may contain dispersing, emulsifying agents, or wetting agents, which help to maintain the aluminum powder in suspension or improve the ease of dispersing the aluminum powder.
  • the amount of oxidizing salt required for high brisance is in excess of the theoretical amount required on the basis of available oxygen.
  • the proportion of oxidizing salt may be considerably lowered. This is believed to be related in some way to the reaction of the metal with water under the conditions of the explosive.
  • the weight proportion of aluminum in the mixture may vary within the range of about 38 to 49%; and the proportion of oxidizing salt may vary within the range of about 20 to 43%.
  • the most effective mixtures contain a ratio Percent ammonium nitrate (60 mesh dry).
  • Example 1 A charge of 150 grams was prepared containing the following proportion of ingredients by weight:
  • the charge was initiated by a primacord on a steel plate one-eighth inch thick, and the explosion punctured a hole in the plate 10.5 cm. in diameter, leaving fragmentation traces on the plate.
  • Example 2 For the purpose of comparative tests, mixtures were made up as follows:
  • Example 2 Percent aluminum powder (400 mesh) 42 18 25 Percent water Percent charcoal (60 mesh)
  • sample A the ammonium nitrate was dissolved in water to make a 52% by weight solution, and 58 parts of this solution was mixed with 42 parts aluminum powder.
  • the rate of detonation of sample A, by the DAutriche method, having a loading density of one gram per cubic centimeter, is about 4000 to 4200 meters per second, as compared to a rate of detonation of about 1500 meters per second for dry mixtures of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder.
  • An aqueous explosive mixture comprising: 38 to 49% by weight of finely divided aluminum; 20 to 43% by weight of a stable salt selected from the group composed of nitrates, nitrites and perchlorates; and a quantity of water to provide an aluminum to water ratio by weight which is in the range of 1.4 to 1.5.
  • the explosive mixture of claim 1 including a small amount of gelatine.
  • An aqueous expIo'sive mixture comprising by weight: References Cited in the file of this patent 42 to' 49% finely divided aluminum; 30' to' 31% water; fi and 28 to 23% of a stable salt selected from the group UNITED STATES PA NTS composed of nitrates, nitrites' andperchlorates. v 7 6891577 Von Dehmen 1901 5.

Description

2,836,484 AQUEOUS NETAL POWDER EXPLOSIVE Alex G. Streng and Abraham D. Kirshenbaum, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application May 4, 1955 Serial No. 506,066
6 Claims. (Cl. 52-15) This invention relates to a high explosive mixture incorporating a finely divided metal, and relates in particular to such a mixture incorporating aluminum powder.
It has been proposed to employ aluminum powder in admixture with dry oxidizing salts as an explosive. Such compositions entail difliculties in handling because, after the aluminum powder and salt have been mixed, the mixture becomes sensitive to shock and must be carefully handled. Furthermore, as the oxidizing salt must be finely divided and must be intimately mixed with the aluminum powder, the grinding and mixing must be performed at the factory. Long storage of the mixture may cause caking, and renders the mixture difiicult to detonate.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a metal powder high explosive mixture which is safe to handle.
A further object is to provide a metal powder explosive mixture that can be mixed and stored safely prior to the time of detonation.
A further object is to provide a metal powder explosive mixture which is easy to mix, so that the mixture may be made up at the site where it is to be used.
According to the present invention we provide a high explosive comprising an aqueous mixture, or dispersion of finely divided aluminum powder and a stable oxidizing salt. Other combustible solids or liquids may be present. The presence of water renders the explosive mixture safer to handle and increases the power of the explosive as compared to the dry mixture heretofore proposed.
Aluminum powder is available commercially in various mesh sizes and in the form of flakes and granules. We prefer to employ a mixture of granular and flake powders having a mesh size of 120 or finer in order to obtain a good consistency in the final mixture. The flake powder favorably influences the explosive properties of the mixture. The salts suitable for use in the present invention include ammonium nitrite, ammonium nitrate and ammonium perchlorate. Although the alkali metal salts of some of these acid radicals are stable and can be used, the brisance of mixtures employing alkali metal salts is not as great as where the ammonium salts are used. In addition, the compositions may contain dispersing, emulsifying agents, or wetting agents, which help to maintain the aluminum powder in suspension or improve the ease of dispersing the aluminum powder.
In dry mixtures of aluminum powder and oxidizing salts the amount of oxidizing salt required for high brisance is in excess of the theoretical amount required on the basis of available oxygen. However, in the aqueous mixtures of the present invention the proportion of oxidizing salt may be considerably lowered. This is believed to be related in some way to the reaction of the metal with water under the conditions of the explosive. In general, the weight proportion of aluminum in the mixture may vary within the range of about 38 to 49%; and the proportion of oxidizing salt may vary within the range of about 20 to 43%. The most effective mixtures contain a ratio Percent ammonium nitrate (60 mesh dry).
2,836,484 Patented May 27, 1958 Example 1 A charge of 150 grams was prepared containing the following proportion of ingredients by weight:
42% aluminum powder (a mixture of equal weights of 400 mesh granular and mesh flake) 30% ammonium nitrate 28% water The charge was prepared by dissolving the ammonium nitrate in the water, and then adding the resulting solution to the aluminum powder in an iron cylinder with constant stirring. This cylinder, two inches in diameter and four inches high was used in the following brisance test.
The charge was initiated by a primacord on a steel plate one-eighth inch thick, and the explosion punctured a hole in the plate 10.5 cm. in diameter, leaving fragmentation traces on the plate.
Example 2 For the purpose of comparative tests, mixtures were made up as follows:
Percent aluminum powder (400 mesh) 42 18 25 Percent water Percent charcoal (60 mesh) In Example 2, sample A, the ammonium nitrate was dissolved in water to make a 52% by weight solution, and 58 parts of this solution was mixed with 42 parts aluminum powder. Using charges of grams of each on steel plates three-sixteenths inch thick, the charges The rate of detonation of sample A, by the DAutriche method, having a loading density of one gram per cubic centimeter, is about 4000 to 4200 meters per second, as compared to a rate of detonation of about 1500 meters per second for dry mixtures of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder.
We claim as our invention:
1. An aqueous explosive mixture comprising: 38 to 49% by weight of finely divided aluminum; 20 to 43% by weight of a stable salt selected from the group composed of nitrates, nitrites and perchlorates; and a quantity of water to provide an aluminum to water ratio by weight which is in the range of 1.4 to 1.5.
2. An aqueous explosive mixture as specified in claim 1 wherein said salt is ammonium nitrate.
3. The explosive mixture of claim 1 including a small amount of gelatine.
2,836,434 r 1 V. 3 I v 4 4. An aqueous expIo'sive mixture comprising by weight: References Cited in the file of this patent 42 to' 49% finely divided aluminum; 30' to' 31% water; fi and 28 to 23% of a stable salt selected from the group UNITED STATES PA NTS composed of nitrates, nitrites' andperchlorates. v 7 6891577 Von Dehmen 1901 5. An aqueous explosivemi'xture'as' specified in laim 4 5 763,665 e June 28, 1904 wherein said salt is ammonium nitrate. 1,253,597 n- 15, 1918 6. An" aqueous explosive mixture as specified'inclaim 5 1,832,365 L l ky Oct. 11, 1932 wherein the aluminum is'pljesent as a'powder of about 400 1,891,500 Bur-rows D66. 20, 1932 me'sh. 9 7, Davis Aug. 22, 1944

Claims (1)

1. AN AQUEOUS EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE COMPRISING: 38 TO 49% BY WEIGHT OF FINELY DIVIDED ALUMINUM; 20 TO 43% BY WEIGHT OF A STABLE SALT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP COMPOSED OF NITRATES, NITRITES AND PERCHLORATES, AND A QUANTITY OF WATER TO PROVIDE AN ALUMINUM TO WATER RATIO BY WEIGHT WHICH IS IN THE RANGE OF 1.4 TO 1.5.
US506066A 1955-05-04 1955-05-04 Aqueous metal powder explosive Expired - Lifetime US2836484A (en)

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Cited By (30)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2930685A (en) * 1958-10-13 1960-03-29 Canada Iron Ore Co Explosive composition
US2955534A (en) * 1955-07-27 1960-10-11 Ici Ltd Blasting methods and materials
US2992912A (en) * 1961-07-18 Ammonium nitrate explosive composition
US3024727A (en) * 1958-10-13 1962-03-13 Dow Chemical Co Area detonation
DE1136622B (en) * 1959-03-20 1962-09-13 Hercules Powder Co Ltd Aqueous explosives
US3075464A (en) * 1959-03-20 1963-01-29 Reserve Mining Co Blast hole charge and charging method
US3121036A (en) * 1958-02-28 1964-02-11 Canada Iron Ore Co Explosive composition comprising ammonium nitrate and a heat-producing metal
US3124495A (en) * 1964-03-10 Explosive compositions
US3132061A (en) * 1962-06-22 1964-05-05 Exomet Exothermic composition containing perlite
DE1172174B (en) * 1959-08-31 1964-06-11 Dow Chemical Co Explosive mixture
US3139029A (en) * 1960-08-11 1964-06-30 Dow Chemical Co Explosives and method of blasting
US3156186A (en) * 1961-03-17 1964-11-10 Gen Precision Inc Ammonium nitrate-aluminum explosive
US3160538A (en) * 1963-07-01 1964-12-08 Commercial Solvents Corp Aqueous explosive gel composition and process
US3188253A (en) * 1963-04-25 1965-06-08 Dow Chemical Co Process for preparing a metallized explosive
DE1196555B (en) * 1958-09-29 1965-07-08 Dow Chemical Co Solid explosives
US3236180A (en) * 1966-02-22 Blasting charge and method
DE1227816B (en) * 1959-01-05 1966-10-27 Dow Chemical Co Anhydrous explosive that is insensitive to detonators
US3333998A (en) * 1965-07-20 1967-08-01 Hercules Inc Aqueous blasting compositions containing flake aluminum and sugar
US3356545A (en) * 1965-07-20 1967-12-05 Hercules Inc Aqueousslurry type nitrocarbonitrate blasting compositions containing flake aluminum-dinitro-toluene as the only sensitizer
US3366053A (en) * 1958-10-29 1968-01-30 Trojan Powder Co Ammonium nitrate explosive mixture
US3367805A (en) * 1965-06-02 1968-02-06 Intermountain Res And Engineer Thickened inorganic nitrate aqueous slurry containing finely divided aluminum having a lyophobic surface of high surface area
US3374127A (en) * 1965-08-13 1968-03-19 Aquitaine Petrole Compressed metal containing ternary explosive composition
DE1276532B (en) * 1959-01-05 1968-08-29 Dow Chemical Co Detonator-insensitive ammonium nitrate explosive
US3620858A (en) * 1969-04-21 1971-11-16 Dow Chemical Co Ammonium nitrate explosive composition
US3630250A (en) * 1969-04-21 1971-12-28 Dow Chemical Co Ammonium nitrate explosive composition
US3947301A (en) * 1959-01-05 1976-03-30 The Dow Chemical Company Ammonium nitrate explosive composition
US4233094A (en) * 1979-01-15 1980-11-11 Konya Calvin J Explosive composition forming no water as a reaction product during detonation
US4528049A (en) * 1984-07-09 1985-07-09 Udy Lex L Seismic explosive composition
US7727347B1 (en) 2003-12-03 2010-06-01 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Thermobaric explosives and compositions, and articles of manufacture and methods regarding the same
FR2988389A1 (en) * 2012-03-22 2013-09-27 Alp Artifices Composition, useful in an explosive charge and projectile to release avalanches on terrestrial target e.g. winter sports stations, comprises potassium perchlorate and aluminum powder

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US689577A (en) * 1900-10-20 1901-12-24 Josef Fuehrer Blasting agent.
US763665A (en) * 1903-08-22 1904-06-28 Charles M Hall Explosive compound.
US1253597A (en) * 1917-08-27 1918-01-15 Thomas G Hitt Fire-cracker.
US1882365A (en) * 1927-02-19 1932-10-11 Safety Mining Co Heating cartridge
US1891500A (en) * 1931-05-02 1932-12-20 Worthington Hoyt Explosive composition
US2356149A (en) * 1940-09-18 1944-08-22 Du Pont Blasting explosive composition and method

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US689577A (en) * 1900-10-20 1901-12-24 Josef Fuehrer Blasting agent.
US763665A (en) * 1903-08-22 1904-06-28 Charles M Hall Explosive compound.
US1253597A (en) * 1917-08-27 1918-01-15 Thomas G Hitt Fire-cracker.
US1882365A (en) * 1927-02-19 1932-10-11 Safety Mining Co Heating cartridge
US1891500A (en) * 1931-05-02 1932-12-20 Worthington Hoyt Explosive composition
US2356149A (en) * 1940-09-18 1944-08-22 Du Pont Blasting explosive composition and method

Cited By (31)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2992912A (en) * 1961-07-18 Ammonium nitrate explosive composition
US3236180A (en) * 1966-02-22 Blasting charge and method
US3124495A (en) * 1964-03-10 Explosive compositions
US2955534A (en) * 1955-07-27 1960-10-11 Ici Ltd Blasting methods and materials
US3121036A (en) * 1958-02-28 1964-02-11 Canada Iron Ore Co Explosive composition comprising ammonium nitrate and a heat-producing metal
DE1196555B (en) * 1958-09-29 1965-07-08 Dow Chemical Co Solid explosives
US2930685A (en) * 1958-10-13 1960-03-29 Canada Iron Ore Co Explosive composition
US3024727A (en) * 1958-10-13 1962-03-13 Dow Chemical Co Area detonation
US3366053A (en) * 1958-10-29 1968-01-30 Trojan Powder Co Ammonium nitrate explosive mixture
DE1276532B (en) * 1959-01-05 1968-08-29 Dow Chemical Co Detonator-insensitive ammonium nitrate explosive
US3947301A (en) * 1959-01-05 1976-03-30 The Dow Chemical Company Ammonium nitrate explosive composition
DE1227816B (en) * 1959-01-05 1966-10-27 Dow Chemical Co Anhydrous explosive that is insensitive to detonators
DE1136622B (en) * 1959-03-20 1962-09-13 Hercules Powder Co Ltd Aqueous explosives
US3075464A (en) * 1959-03-20 1963-01-29 Reserve Mining Co Blast hole charge and charging method
DE1172174B (en) * 1959-08-31 1964-06-11 Dow Chemical Co Explosive mixture
US3139029A (en) * 1960-08-11 1964-06-30 Dow Chemical Co Explosives and method of blasting
US3156186A (en) * 1961-03-17 1964-11-10 Gen Precision Inc Ammonium nitrate-aluminum explosive
US3132061A (en) * 1962-06-22 1964-05-05 Exomet Exothermic composition containing perlite
US3188253A (en) * 1963-04-25 1965-06-08 Dow Chemical Co Process for preparing a metallized explosive
US3160538A (en) * 1963-07-01 1964-12-08 Commercial Solvents Corp Aqueous explosive gel composition and process
US3367805A (en) * 1965-06-02 1968-02-06 Intermountain Res And Engineer Thickened inorganic nitrate aqueous slurry containing finely divided aluminum having a lyophobic surface of high surface area
US3356545A (en) * 1965-07-20 1967-12-05 Hercules Inc Aqueousslurry type nitrocarbonitrate blasting compositions containing flake aluminum-dinitro-toluene as the only sensitizer
US3333998A (en) * 1965-07-20 1967-08-01 Hercules Inc Aqueous blasting compositions containing flake aluminum and sugar
US3374127A (en) * 1965-08-13 1968-03-19 Aquitaine Petrole Compressed metal containing ternary explosive composition
US3620858A (en) * 1969-04-21 1971-11-16 Dow Chemical Co Ammonium nitrate explosive composition
US3630250A (en) * 1969-04-21 1971-12-28 Dow Chemical Co Ammonium nitrate explosive composition
US4233094A (en) * 1979-01-15 1980-11-11 Konya Calvin J Explosive composition forming no water as a reaction product during detonation
US4528049A (en) * 1984-07-09 1985-07-09 Udy Lex L Seismic explosive composition
US7727347B1 (en) 2003-12-03 2010-06-01 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Thermobaric explosives and compositions, and articles of manufacture and methods regarding the same
US7754036B1 (en) 2003-12-03 2010-07-13 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Thermobaric explosives and compositions, and articles of manufacture and methods regarding the same
FR2988389A1 (en) * 2012-03-22 2013-09-27 Alp Artifices Composition, useful in an explosive charge and projectile to release avalanches on terrestrial target e.g. winter sports stations, comprises potassium perchlorate and aluminum powder

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