Non-toxic primer powder composition for small caliber ammunition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a non-toxic primer powder composition for small caliber ammunition characterized by comprising potassium nitrate coated with shellac as an oxidizer, and particularly characterized by comprising 25-40 wt % of an initiating explosive, 10-30 wt % of nitrate ester as a fuel, 32-40 wt % of a shellac-coated potassium nitrate (KNO3) as an oxidizer, 5-10 wt % of tetracene as a first sensitizer, 3-9 wt % of a borosilicate powder as a second sensitizer and 0.1-0.2 wt % of a chemical binder.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a non-toxic primer powder composition for small caliber ammunition characterized by comprising potassium nitrate coated with shellac as an oxidizer, and particularly characterized by comprising an initiating explosive, nitrate ester as a fuel, a shellac-coated potassium nitrate (KNO3) as an oxidizer, tetracene as a first sensitizer, a borosilicate powder as a second sensitizer and a chemical binder. BACKGROUND ART [0002] A primer powder composition is generally comprised of an initiating explosive, a fuel, an oxidizer, a sensitizer and a chemical binder. Reviewing each function of said components, the initiating explosive initiates detonation of the primer powder by impact caused by a stroke of a hammer; the fuel generates flame by which a propellant can be combusted, in which the combustion is initiated by the detonation of the initiating explosive; the oxidizer provides oxygen required for combustion of the fuel, i.e.2 serves...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, those conventional compositions have problems of, when the primer powder composition is detonated, generation of hazardous oxide-containing flying dust such as lead oxide (PbO) due to oxidation of lead styphnate, antimony oxide (Sb2O3) due to oxidation of antimony sulfide, barium oxide (BaO) due to reduction of barium nitrate.

Such oxide-containing flying dust is a toxic material, which is taken and accumulated in the human body, thus to disturb the human body function, thereby being very harmful to a shooter, particularly in indoor shooting ranges.

The oxide-containing dust also causes environmental hazards.

Regarding the toxic problem, there is a registered Korean Patent concerning a non-toxic primer powder composition, however, it has problems such that a lot of sparks are generated when firing, thereby being dangerous, and a corrosive salt, potassium chloride (KCl) is accumulated to the gun, thereby causing corrosion in the gun.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,160 disclose a use of potassium nitrate instead of barium nitrate, in order to prevent the generation of such hazardous oxide compounds; however it has a problem such that the sensitivity and performance of the primer is lowered, due to hygroscopicity of potassium nitrate (water solubility of 31.6 g / 100 ml, at 20□), which is a property of absorbing moisture in the air.

Another U.S. Pat. No. 6,620,267 disclose a technique of coating potassium nitrate with an insoluble material, nitrocellulose, in order to solve the problem of hygroscopicity of potassium nitrate; however, it does not sufficiently overcome said hygroscopicity problem of potassium nitrate and also has a risk of explosion of nitrocellulose which can be caused by any impact or abrasion, thereby having a serious problem in safety during working.

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