Non-toxic, metallic-boron-containing, IR tracer compositions and IR tracer projectiles containing the same for generating a dim visibility IR trace

Abstract

A novel non-toxic IR tracer composition is provided herein which, when incorporated into an IR tracer projectile which is then fired, generates a dim visibility IR trace. Such IR tracer composition is a non-toxic, metallic-boron-containing, IR tracer composition comprising: from about 20 to about 30% by weight, or from about 45 to about 60% by weight, of at least one of potassium chlorate or sodium nitrate; from about 5 to about 16% by weight of a metallic fuel which consists of metallic boron; optionally, from about 15 to about 25% by weight, or from about 40 to about 50% by weight, of a non-metallic fuel which consists of sodium salicylate; from about 5 to about 20% by weight of a retardant which consists either of iron carbonate, or magnesium carbonate or calcium carbonate; from about 5 to about 15% by weight of a first binder which consists of calcium resinate; and up to about 7.5% by weight of a second synthetic resin binder which consists either of a copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride or cellulose acetate butyrate, wherein the total percentage of such ingredients add up to 100%. A novel IR tracer projectile containing such IR tracer composition for generating a dim visibility IR trace is also provided.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to non-toxic, metallic-boron-containing, IR tracer compositions and to IR tracer projectiles containing such IR tracer compositions for generating a dim visibility IR trace. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The art is replete with patents which are directed to compositions containing metallic boron for various purposes, including, e.g., tracer compositions, incendiary compositions and pyrotechnic compositions. Among such prior art patents are the following: [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,984, patented Jun. 17, 1997, INFRARED TRACER COMPOSITION and assigned to Thiokol Corporation. Those patented composition included strontium peroxide and barium peroxide in addition to metallic boron. However, such infrared tracer compositions suffered the defect that barium was a toxic element. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,435, patented Oct. 15, 1991, INFRARED ILLUMINANT AND PRESSING METHOD, issued to L. L. Jones et al. Such patented compositions cont...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] It would thus be desirable to suppress visible emissions, whereby camouflage is optimized and an enemy cannot visually locate the source of the tracer projectile or the line of fire in order to direct a counter-attack toward that location.

[0061] A binder maintains the other particulate forms of the constituents of the IR tracer composition together. The binder increases the structural integrity of the IR tracer material to prevent any break up of the IR trace in flight. It protects the IR tracer composition from moisture and increases the flowability of the composition. The preferred binder agent is calcium resinate which is added to the composition as a fuel retardant and acts as a waterproofing agent. Other binders, e.g. cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) or the fluorocarbon elastomer known by the trade mark VITON A are suitable since they reduce soot formation.

Problems solved by technology

An oxidizer and a fuel alone, however, do not make practical pyrotechnics for the purpose of providing IR emission.

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