High energy blast explosives for confined spaces

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein relates to an explosive capable of enhanced combustion efficiently capable of sustaining a high pressure over a period of time in a confined environment, such as an air tight room or a cave, where oxygen may be in limited supply. An embodiment of the present invention is a metal composite that combines a binder, a nano-sized reactive metal and an oxidizer. The nano-sized reactive metal has an average particle size of approximetaly 20 nano-meters

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U. S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 779,545, filed Feb. 11, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,732, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 779,548, filed Feb. 11, 2004, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 326,958 filed on Dec. 23, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,969,434.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The invention disclosed herein relates to explosive formulations with improved combustion efficiency. More particularly, the explosive formulations of the invention are capable of maintaining a relatively high blast pressure in an oxygen poor environment, such as a tunnel or other confined spaces. BACKGROUND OF TH...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The present invention is to provide an explosive with enhanced combustion efficiently capable of sustaining a high pressure over a period of time in a confined environment with a limited oxygen supply.

[0015] Further, when very small metal particles in the order of twenty nano-meters are utilized as the reactive metal in an explosive device made in accordance with the present invention blast effectiveness is increased by a factor of two over more conventional explosive devices and

[0016] Additionally, embodiments the present invention is to provide an explosive with increased reactivity, increased thermal output and lower ignition temperatures.

Problems solved by technology

This is a phase generally referred to as after burning or late-time impulse which can occur outside of where the detonation occurred, resulting in more widespread damage.

Aluminum has been used as the metal of choice, due to high heat of combustion, cost and availability.

However, combustion efficiency has been an issue, especially in the event that the fuel content (35-60 wt %) is high with respect to the total weight of explosive composition.

Poor combustion efficiency is often observed in many of the thermobaric warhead tests, which causes the severe ineffectiveness of the weapon.

However, the burning of all the metal to completion requires maintaining the hot environment.

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