Impact Resistant Explosive Compositions Using Hydrocarbon Binders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energetic materials used in ordinances are sensitive to shock or impact, leading to unintentional detonation during storage, handling, or transportation, causing injuries and damages.
Innovation Solution
An explosive composition comprising a high density hydrocarbon compound such as xylitol, sucrose, or mannitol, combined with energetic materials like TNT or RDX, which increases impact resistance without compromising energetic performance, by maintaining detonation pressure and velocity while desensitizing the composition to kinetic energy impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional energetic materials (e.g., Comp B with TNT, RDX, wax) are used, then good performance characteristics and inexpensive production are achieved, but the explosive becomes highly sensitive to shock or impact, causing unintentional detonation during storage, handling, or transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (the explosive composition formulation itself acting as a mediator between the energetic materials and external shock) that modifies the interaction between impact stimuli and the explosive components. The composition structure serves as a buffer that prevents direct transmission of shock energy to the sensitive energetic materials, thereby reducing unintentional detonation risk while preserving performance characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material principles by combining multiple energetic materials (TNT, RDX, HMX, aluminum) in specific proportions within a unified explosive composition. This composite structure allows the different components to complement each other's performance characteristics while the overall formulation maintains impact sensitivity at acceptable levels for military applications, balancing reliability with functional requirements.
2Reliability
If insensitive munitions are developed to reduce impact sensitivity, then unintentional detonation is minimized, but the explosive performance characteristics may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully adjusting the compositional parameters (weight percentages of TNT, RDX, HMX, and aluminum) to optimize both impact sensitivity and detonation performance. By varying these parameters within specific ranges, the formulation achieves a balance where the explosive remains relatively insensitive to impact while maintaining high detonation velocity and pressure characteristics necessary for effective ordnance performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality principles by creating a heterogeneous explosive composition where different regions or phases have different properties. The composite structure includes areas with higher energetic material concentration for performance and regions with metal particles or alternative compositions that provide impact resistance, allowing simultaneous optimization of both sensitivity and performance characteristics in different parts of the explosive mass.
Data Source
AI summary
An explosive composition comprising a high density hydrocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of xylitol, sucrose, mannitol, and mixtures thereof and at least one energetic material. The high density hydrocarbon compound and the at least one energetic material form a substantially homogeneous explosive composition. A method of producing an explosive composition that is insensitive to impact is also disclosed.