Lead-Free Primer Composition for Detonator Initiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of lead-based materials in primers for detonating energetic materials poses acute and chronic toxicity hazards during preparation, production, and the life cycle of items containing these materials.

Innovation Solution

A lead-free primer energetic composition comprising Cyanuric Triazide (60%), Tetracene (5%), and Antimony Trisulfide (15%) is developed, replacing traditional lead-based materials, and used to construct a primary detonator that initiates secondary explosives or pyrotechnic devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lead-based materials (lead azide, lead styphnate) are used in primer compositions, then the detonation initiation capability is effective and reliable, but acute and chronic toxicity hazards are generated during preparation, production, and life cycle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetonation initiation capabilityVSAvoidtoxicity hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the primer by replacing lead-based compounds (lead azide, lead styphnate) with alternative materials including cyanuric triazide, tetrazene, barium nitrate, and antimony trisulfide. This substitution maintains the detonation initiation capability while eliminating the toxicological parameters associated with lead compounds, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful factors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite primer composition consisting of multiple non-lead materials working together: cyanuric triazide (60%), barium nitrate (20%), antimony trisulfide (15%), and tetrazene (5%). This composite material system achieves the required detonation initiation performance without incorporating any lead-based substances, thus eliminating toxicity hazards while preserving functional reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The lead-free primer composition effectively initiates detonation of secondary explosives while eliminating the toxicity hazards associated with lead-based materials, ensuring safer handling and use in various applications.

Implementation Method 1

a lead-free primer energetic composition including Cyanuric Triazide (60%), Tetracene (5%), Barium Nitrate (20%) and Antimony Trisulfide (15%) is produced

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDetonation: Detonation

Implementation Method 2

Barium Nitrate (20%)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 3

Antimony Trisulfide (15%)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS7981225B1Lead free detonator and composition

Publication Date: 2011.07.19 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE AS REPRESENTED BY THE SEC OF THE ARMY

AI summary

A lead-free primer energetic composition including Cyanuric Triazide (60%), Tetracene (5%), Barium Nitrate (20%) and Antimony Trisulfide (15%) is produced. The lead-free primer energetic composition is used to construct a primary detonator including a transfer charge of Cyanuric Triazide, which produces a further initiation train that may subsequently detonate a secondary explosive, i.e., HDX, RDX, or a pyrotechnic device.