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Patent 4948438 Click For Printable Version of This Patent
Patent Information:  USPTO Site Listing

Patent Number: 4948438
Case ID: 0
Patent Title: Intermolecular complex explosives
Status: INACTIVE
Status Date: 7/7/2008 10:47:19 AM
Issue Date: 8/14/1990
Filed Date: 11/13/1989
Serial #: 435636
Assignee Name: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air (Washington, DC)
Inventor(s): Patrick, Michael A. , Aubert, Stephen A.
Lab Information:  View Lab Profile

Lab Name: AFRL - Munitions Directorate
Location: 101 W. Eglin Blvd, Bldg 13
Eglin AFB, FL 32542-6810
Contact: Contact Lab About This Patent
   
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to explosives, particularly to explosive compositions based upon ammonium nitrate.

Traditional general-purpose explosives comprise trinitrotoluene (TNT), which has several disadvantages. It is a Class-A explosive, requiring special mixing and handling procedures and storage facilities, all accordingly increasing the cost of use. The preparation of this explosive is through nitrate substitution of toluene by a mixed acid consisting of concentrated nitric acid and sulphuric acid. The cost of concentrated nitric acid is moderately expensive and any excess nitric acid in the product destabilizes the explosive and presents corrosion problems. Trinitrotoluene is not water soluble and bomb disposal cannot be done economically by steam or hot water.

It is known to produce cast high explosive compositions by solidification of a molten mixture of ammonium nitrate (AN) . . . . More
Abstract:
A melt/cast explosive composition comprising about 20 to 100 wt. % of a binary complex of ammonium nitrate (AN) and methyl nitroguanidine (MeNQ) in a molar ratio of about 0.55:1 to 1.35:1. This binary complex may be used alone or it may be formulated with up to about 80 wt. % compatible fuels and/or oxidizers to tailor the formulation for specific military or commercial applications.
Claims:
We claim:

1. A melt/cast explosive composition comprising about 20 to 100 wt. % of a binary complex of ammonium nitrate and methylnitroguanidine in a molar ratio of about 0.55:1 to 1.35:1.

2. The explosive composition of claim 1 containing about 0.1 to about 25 wt. % of at least one melting point depressant.

3. The explosive composition of claim 2 wherein said melting point depressant is selected from the group consisting of nitroguanidine, guanidine nitrate, aminoguanidine nitrate, urea, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, lithium nitrate, calcium nitrate and ammonium perchlorate.

4. The explosive composition of claim 1 containing up to about 80 wt. % of at least one other fuel-rich or oxidizer-rich component.

5. The explosive composition of claim 4 wherein said other component is selected from the group consisting of nitroguanidine, RDX, HMX, PETN, ammonium perchlorate and aluminum powder.

6.  . . . . More