Explosive and thermic compositions or charges

SECTION I - CLASS DEFINITION

This class includes:

(A) Compositions which are:

(1) Explosive; explosive compositions for the purpose of this class are those containing both a fuel and sufficient oxygen or an oxidizer so that, upon initiation, they are capable of undergoing a chemical change at a relatively high rate of speed, or a speed approaching instantaneous, resulting in the production of usable force through chemical change in the composition to produce gaseous products and usually heat, and are used for blasting, firearms, jet propulsion of rockets, vehicles, etc., rapidly filling automotive passenger-restraining gas-bags, etc. See Glossary, below.

(2) "Thermite"; "Thermite-type" compositions for the purpose of this class include; (a) a consumable fuel component which is any of metal (alloy and intermetallic compounds), metal-metalloid compounds, metalloids, and hydrides of metals or metalloids; (b) and in combination therewith an oxidant component which is either a metal oxide, inorganic oxygen salts and organic metal salts capable of yielding a metal oxide on decomposition, which components, depending upon the manner reacted, produce quantities of heat and chemical by-products, either solid or fluid which by-products may be recoverable. These compositions, by way of examples, are employed to produce usable heat and light, chemical products and especially metals, in pyrotechnics and incendiary, match compositions and smokes and for explosive priming or as additives for explosive compositions.