Explosive formulations

5942721
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Inventors

Dawson, Ralph Edward

Application #

107296

Filed

Jun-30-1998

Published

Aug-24-1999

Current US Class

149/11
149/92

International Classes

C06B 025/34; C06B 045/22

Field of Search

149/11 149/92

Assignee

Eastman Chemical Company (Kingsport, TN)

Examiners

Miller; Edward A.

US Patent References

5529649   Insensitive high per...
5547527   Process for the pro...
5587553   High performance...
5712511   Preparation of fine...

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Citation

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Abstract
Composition comprising 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitrohexaazoisonurtitane (CL-20) coated with a shock sensitivity reducing agent whereby the shock sensitivity of the composition is reduced a statistically significant amount.
 
Claims
I claim:

1. High energy explosive formulation characterized by reduced susceptibility to impact and sympathetic detonation due to shock forces, said composition comprising CL-20, and an anionic aliphatic shock sensitivity reducing agent, said shock sensitivity reducing agent being present in an amount effective to impart an increase in HDC Impact Value to the formulation which is statistically significant.

2. Formulation of claim 1 wherein the HDC Impact Value is at least 21.03 centimeters.

3. An explosive composition according to claim 1, wherein the shock sensitivity reducing agent is a sodium alkane sulfonate where the alkane group has 6-18 carbon atoms.

4. An explosive composition according to claim 3, wherein the shock sensitivity reducing agent is water soluble.



Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

For over a decade, the military has been devoting a large amount of research and development funding to research projects directed to reducing the impact and shock sensitivity of the main explosive charge in munitions. A main challenge is to reduce sensitivity of the main explosive charge without decreasing performance while also not significantly increasing cost. One of the main charge explosives in munitions formulations is a caged nitramine compound. The chemical name of the compound is 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitrohexaazoisonurtitane (CL-20). The only known practical way to reduce the sensitivity of these formulations is to increase the amount of inerts and less sensitive components therein and thus decrease the sensitivity of the formulation but this also reduces the performance of the formulation. Further, extensive discussion of this problem is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,659. In this patent it is stated that insensitive munitions must be developed to improve the combat survivability of an armament vehicle. It has been found that munitions utilized in some weapon systems are vulnerable to sympathetic detonation. For instance, the cannon caliber ammunition stored aboard these vehicles is vulnerable to initiation via shape charge jet and then propagation of the reaction due to sympathetic detonation.
 
  Composition comprising 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitrohexaazoisonurtitane (CL-20) coated with a shock sensitivity reducing agent whereby the shock sensitivity...  Composition comprising 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitrohexaazoisonurtitane (CL-20) coated with a shock sensitivity reducing agent whereby the shock sensitivity...