A chemical reaction between molten aluminum and an oxygen carrier such as water to do useful work is disclosed, and in particular two chemical methods to obtain aluminum in its molten state. One is to detonate a HE/Al mixture with surplus Al in stoichiometry, and the other is to use an oxidizer/Al mixture with surplus Al in stoichiometry. Additionally, there is a physical method of shocking and heating Al using high temperature reaction products. The produced Al in its liquid form is forced to react with an oxygen carrying liquid (e.g. water), giving off heat and releasing hydrogen gas or other gaseous material. A water solution of some oxygen-rich chemicals (e.g. ammonium nitrate) can be advantageously used in place of water. A shaped charge is also disclosed having a liner that contains aluminum, propelled by a high explosive such as RDX or its mixture with aluminum powder. Some aluminum in its molten state is projected into the perforation and forced to react with water that also enters the perforation, creating another explosion, fracturing the crushed zone of the perforation and initializing cracks. Another shaped charge is shown having a liner of energetic material such as a mixture of aluminum powder and a metal oxide. Upon detonation, the collapsed liner carries kinetic and thermal energy. Also shown are methods to build and to detonate or fire explosive devices in an oxygen carrying liquid (e.g. water) to perforate and stimulate a hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

Use of aluminum in perforating and stimulating a subterranean formation and other engineering applications

A munition, such as a projectile formed of at least one reactive material, is provided. In one embodiment, the projectile includes a body portion formed of at least one reactive material composition wherein the at least one reactive material composition defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the projectile. In other words, a portion of the reactive material may be left “unbuffered” or exposed to the barrel of a gun or weapon from which it is launched and similarly exposed to a target with which the projectile subsequently impacts. In one embodiment, the projectile may be formed with a jacket surrounding a portion of the reactive material to provide additional structural integrity. The projectile may be formed by casting or pressing the reactive material into a desired shape. In another embodiment of the invention, the reactive material may be extruded into a near-net shape and then machined into the desired shape.

Reactive material enhanced projectiles and related methods

A low-solids gas generating composition, which is a mixture of a fuel selected for the group consisting of cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, and mixtures thereof, and an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, a combination of ammonium nitrate with potassium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, or mixtures thereof, such that the combination is a solid solution, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof. The combination of ammonium nitrate with other salts in solid solution is intended to phase stabilize the ammonium nitrate. The oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance. Useful alkali metal salts include lithium carbonate, lithium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and mixtures thereof. The preferred oxidizers for the gas generating composition of the invention are ceric ammonium nitrate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof. In addition, the gas generating composition may include an energizing agent, such as RDX or HMX. The gas generating composition of the invention may further comprise sub-micron fumed silica to reduce moisture contamination and serve as a processing and powder flow aid and/or a binder, and may be in the form of pressed pellets, grains, or granules.

Gas generating compositions

A reactive material for use as a reactive liner in penetrating (shape-charge) warheads and for use in reactive fragments in fragmenting warheads is disclosed. The reactive material comprises an oxidizing agent and a metal filler or metal/metal oxide filler. The oxidizing agent comprises a fluoropolymer having high fluorine content, a low melt temperature, and a high mechanical strength. Preferably, the fluoropolymer is a thermoplastic fluoropolymer, such as a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride. The metal filler comprises a high density, reactive metal. Preferably, the metal filler is hafnium or tantalum. The reactive material is safely processed at temperatures significantly below the thermal autoignition point of the reactive material.

Low temperature, extrudable, high density, reactive materials

A reactive material that includes at least one of a fuel, an oxidizer, and a class 11 explosive and is formulated for use in a reactive material projectile The reactive material is formulated to provide at least one of an overpressure of greater than approximately 9 pounds per square inch at a radial measurement of 12 inches from a point of impact on a target, a hole greater than approximately 2 square inches at an optimum penetration level in a target, and pressure, damage, and a flame when the reactive material bullet impacts a target The fuel may be a metal, a fusible metal alloy, an organic fuel, or mixtures thereof The oxidizer may be an inorganic oxidizer, sulfur, a fluoropolymer, or mixtures thereof A reactive material projectile having the reactive material disposed therein is also disclosed

Reactive material enhanced munition compositions and projectiles containing same

An insensitive high explosive is obtained by using a dicyandiamide (DCDA), ammonium nitrate (AN), guanidine nitrate (GN), ethylene diamine dinitrate (EDDN) eutectic melt binder in combination with ammonium perchlorate (AP) oxidizer, fine RDX (1 μm to 10 μm particle size), and aluminum metal as a fuel. The fine RDX particles improve performance, boosterability, and sensitivity. The inclusion of AP greatly improves air blast by adding oxygen to the reaction and insuring complete combustion of the ingredients. The aluminum extends the pressure pulse. The ratio of materials is formulated to obtain the lowest known processing temperature.

Joey M. Reed

Papers

Aluminized eutectic bonded insensitive high explosive