Patent Application
20220371970
The present disclosure relates to explosives and more particularly to explosives with a broad range of performance for various applications.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
The problem is a need to have an explosive or series of explosives with a broad range of performance for various research, government, and commercial applications where performance is varied across a broad range to meet the requirements while minimizing the collateral risk for various applications. Examples include experimental research to test the response of a sample, or other applications where low to medium performance is desired. The current state of the art to cover a large range of detonation performance space is to use a variety of different explosives that have a number of issues in terms of handling, safety, settling/changing, reproducibility, multiple physical phases, varying or suboptimal mechanical properties, and variable performance of single explosives due to loading and fielding challenges. It is especially difficult to satisfy the low performance regime reliably and safely as most materials with low performance (Chapman Jouguet pressures in the range of 10-100 kbars) are difficult to reliably initiate and/or have poor repeatability. Most low performance explosives are loose packed powders, poorly mixed binary formulations, or volatile liquids all leading to poor reproducibility.
Features and advantages of the disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods will become apparent from the following description. Applicant is providing this description, which includes drawings and examples of specific embodiments, to give a broad representation of the apparatus, systems, and methods. Various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the application will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this description and by practice of the apparatus, systems, and methods. The scope of the apparatus, systems, and methods is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed and the application covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the apparatus, systems, and methods as defined by the claims.
Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods provide a family of explosive formulations with tunable performance over a large range that are highly reproducible (detonation velocity, Chapman-Jouguet pressure, etc.). These highly tunable formulations are novel as they allow for a wide range of detonation performance with a small number of ingredients in varying ratios to tune detonation performance, cast-ability/rheology, and mechanical properties. Furthermore, these formulations can have a broad range of performances (Chapman-Jouguet pressures 30 to +200 kbars, detonation velocities from approximately 3.5 km/s to +7 km/s) and still maintain a high reproducibility of performance from sample to sample for a given performance-material, something unachievable with the current method of using a series of different explosives to cover the same performance space. Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are very reproducible for a specific performance, and reproducible for other performances. For example, if one makes a 60 kbar formulation and you make it and cast it the same way it will come out to 60 kbars.
Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods uses materials previously known in explosive formulations (explosive powders and thermosetting polymeric binders like silicones and polyurethanes); however, the combination of sufficiently sensitive explosive powders and these binders allows for low performance formulations that sustain detonation (i.e. maintain a constant detonation velocity until the charge is consumed), are easy to formulate and cast, and are highly reproducible. Producing such low detonation performance reproducibly was a surprise and was not like anything found in the sparse literature. Because of the lack of similar combinations of materials in the literature and due to the unexpected results, Applicants believe this is a non-obvious combination of known materials with useful results. This is also non-obvious because rarely (if ever) are explosives intended to have low performance, or span a broad range of performance, instead explosive researchers are generally trying to increase performance and/or target a specific performance. However, this family of explosive formulations is quite useful for a multitude of research, government, and commercial applications where a known detonation performance is required to measure another explosive or inert samples response to the known applied input, or to perform a certain function with minimal collateral risk to items or personnel nearby.
Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used as research explosives were a known performance (pressure, detonation velocity) with high reproducibility for a multitude of detonation experiments or situations were detonation, sensitivity testing, high strain rate properties measurement, or just a known performance is desired. Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used for governmental purposes; for example, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used by police to blow open doors where a known detonation performance with high reproducibility is required. Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used for commercial purposes; for example, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used as oil well perforators to penetrate casing where a known detonation performance with high reproducibility is required, or as demolition charges where a known detonation performance with high reproducibility is required.
The apparatus, systems, and methods are susceptible to modifications and alternative forms. Specific embodiments are shown by way of example. It is to be understood that the apparatus, systems, and methods are not limited to the particular forms disclosed. The apparatus, systems, and methods cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the application as defined by the claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate specific embodiments of the apparatus, systems, and methods and, together with the general description given above, and the detailed description of the specific embodiments, serves to explain the principles of the apparatus, systems, and methods.
Referring to the drawings, to the following detailed description, and to incorporated materials, detailed information about the apparatus, systems, and methods is provided including the description of specific embodiments. The detailed description serves to explain the principles of the apparatus, systems, and methods. The apparatus, systems, and methods are susceptible to modifications and alternative forms. The application is not limited to the particular forms disclosed. The application covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the apparatus, systems, and methods as defined by the claims.
The term “low performance explosive as used in this application means: “an explosive that detonates with a reaction velocity of less than 4 km/s (13,123 feet per second).”
The term “medium performance explosive” as used in this application means: “an explosive that detonates with a reaction velocity over 4 km/s (13,123 feet per second) and less than 6 km/s (19,685 feet per second).”
The term “high performance explosive” as used in this application means: “an explosive that detonates with a reaction velocity over 6 km/s 19,685 feet per second).”
Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are family of cast-cure, plastic bonded explosive formulations including three components, explosive powder, polymer resin and silica or other inert filler, where the detonation performance can be varied across a large performance space by changing the identity of the explosive (HMX, RDX, PETN, etc.) and the amount of explosive powder in the formulation. Formulations are designed to be easy to mix, handle, load/cast into molds, store and transport. Formulation and ease of processing result in minimal density gradients creating explosive charges with highly reproducible performance properties suitable for research or other applications. The performance can span very low to high performance ranges in formulations that are mechanically robust and have very similar mechanical properties.
Referring now to
102—explosive apparatus,
104—explosive powder,
106—polymer resin, and
108—inert filler.
The description of the structural components of the Applicants' explosive apparatus, systems, and methods embodiment 100 having been completed, the operation and additional description of the Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods embodiment will now be considered in greater detail.
Applicant's explosive apparatus 102 is a cast-cure, plastic bonded explosive formulation. The explosive can be cast to specific shapes and then cured in place, avoiding the need for machining precision parts. The identity of the explosive powder 104, its morphology and powder size distribution, and its ratio in the formulation determine the initiation sensitivity and the detonation performance of the explosive apparatus 102. The polymer resin 106 determines the maximum ratio of explosive powder to polymer resin and the ease of incorporation of the explosive powder, the ease of pour-casting, the performance and in combination with the inert filler 108 the mechanical properties of the resulting composite formulation. The inert filler 108 solids loading percentage and identity determine the uncured rheological properties, and the mechanical properties of cured composite formulation.
The explosive 104 in various embodiments can be, but are not limited to the explosives listed below:
1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazoctane, (HMX) explosive,
1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane, (RDX) explosive,
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) explosive,
1,3,5-Triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) explosive,
2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105) explosive, and/or
2,2′,4,4′,6,6′-hexanitrostilbene (HNS) explosive.
The polymer resin 106 in various embodiments can be, but is not limited to the polymer resins listed below:
silicone polymer resin,
polyurethane polymer resin,
a 2-part epoxy resin, and/or
a 2-part thermosetting polymeric binder resin.
The inert filler 108 in various embodiments can be, but is not limited to the inert fillers listed below:
fumed silica inert filler,
carbon nanotubes,
carbon fiber,
fiberglass,
hydrophobic silica inert filler, and/or
silica inert filler.
Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods overcome the issues of using a series of difficult to handle explosive formulations by using a single explosive powder diluted with a polymeric resin to make a family of formulations with a wide performance range. Due to the cured polymer holding everything together and the simplicity of the ingredients the formulations are highly reproducible, easy to load and handle, safer and more mechanically stable then loose powders and liquids.
Referring now to
202—explosive apparatus,
204—explosive powder,
206—polymer resin,
208—inert filler,
210—admixture (mix components by suitable means to a desired homogeneity), and
212—Cast.
The description of the steps of the Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods embodiment 200 having been completed, the operation and additional description of Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods embodiment will now be considered in greater detail.
Applicant's explosive apparatus 202 is a cast-cure, plastic bonded explosive formulation. The explosive can be cast to specific shapes and then cured in place, avoiding the need for machining precision parts. The identity of the explosive powder 204, its morphology and powder size distribution, and its ratio in the formulation determine the initiation sensitivity and the detonation performance of the explosive apparatus 202. The detonation performance can be varied across a large performance space by changing the identity of the explosive powder 204 (HMX, RDX, PETN, etc.) and the amount of explosive powder in the formulation.
The polymer resin 206 determines the maximum ratio of explosive powder to polymer resin and the ease of incorporation of the explosive powder, the ease of pour-casting, the performance and in combination with the inert filler 208, and the mechanical properties of the resulting composite formulation. The inert filler 208 solids loading percentage and identity determine the uncured rheological properties, and the mechanical properties of cured composite formulation. The combination of sufficiently sensitive explosive powders 204 and these binders 206 allows for low performance formulations that sustain detonation (i.e. maintain a constant detonation velocity until the charge is consumed), are easy to formulate and cast, and are highly reproducible.
The explosive powder 204 in various embodiments can be, but are not limited to the explosives listed below:
1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazoctane, (HMX) explosive,
1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane, (RDX) explosive,
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) explosive,
1,3,5-Triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) explosive,
2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105) explosive, and/or
2,2′,4,4′,6,6′-hexanitrostilbene (HNS) explosive.
The polymer resin 106 in various embodiments can be, but is not limited to the polymer resins listed below:
silicone polymer resin,
polyurethane polymer resin,
a 2-part epoxy resin, and/or
a 2-part thermosetting polymeric binder resin.
The inert filler 108 in various embodiments can be, but is not limited to the inert fillers listed below:
fumed silica inert filler,
carbon nanotubes,
carbon fiber,
fiberglass,
hydrophobic silica inert filler, and/or
silica inert filler.
Step 210 is the forming of an admixture of a pre-cure castable explosive composition of said explosive powder, said polymer resin, and said inert filler. The admixture is placed in a cast of desired shape and scale to form the explosive 202.
Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used as research explosives were a known performance (pressure, detonation velocity) with high reproducibility for a multitude of detonation experiments or situations were detonation, sensitivity testing, high strain rate properties measurement, or just a known performance is desired. Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used for governmental purposes; for example, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used by police to blow open doors where a known detonation performance with high reproducibility is required. Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used for commercial purposes; for example, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used oil well perforators to penetrate casing or as demolition charges where a known detonation performance with high reproducibility is required.
Referring now to
302—explosive apparatus,
304—explosive powder,
306—polymer resin, and
308—inert filler.
The description of the structural components of the Applicants' explosive apparatus, systems, and methods embodiment 300 having been completed, the operation and additional description of the Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods embodiment will now be considered in greater detail.
Applicant's explosive apparatus 302 is a cast-cure, plastic bonded explosive formulation. The explosive can be cast to specific shapes and then cured in place, avoiding the need for machining precision parts. The identity of the explosive powder 304, its morphology and powder size distribution, and its ratio in the formulation determine the initiation sensitivity and the detonation performance of the explosive apparatus 302. The detonation performance can be varied across a large performance space by changing the identity of the explosive powder 304 (HMX, RDX, PETN, etc.) and the amount of explosive powder in the formulation.
The polymer resin 306 determines the maximum ratio of explosive powder to polymer resin and the ease of incorporation of the explosive powder, the ease of pour-casting, the performance and in combination with the inert filler 308 the mechanical properties of the resulting composite formulation. The inert filler 308 solids loading percentage and identity determine the uncured rheological properties, and the mechanical properties of cured composite formulation. The combination of highly sensitive explosive powders 304 and these binders 306 allows for low performance formulations that sustain detonation (i.e. maintain a constant detonation velocity until the charge is consumed), are easy to formulate and cast, and are highly reproducible.
The explosive powder 304 in various embodiments can be, but are not limited to the explosives listed below:
1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazoctane, (HMX) explosive,
1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane, (RDX) explosive,
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) explosive,
1,3,5-Triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) explosive,
2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105) explosive, and/or
2,2′,4,4′,6,6′-hexanitrostilbene (HNS) explosive.
The polymer resin 106 in various embodiments can be, but is not limited to the polymer resins listed below:
silicone polymer resin,
polyurethane polymer resin,
a 2-part epoxy resin, and/or
a 2-part thermosetting polymeric binder resin.
The inert filler 108 in various embodiments can be, but is not limited to the inert fillers listed below:
fumed silica inert filler,
carbon nanotubes,
carbon fiber,
fiberglass,
hydrophobic silica inert filler, and/or
silica inert filler.
In various embodiments, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are an explosive with reduced detonation performance, consisting of: an explosive powder that detonates with a reaction velocity of less than 6 km/s (19,685 feet per second), a polymer resin, and an inert filler. In one embodiment, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are an explosive with reduced detonation performance wherein the explosive powder is an explosive powder that detonates with a reaction velocity of less than 4 km/s (13,123 feet per second). In another embodiment, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are and explosive with reduced detonation performance wherein the explosive powder is 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazoctane, (HMX) explosive powder, 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane, (RDX) explosive powder, Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) explosive powder, 1,3,5-Triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) explosive powder, 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105) explosive powder, and/or 2,2′,4,4′,6,6′-hexanitrostilbene (HNS) explosive powder. In one embodiment, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are an explosive with reduced detonation performance wherein the polymer resin is silicone polymer resin, polyurethane polymer resin, 2-part epoxy resin, and/ or 2-part thermosetting polymeric binder resin. In one embodiment, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are an explosive with reduced detonation performance wherein the inert filler is fumed silica inert filler, hydrophobic silica inert filler, silica inert filler, carbon nanotubes, carbon fiber, fiberglass.
In various embodiments, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are an explosive apparatus, comprising: an explosive powder, a polymer resin, and an inert filler. In one embodiment, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are an explosive apparatus wherein the explosive powder is 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazoctane, (HMX) explosive powder. In another embodiment, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are an explosive apparatus of wherein the explosive powder is 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane, (RDX) explosive powder. In one embodiment, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are an explosive apparatus wherein the explosive powder is Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) explosive powder. In one embodiment, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are an explosive apparatus wherein the explosive powder is 1,3,5-Triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) explosive powder. In one embodiment, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are an explosive apparatus wherein the explosive powder is 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105) explosive powder. In one embodiment, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods are an explosive apparatus of claim the explosive powder is 2,2′,4,4′,6,6′-hexanitrostilbene (HNS) explosive powder.
The broad range of performance and reproducibility for a given admixture makes these materials well suited for testing explosive response to various shock pressures. A common example of such an experiment is a “gap” test where Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods invention is used to replace the standard donor explosive and the inert attenuators that augment the shock pressure input to the acceptor explosive as the shock from the donor charge attenuates as it transits the inert “gap”. The gap test coarsely measures the relative shock initiability of one explosive compared to another in the same test set-up. In the test, a series of explosive formulations from Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used to increase the range of input shock pressures achievable in a test series and would also have the added benefit of minimizing changes in shock-front diameter and pulse length transiting the inert attenuator.
In a similar fashion, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be used to generate a series of shock pressure drives for shock to detonation experiments instead of using a large and costly propellant driven projectile.
When police are attempting to breach building doors with explosives it is important that the explosive be highly reproducible, reliable, and a precise detonation power. If the explosive used to breach a door has performance lower than needed it will fail to breach the door. If the explosive used to breach a door has performance higher than needed it will breach the door but may cause unwanted collateral damage and injury. Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods provide a reliable explosive that is highly reproducible. In one embodiment, Applicant's explosive used by police apparatus, systems, and methods provide a low performance explosive that is highly reproducible and reliable. Applicant's explosive powder includes an explosive powder that detonates with a reaction velocity of less than 4 km/s (13,123 feet per second), a polymer resin, and an inert filler. Applicant's explosive used by police has sufficient detonation power to breach a door but not excessive detonation power to cause unwanted collateral damage and injury.
Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can replace the explosives used on shape-charges utilized in existing oil-well perforators. An advantage is further control of the fracture pattern in the well casing and rock by selecting the appropriate explosive drive for the intended fracture pattern. It is important that the explosive be highly reproducible, reliable, and a precise detonation power. If the explosive has performance lower than needed it will fail to penetrate the casing. If the explosive has performance higher than needed it will penetrate the casing but may cause unwanted penetration of the formation. Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods provide a reliable explosive that is highly reproducible. In one embodiment, Applicant's explosive used by police apparatus, systems, and methods provide a low performance explosive that is highly reproducible and reliable. Applicant's explosive powder includes an explosive powder that detonates with a reaction velocity of less than 4 km/s (13,123 feet per second), a polymer resin, and an inert filler. Applicant's explosive has sufficient detonation power to penetrate the casing but not excessive detonation power to cause unwanted penetration of the formation.
Similarly, Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods can be utilized as the explosive in existing demolition explosives to create reliable, low performance explosives used in construction demolition operations. The advantage is greater control over the explosive performance which has the added benefit of greater control over energy deposition minimizing unnecessary energy accelerating fragments and debris that require additional protective measures. Applicant's explosive apparatus, systems, and methods provide a reliable explosive that is highly reproducible. In one embodiment, Applicant's explosive is highly reproducible and reliable. Applicant's explosive powder includes an explosive powder that detonates with a reaction velocity of less than 4 km/s (13,123 feet per second), a polymer resin, and an inert filler. Applicant's explosive has sufficient detonation power for the demolition but not excessive detonation power to cause unwanted collateral damage and injury.
Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present application fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art. In the claims, reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present apparatus, systems, and methods, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element or component in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element or component is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”
While the apparatus, systems, and methods may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the application is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the application is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the application as defined by the following appended claims.
This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-AC52-07NA27344 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
