Alliant Techsystems Inc.

Cordant Technologies Inc.

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Thiokol Corporation

Orbital Atk, Inc.

Robert L Hatch

William P Sampson

Duane J Garbe

James D Dunaway

Kenneth E Lee

Robert D Taylor

Jerald C Hinshaw

Daniel W Doll

Paul C Braithwaite

Steven M Nicolich

Christos Capellos

Wendy A Balas

Ruth A Schaefer

Steve Nicolich

Mark Mezger

Donald Geiss, Jr

Steven Nicolich

Ray Beus

Jeffrey D Akester

Gas generators may be utilized for launching a projectile. Launch tubes may include gas generators. Methods of launching a projectile may include utilizing gas generators to impart an initial velocity to a projectile.

Gas generators, launch tubes including gas generators and related systems and methods

A method for processing explosives containing a high loading of CL-20 may advantageously include a binder system having naphthenic oil and/or paraffinic oil. Solid energetic ingredients are added into the binder system and mixed to form a free-flowing suspension in which the solid energetic ingredients are homogeneously mixed and coated with the binder system. The binder system is then cured and cast to form a cross-linked explosive.

Method for processing explosives containing 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.00]-dodecane (CL-20) with naphthenic and paraffinic oils

High performance aluminized explosive compositions for high performance, high blast, low sensitivity explosive applications are disclosed. The compositions include Cl-20, HMX, RDX, or another material as the explosive ingredient, a binder system of cellulose acetate butyrate and bis-dinitropropyl acetyl and bis-dinitropropyl formal, and aluminum. The explosive is preferably pressable and or/mixable to permit formation into grains suitable for ordnance and similar applications including grenades, warheads, landmines, demolition, etc. The aluminum fully participates in the detonation of said explosive, manifesting its energy into fully useable metal pushing energy suitable for shaped charges, explosively formed penetrators, fragmentation warheads, enhanced blast warheads, multipurpose warheads, and the like. The aluminum is substantially reacted at two volume expansions of the expanding gas, and fully reacted prior to seven volume expansions of the expanding gas.

High-blast explosive compositions containing particulate metal

An explosive composition having a main explosive and an additive, such as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. The explosive composition is resistant to slow cook-off. The main explosive includes Composition B or a Composition B replacement. The 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine is present in the explosive composition at less than or equal to approximately 5% by weight. An insensitive munition resistant to slow cook-off is also disclosed, as is a method of forming the explosive composition having a main explosive and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and a method of mitigating slow cook-off violence.

Additive for composition B and composition B replacements that mitigates slow cook-off violence

Method for processing explosives containing 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo &lsqb;5.5.0.05,903,11&rsqb;-dodecan (CL-20) with naphthenic and paraffinic oils

Apparatus for machining workpiece made of an explosive material, the apparatus including: a drive system and a cutting tool assembly for cutting a workpiece made of an explosive material; an elongate member carried by, and projecting along an axis from, the drive system for holding the workpiece at a machining location while being rotated about the axis by the drive system; and a first shield element interposed between the machining location and the drive system for protecting the drive system against damage in the event of explosion of the workpiece.

Apparatus for machining explosive materials

A water slurry method of making high performance explosive compositions and ordnances using the explosive compositions as an explosive ingredient for high performance, low sensitivity explosive applications is disclosed. The method involves combining an aqueous dispersion including CL-20 with a lacquer including at least one non-energetic binder and at least one plasticizer, then agitating the slurry to form CL-20 granules. The CL-20 may be present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of from about 85 wt % to about 96 wt %. The formulation is preferably sufficiently pressable and/or extrudable to permit it to be formed into grains suitable for ordnance and similar applications, including use as grenades, land mines, missile warheads, and demolition explosives.

Method for making high performance explosive formulations containing CL-20

High performance explosive compositions and ordnances using the explosive compositions as an explosive ingredient for high performance, low sensitivity explosive applications are disclosed. The explosive formulation includes CL-20 as an explosive ingredient, and a binder system including cellulose acetate butyrate as a non-energetic binder and bis-dinitropropyl acetal and bis-dinitropropyl formal as an energetic plasticizer. The CL-20 may be present in the explosive formulation in a concentration of from about 85 wt % to about 96 wt %. The formulation is preferably sufficiently pressable and/or extrudable to permit it to be formed into grains suitable for ordnance and similar applications, including use as grenades, land mines, missile warheads, and demolition explosives.

High performance explosive containing CL-20

Methods and materials for modifying rocket motors to render them safer are disclosed. The invention is primarily related to placing within the bore of a rocket motor a sufficient quantity of a material mitigant such that if the rocket motor receives an unintended impact, the material mitigates the effects of the impact, and prevents ignition or explosion of the propellant. The material mitigant may take a number of forms; however, polymer foams and fibers of various types have been found to work well. It is presently preferred that the material mitigants have a density of not less than approximately 0.04 grams/cc. Examples of such materials include polyurethane foam, polystyrene, and Kevlar.RTM. fibers. It is also preferred that the material mitigant not be reactive with the propellant in the rocket motor. While the material mitigant is configured such that it absorbs fragments or energy of propellant dislodged by the impact, at the same time it does not interfere with the normal ignition and operation of the rocket motor.

Bore mitigants for solid propellant rocket motors

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Wellsville, UT, United States of America

Robert L Hatch