USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Vicki L Brady

Russell E Reed

A substantially inert composition has mechanical properties simulating corresponding properties of an energetic composition which may include a nitrate ester and may include a particulate organic energetic filler. A nitrate ester is replaced by a mixture of inert materials having densities less than and more than the density of the ester and present in proportions such that the mixture has substantially the density of the ester. A particulate energetic organic filler is replaced by a particulate inert organic chlorine derivative having substantially the same density. When the ester is 1,2,4-butanetriol trinitrate, which may function as a plasticizer in an elastomeric energetic composition, the less dense material is a non-volatile ester, such as dimethyl phthalate, and the more dense material includes a bromoaromatic derivative as in a mixture of pentabromodiphenyl ether and an aryl phosphate. When the particulate energetic organic material includes the energetic particulate material cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine the chlorine derivative is 1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10,13,14,14-dodecachloro-,1,4,4a,5,6,6a,7,10,10a,11,12,12a-d odecahydro-1,4,7,10-dimethanodibenzo (a,e) cyclooctene. With this chlorine derivative, the inert composition may include particulate aluminum in about the same proportion as the energetic composition.

Inert simulants for energetic materials

Elastomers having a polyurethane binder are formed from a mixture including tetrastar polyethylene oxide polyol with a molecular weight of at least 16000 daltons and a plasticizer present in a ratio of at least five parts by weight to one part of the polyol and provide high tensile strength, extreme elongation, great flexibility, and absence of voids. Energetic elastomers use a nitrate ester plasticizer with a curative having a functionality of at least three and an NCO/OH equivalent ratio of about 2.5 and may include an energetic particulate filler. Inert elastomers use a non-volatile ester plasticizer, as dimethyl phthalate, with a curative having a functionality of two and an NCO/OH equivalent ratio not over 2.0. Inert elastomers simulating mechanical properties of energetic elastomers including a nitrate ester use plasticizers, as a non-volatile ester and a mixture including a bromoaromatic derivative, having densities above and below the nitrate ester density, 1,2,4-butanetriol trinitrate being replaced with dimethyl phthalate and a mixture of pentabromodiphenyl ether and an aryl phosphate. A particulate energetic organic filler is simulated by an inert organic chlorine derivative of similar density, cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine being replaced by 1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10,13,14,14-dodecachloro-1,4,4a,5,6,6a,7,10,10a,11,12,12a-do decahydro-1,4,7,10-dimethanodibenzo (a,e) cyclooctene and permitting particulate aluminum to be used in the same proportions as in an energetic elastomer.

Highly plasticized elastomers

A flame extinguishing pyrotechnic which flamelessly deflagrates to produce rimarily nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and a fluoroolefin. The flame extinguishing characteristic is achieved by reducing the content of oxygen proximate the deflagration as well as through the flame suppressing properties of particular fluoroolefins. The pyrotechnic composition contains an azido binder such as glycidyl azide polymer (GAP), an azido plasticizer, a solid tetrazole, and a perfluorocarboxylic acid salt. This composition is cured to a rubbery composite by the addition of an isocyanate.

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Ridgecrest, CA, United States of America

Vicki L Brady