US3488237A - Cast flare composition of magnesium or titanium dispersed in a matrix - Google Patents
Cast flare composition of magnesium or titanium dispersed in a matrix Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3488237A US3488237A US794781*A US3488237DA US3488237A US 3488237 A US3488237 A US 3488237A US 3488237D A US3488237D A US 3488237DA US 3488237 A US3488237 A US 3488237A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- matrix
- sodium
- cast
- magnesium
- nitrate
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 title description 16
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 title description 10
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical group [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title description 6
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 title description 6
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 title description 6
- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title description 5
- 239000010936 titanium Substances 0.000 title description 5
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 title description 5
- VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium nitrate Chemical compound [Na+].[O-][N+]([O-])=O VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 14
- ZNCPFRVNHGOPAG-UHFFFAOYSA-L sodium oxalate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-]C(=O)C([O-])=O ZNCPFRVNHGOPAG-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 12
- 229940039790 sodium oxalate Drugs 0.000 description 12
- ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N calcium nitrate Chemical compound [Ca+2].[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- LPXPTNMVRIOKMN-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium nitrite Chemical compound [Na+].[O-]N=O LPXPTNMVRIOKMN-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 10
- 235000010344 sodium nitrate Nutrition 0.000 description 7
- 239000004317 sodium nitrate Substances 0.000 description 7
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 5
- 235000010288 sodium nitrite Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000011833 salt mixture Substances 0.000 description 4
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 description 3
- 229910002651 NO3 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- NHNBFGGVMKEFGY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nitrate Chemical compound [O-][N+]([O-])=O NHNBFGGVMKEFGY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 description 3
- IOVCWXUNBOPUCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M Nitrite anion Chemical compound [O-]N=O IOVCWXUNBOPUCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- DJASATCYHSJQQB-UHFFFAOYSA-N [N+](=O)([O-])[O-].[Na+].[N+](=O)([O-])[O-].[Ca+2] Chemical compound [N+](=O)([O-])[O-].[Na+].[N+](=O)([O-])[O-].[Ca+2] DJASATCYHSJQQB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- SFMPXQZCXWDLJK-UHFFFAOYSA-M disodium;nitrate;nitrite Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-]N=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O SFMPXQZCXWDLJK-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- 230000005496 eutectics Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011368 organic material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910001963 alkali metal nitrate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001340 alkali metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910001964 alkaline earth metal nitrate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004880 explosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
- C06C—DETONATING OR PRIMING DEVICES; FUSES; CHEMICAL LIGHTERS; PYROPHORIC COMPOSITIONS
- C06C15/00—Pyrophoric compositions; Flints
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
- C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
- C06B33/00—Compositions containing particulate metal, alloy, boron, silicon, selenium or tellurium with at least one oxygen supplying material which is either a metal oxide or a salt, organic or inorganic, capable of yielding a metal oxide
- C06B33/12—Compositions containing particulate metal, alloy, boron, silicon, selenium or tellurium with at least one oxygen supplying material which is either a metal oxide or a salt, organic or inorganic, capable of yielding a metal oxide the material being two or more oxygen-yielding compounds
- C06B33/14—Compositions containing particulate metal, alloy, boron, silicon, selenium or tellurium with at least one oxygen supplying material which is either a metal oxide or a salt, organic or inorganic, capable of yielding a metal oxide the material being two or more oxygen-yielding compounds at least one being an inorganic nitrogen-oxygen salt
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S149/00—Explosive and thermic compositions or charges
- Y10S149/116—Flare contains resin
Definitions
- Cast pyrotechnic flares for emitting yellow light have magnesium or titanium dispersed in a matrix of sodium oxalate, sodium nitrate and calcium nitrate or sodium nitrite.
- This invention relates to colored illuminating flares and more particularly to cast pyrotechnic flares that burn to provide yellow light.
- Pyrotechnic flares giving yellow light have heretofore been conventionally prepared by compressing a mixture of sodium nitrite, sodium oxalate, organic binder and a metal fuel. Such compressed flares, containing organic material are impact sensitive and Will almost invariably ignite when hit by, for example, 30-caliber ball ammunition at a distance of 200 yards.
- Tepper has cast pyrotechnics in which a finely divided metal fuel is dispersed in a matrix of oxidizing salts such as alkali metal and alkaline earth metal nitrates. Cast pyrotechnics are desirable in that they are free of organic material, have a high density and are highly uniform.
- a high intensity yellow flare that is substantially less sensitive to ballistic impact than prior flares, contains finely divided magnesium or titanium dispersed in a matrix of sodium oxalate, sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite or sodium oxalate, sodium nitrate and calcium nitrate.
- sodium oxalate can be dissolved, without decomposition, in molt-en mixtures of sodium nitrate-sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate-calcium nitrate.
- the metal fuel is mixed into the molten salts and the mixture is cooled to freeze the salt mixture forming a solid continuous phase, or matrix, in which the metal is dispersed.
- the flares may contain 20-25 weight percent metal fuel, the remainder being the salt mixture of oxidizer and colorant. Suitable salt mixtures contain from 30-50 weight percent sodium oxalate, the remainder being a low melting mixture of sodium nitrate-sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate-calcium nitrate. With less than about 30 percent sodium oxalate, the color intensity is poor and with over about 50 percent sodium oxalate, the mixture does not burn reliably.
- the linear burning rate that is the rate at which a burning front proceeds lengthwise along a flare ignited at one end, decreases from about 5 inches per minute to about 3 inches per minute, when the sodium oxalate is increased from 30 to 50 percent. The color intensity varies inversely with burning rate.
- the low melting mixtures are preferably eutectics; namely, 52 weight percent sodium nitrate-48 percent calcium nitrate melting at 232 C. and 55 weight percent sodium nitratepercent sodium nitrite melting at 226 C. Other mixtures melting below about 300 C. may be used.
- the flares of this invention are highly resistant to accidental ignition or explosion by ballistic impact. For example, they are non-igniting when struck by 30-caliber ammunition, either ball or armor piercing, fired at a distance of 30 feet or greater.
- a flare composition for yellow illumination having finely divided magnesium, titanium or mixtures thereof dispersed in a matrix of solidified molten salt mixtures consisting essentially of (a) sodium oxalate, (b) sodium nitrate, and (c) a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate, or mixtures thereof.
- composition according to claim 1 containing about 20-25 percent dispersed phase.
- composition according to claim 2 in which the matrix contains from about 30 to 50 percent sodium oxalate.
- composition according to claim 3 in which the remainder of the matrix consists of 52 percent sodium nitrate and 48 percent calcium nitrate.
- composition according to claim 2 in which the remainder of the matrix consists of 55 percent sodium nitrate and 45 percent sodium nitrite.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)
Description
United States Patent 3,488,237 CAST FLARE COMPOSITION OF MAGNESIUM OR TITANIUM DISPERSED IN A MATRIX Ralph H. Hiltz, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Mine Safety Appliances Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania N0 Drawing. Filed Jan. 28, 1969, Ser. No. 794,781
Int. Cl. C06d 1/10 US. Cl. 149-20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Cast pyrotechnic flares for emitting yellow light have magnesium or titanium dispersed in a matrix of sodium oxalate, sodium nitrate and calcium nitrate or sodium nitrite.
This invention relates to colored illuminating flares and more particularly to cast pyrotechnic flares that burn to provide yellow light.
Pyrotechnic flares giving yellow light have heretofore been conventionally prepared by compressing a mixture of sodium nitrite, sodium oxalate, organic binder and a metal fuel. Such compressed flares, containing organic material are impact sensitive and Will almost invariably ignite when hit by, for example, 30-caliber ball ammunition at a distance of 200 yards. In United States Patent 3,370,537, Tepper has cast pyrotechnics in which a finely divided metal fuel is dispersed in a matrix of oxidizing salts such as alkali metal and alkaline earth metal nitrates. Cast pyrotechnics are desirable in that they are free of organic material, have a high density and are highly uniform.
In accordance with this invention, a high intensity yellow flare, that is substantially less sensitive to ballistic impact than prior flares, contains finely divided magnesium or titanium dispersed in a matrix of sodium oxalate, sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite or sodium oxalate, sodium nitrate and calcium nitrate. I have found that sodium oxalate can be dissolved, without decomposition, in molt-en mixtures of sodium nitrate-sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate-calcium nitrate. The metal fuel is mixed into the molten salts and the mixture is cooled to freeze the salt mixture forming a solid continuous phase, or matrix, in which the metal is dispersed.
The flares may contain 20-25 weight percent metal fuel, the remainder being the salt mixture of oxidizer and colorant. Suitable salt mixtures contain from 30-50 weight percent sodium oxalate, the remainder being a low melting mixture of sodium nitrate-sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate-calcium nitrate. With less than about 30 percent sodium oxalate, the color intensity is poor and with over about 50 percent sodium oxalate, the mixture does not burn reliably. The linear burning rate, that is the rate at which a burning front proceeds lengthwise along a flare ignited at one end, decreases from about 5 inches per minute to about 3 inches per minute, when the sodium oxalate is increased from 30 to 50 percent. The color intensity varies inversely with burning rate. The low melting mixtures are preferably eutectics; namely, 52 weight percent sodium nitrate-48 percent calcium nitrate melting at 232 C. and 55 weight percent sodium nitratepercent sodium nitrite melting at 226 C. Other mixtures melting below about 300 C. may be used.
Illustrative of this invention, 5 parts. of sodium nitratecalcium nitrate eutectic was melted and 3 parts of sodium oxalate was added to and dissolved in the melt. Two parts of 70 mesh magnesium was mixed into the melt and the resultant slurry was cast into a flare mold. A 350 gram flare 7 inches long burned for 2 minutes giving an intense yellow light.
The flares of this invention are highly resistant to accidental ignition or explosion by ballistic impact. For example, they are non-igniting when struck by 30-caliber ammunition, either ball or armor piercing, fired at a distance of 30 feet or greater.
I claim:
1. A flare composition for yellow illumination having finely divided magnesium, titanium or mixtures thereof dispersed in a matrix of solidified molten salt mixtures consisting essentially of (a) sodium oxalate, (b) sodium nitrate, and (c) a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate, or mixtures thereof.
2. A composition according to claim 1 containing about 20-25 percent dispersed phase.
3. A composition according to claim 2 in which the matrix contains from about 30 to 50 percent sodium oxalate.
4. A composition according to claim 3 in which the remainder of the matrix consists of 52 percent sodium nitrate and 48 percent calcium nitrate.
5. A composition according to claim 2 in which the remainder of the matrix consists of 55 percent sodium nitrate and 45 percent sodium nitrite.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 534,557 2/ 1895 Gerhard 14920 3,325,316 6/1967 MacDonald 14917 3,370,537 2/1968 Tepper l4917X 3,421,954 1/1969 Falconer 149--17 CARL D. QUARFORTH, Primary Examiner S. I. LECHERT, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,488 ,237 January 6 1970 Ralph H. Hiltz It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:
"nitrite" should read nitrate Column 1, line 24,
first occurrence, should read Column 2, line 28, "nitrate", nitrite Signed and sealed this 27th day of October 1970.
(SEAL) Edward M. Fletcher, I r.
' Commissioner of Patent Attesting Officer
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US79478169A | 1969-01-28 | 1969-01-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3488237A true US3488237A (en) | 1970-01-06 |
Family
ID=25163662
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US794781*A Expired - Lifetime US3488237A (en) | 1969-01-28 | 1969-01-28 | Cast flare composition of magnesium or titanium dispersed in a matrix |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3488237A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3983816A (en) * | 1974-01-16 | 1976-10-05 | Thiokol Corporation | Compositions for producing flickering signals |
| US4184901A (en) * | 1978-08-21 | 1980-01-22 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Simultaneous yellow smoke and yellow flame composition containing bismuth subnitrate |
| EP2463259A3 (en) * | 2010-12-08 | 2017-09-27 | Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG | High-efficiency active mass for pyrotechnical infra-red decoys |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US534557A (en) * | 1895-02-19 | Pyrotechnic compound | ||
| US3325316A (en) * | 1965-03-29 | 1967-06-13 | Gilmour C Macdonald | Pyrotechnic compositions of metal matrix with oxide dispersed therein |
| US3370537A (en) * | 1965-07-22 | 1968-02-27 | Mine Safety Appliances Co | Castable pyrotechnic composition comprising metal nitrates or chlorates and finely divided metal |
| US3421954A (en) * | 1966-10-28 | 1969-01-14 | Canadian Ind | Melt explosive composition having a matrix of an inorganic oxygen supplying salt |
-
1969
- 1969-01-28 US US794781*A patent/US3488237A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US534557A (en) * | 1895-02-19 | Pyrotechnic compound | ||
| US3325316A (en) * | 1965-03-29 | 1967-06-13 | Gilmour C Macdonald | Pyrotechnic compositions of metal matrix with oxide dispersed therein |
| US3370537A (en) * | 1965-07-22 | 1968-02-27 | Mine Safety Appliances Co | Castable pyrotechnic composition comprising metal nitrates or chlorates and finely divided metal |
| US3421954A (en) * | 1966-10-28 | 1969-01-14 | Canadian Ind | Melt explosive composition having a matrix of an inorganic oxygen supplying salt |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3983816A (en) * | 1974-01-16 | 1976-10-05 | Thiokol Corporation | Compositions for producing flickering signals |
| US4184901A (en) * | 1978-08-21 | 1980-01-22 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Simultaneous yellow smoke and yellow flame composition containing bismuth subnitrate |
| EP2463259A3 (en) * | 2010-12-08 | 2017-09-27 | Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG | High-efficiency active mass for pyrotechnical infra-red decoys |
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