Low energy initiated explosive

Abstract

An explosive suitable for low energy initiation is made by coating epsilon structure one to five micron crystals of CL-20 with a polymeric binder where the polymeric binder is one to three percent by weight of the coated crystals and a method of applying such polymeric binders by either a slurry method or an alternate method of using a nonaqueous liquid to suspend CL-20 crystals then adding a lacquer of polymeric binder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A low energy initiated coated explosive comprising: 
 A. Crystals of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtizane (also known as CL-20) and    B. Coating said crystals of CL-20 with a binder selected from the group consisting of polyethyl acrylate, polyethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate, polystyrene acrylic copolymers, fluorocarbon polymers, or aqueous latex preparations made with the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate ethylene, vinylacetate vinyl chloride ethylene terpolymer, ethylenevinyl chloride, vinyl ethylene acrylate terpolymer, acrylic copolymer, polyester-polyurethane, vinylacetate-dibutylmaleate, vinylacetate, dibutylmaleate, acrylic terpolymer, polyvinylidene chloride terpolymer, styrene butadiene itaconic acid, vinylidene chloride-methyl-methacrylate-acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate-butylacrylate vinyl versatate, and vinylpyrrolidone/styrene.    
     
     
         2 . A low energy initiated coated explosive as described in  claim 1  where said binder comprises one percent (1%) to three percent (3%) by weight of the total weight of said coated CL-20 crystals.  
     
     
         3 . A low energy initiated coated explosive as described in  claim 1  where said crystals of CL-20 consist of epsilon structure crystals.  
     
     
         4 . A low energy initiated coated explosive as described in  claim 2  where said crystals of CL-20 consist of epsilon structure crystals.  
     
     
         5 . A low energy initiated coated explosive as described in  claim 3  where said epsilon structure crystals of CL-20 comprise a size range of one to five microns.  
     
     
         6 . A low energy initiated coated explosive as described in  claim 4  where said epsilon structure crystals of CL-20 comprise a size range of one to five microns.  
     
     
         7 . A method of coating hexanitrohexaazaisowurtizane crystals, also known as CL-20 crystals, comprising the steps of: 
 A. Adding water to a binder;    B. adding CL-20 crystals via the slurry method to said water binder mixture at room temperature;    C. mix at a slow rate to a soft, muddy consistency;    D. cease mixing when all of said CL-20 crystals are evenly coated by said binder;    E. spread said coated crystals on a drying surface;    F. dry at a temperature which does not crack the binder coating; and    G. once dry separate the individually coated crystals of CL-20.    
     
     
         8 . A method of coating CL-20 crystals as described in  claim 7  where said binder is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate ethylene, vinylacetate vinyl chloride ethylene terpolymer, ethylenevinyl chloride, vinyl ethylene acrylate terpolymer, acrylic copolymer, polyester-polyurethane, vinylacetate-dibutylmaleate, vinylacetate, dibutylmaleate, acrylic terpolymer, polyvinylidene chloride terpolymer, styrene butadiene itaconic acid, vinylidene chloride-methyl-methacrylate-acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate-butylacrylate vinyl versatate, and vinylpyrrolidone/styrene.  
     
     
         9 . A method of coating CL-20 crystals as described in  claim 8  where CL-20 crystals comprise epsilon structure crystals.  
     
     
         10 . A method of coating hexanitrohexaazaisowurtizane crystals, also known as CL-20 crystals, comprising the steps of: 
 A. suspend said CL-20 crystals in a nonaqueous liquid;    B. add a lacquer of polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate ethylene, vinylacetate vinyl chloride ethylene terpolymer, ethylenevinyl chloride, vinyl ethylene acrylate terpolymer, acrylic copolymer, polyester-polyurethane, vinylacetate-dibutylmaleate, vinylacetate, dibutylmaleate, acrylic terpolymer, polyvinylidene chloride terpolymer, styrene butadiene itaconic acid, vinylidene chloride-methyl-methacrylate-acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate-butylacrylate vinyl versatate, and vinylpyrrolidone/styrene in an organic solvent;    C. stir until all crystals are evenly coated; and    D. vacuum dry said coated crystals.    
     
     
         11 . A method of coating CL-20 crystals as described in  claim 10  where CL-20 crystals comprise epsilon structure crystals.