Flash-ignitable energetic material

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes and activated carbon containing a metal such as palladium release a photoacoustic effect when subjected to a flash of light. A light ignitable, energetic composition is produced by mixing one of them with an energetic material such as carbon black powder or ammonium perchlorate.

1 . A light ignitable, energetic composition comprising an intimate mixture of an energetic material and one of carbon nanotubes and activated carbon containing a metal selected from the group consisting of palladium, iron, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, copper, zinc, potassium, sodium and titanium.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the energetic material is selected from the group consisting of carbon black powder, ammonium perchlorate, hexogen, octogen, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, trinitrotolune, nitroglycerine, nitrocellulose, ammonium nitrate, lead azide, lead styphnate, nitro plasticizers and picric acid.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the mixture contains an energetic material and single walled carbon nanotubes.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the mixture contains 1 to 20 weight percent carbon nanotubes, the remainder being the energetic material.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the mixture contains 95 weight percent of the energetic material and 5 weight percent carbon nanotubes.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the mixture contains 95 weight percent carbon black powder and 5 weight percent carbon nanotubes.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the energetic material is ammonium perchlorate.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the mixture contains 97 weight percent ammonium perchlorate and 3 weight percent carbon nanotubes.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the mixture contains 95 weight percent of ground ammonium perchlorate and 5 weight percent of activated carbon containing 97 weight percent carbon and 3 weight percent palladium.  
     
     
         10 . A method of preparing a light ignitable, energetic composition comprising intimately mixing an energetic material and one of carbon nanotubes and activated carbon containing a metal selected from the group consisting of palladium, iron nickel, cobalt, aluminum, copper, zinc, potassium, sodium and titanium.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the energetic material is selected from the group consisting of carbon black powder, ammonium perchlorate, hexogen, octogen, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, trinitrotolune, nitroglycerine, nitrocellulose, ammonium nitrate, lead azide, lead styphnate, nitro plasticizers and picric acid.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein single walled carbon nanotubes are mixed with the energetic material.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the energetic material is ammonium perchlorate.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the energetic material is carbon black powder.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein ground ammonium perchlorate is mixed with activated carbon containing palladium.