Explosive composition and method for production thereof

Abstract

An explosive composition is adapted for use in a safety arrangement for vehicles, and comprises a fuel of a micro-structured or nano-structured porous solid material and an oxidizing agent which is solid or liquid at ambient temperature. The oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulphur, selenium, tellurium, bromine, iodine, phosphorus and arsenic as well as mixtures and oxygen-free compounds thereof. In a method for the production of the explosive composition, the oxidizing agent is dissolved in a solvent and introduced into the pores of the fuel.

1 . An explosive composition for use in a safety arrangement for vehicles, the composition comprising a fuel of a micro-structured or nano-structured porous solid material and an oxidizing agent which is solid or liquid at ambient temperature, wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulphur, selenium, tellurium, bromine, iodine, phosphorus and arsenic as well as mixtures and oxygen-free compounds thereof.  
   
   
       2 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of iodine, sulphur or oxygen-free sulphur compounds.  
   
   
       3 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel is porous silicon.  
   
   
       4 . A method for producing an explosive composition wherein the composition comprises a fuel of a micro-structured or nano-structured porous solid material and an oxidizing agent which is solid or liquid at ambient temperature, and wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulphur, selenium, tellurium, bromine, iodine, phosphorus and arsenic as well as mixtures and oxygen-free compounds thereof, the method comprising the step of dissolving the oxidizing agent in a solvent and introducing the dissolved oxidizing agent into the pores of the fuel.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the solvent is supercritical carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the solvent is carbon disulphide.  
   
   
       7 . A method for producing an explosive composition, wherein the composition comprises a fuel of a micro-structured or nanostructured porous solid material and an oxidizing agent, wherein the oxidizing agent is sulphur, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: 
 providing the porous fuel; and    introducing the sulphur from the melting state into the pores of the porous fuel.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the sulphur is heated to about 125±5° C. to form the melted state.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of providing the porous fuel comprises the step of anodically etching of silicon in a fluoride containing solution to form porous silicon.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of passivating the porous fuel before the introduction of the oxidizer into the pores.  
   
   
       11 . A method of activating a safety arrangement in vehicles, wherein the safety arrangement includes an igniter component, and wherein the igniter component comprises the explosive composition of  claim 1.