High energy blast explosives for confined spaces

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein relates to an explosive capable of enhanced combustion efficiently capable of sustaining a high pressure over a period of time in a confined environment, such as an air tight room or a cave, where oxygen may be in limited supply. An embodiment of the present invention is a metal composite that combines a binder, a nano-sized reactive metal and an oxidizer. The nano-sized reactive metal has an average particle size of approximetaly 20 nano-meters

1 . A metal composite comprising: 
 (a) about 60 to about 96 weight % of at least one nano-sized reactive metal, wherein each of said nano-sized reactive metals has an average particle size of approximetaly 20 nano-meters;    (b) about 4 to about 10 weight % of at least one binder; and    (c) about 0 to about 36 weight % of an oxidizer.    
   
   
       2 . The metal composite of  claim 1  wherein said at least one nano-sized reactive metal is selected from a group of nano-size reactive metals comprising nano-sized aluminum, nano-sized boron and nano-sized titanium.  
   
   
       3 . The metal composite of  claim 1  wherein said at least one nano-sized reactive metal is selected from a group of nano-size reactive metals comprizing nano-sized Al—Mg, Al—Mg—H, B—Mg, Al—B and Ti—B mixtures.  
   
   
       4 . The metal composite of  claim 1 , wherein said binder comprises at least one of a copolymer of vinylidine fluoride hexafluoropropylene, nitrocellulose, glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) and Zeon.  
   
   
       5 . The metal composite of  claim 1 , wherein said oxidizer is selected from the group comprising ammonium perchlorate, ammonium dinitramide and ammonium nitrate.  
   
   
       6 . The metal composite of  claim 1  wherein said metal composite provides for an explosiveness which maintains a relatively high pressure of approximately 30 to 60 psi for a time period of up to 50 msec.  
   
   
       7 . The metal composite of  claim 1  wherein the time required for a complete release of energy is reduced to approximately 20 msec by using said nano-sized reactive metals having said average particle size of approximetaly 20 nano-meters in said metal composite.  
   
   
       8 . The metal composite of  claim 7  wherein the time required for said complete release of energy is reduced by at least 50 msec by using said nano-sized reactive metals having said average particle size of approximetaly 20 nano-meters in said metal composite when compared to an explosive having 200 nano-meter metal particles contained therein.  
   
   
       9 . A metal composite comprising: 
 (a) about 60 to about 96 weight % of at least one nano-sized reactive metal, wherein said at least one nano-sized reactive metal is selected from a group of nano-size reactive metals consisting of nano-sized aluminum, nano-sized boron, nano-sized magnesium, nano-sized titanium, nano-sized aluminum Born mixtures and nano-sized aluminum magnisium mixtures, each of said nano-sized reactive metals having an average particle size of about 20 nano-meters;    (b) about 4 to about 10 weight % of at least one binder; and    (c) about 0 to about 36 weight % of an oxidizer.    
   
   
       10 . The metal composite of  claim 9 , wherein said binder comprises at least one of copolymer of vinylidine fluoride hexafluoropropylene, nitrocellulose, glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) and Zeon.  
   
   
       11 . The metal composite of  claim 9 , wherein said oxidizer is selected from the group comprising ammonium perchlorate, ammonium dinitramide and ammonium nitrate.  
   
   
       12 . The metal composite of  claim 9 , wherein said metal composite provides for an explosiveness which maintains a relatively high pressure of approximately 30 to 60 psi for a time period of up to 50 msec.  
   
   
       13 . A metal composite comprising: 
 (a) about 60 to about 96 weight % of at least one nano-sized reactive metal, wherein said at least one nano-sized reactive metal is selected from a group of nano-size reactive metals consisting of nano-sized aluminum, nano-sized boron, nano-sized magnesium, nano-sized titanium, nano-sized aluminum Born mixtures and nano-sized aluminum magnisium mixtures, each of said nano-sized reactive metals having an average particle size of about 20 nano-meters;    (b) about 4 to about 10 weight % of at least one binder; and    (c) about 0 to about 36 weight % of an oxidizer, wherein the time required for a complete release of energy is reduced to approximately 20 msec by using said nano-sized reactive metals having said average particle size of approximetaly 20 nano-meters in said metal composite.    
   
   
       14 . The metal composite of  claim 13 , wherein said binder comprises at least one of copolymer of vinylidine fluoride hexafluoropropylene, nitrocellulose, glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) and Zeon.  
   
   
       15 . The metal composite of  claim 13 , wherein said oxidizer is selected from the group comprising ammonium perchlorate, ammonium dinitramide and ammonium nitrate.  
   
   
       16 . The metal composite of  claim 13 , wherein said metal composite provides for an explosiveness which maintains a relatively high pressure of approximately 30 to 60 psi for a time period of up to 50 msec.  
   
   
       17 . The metal composite of  claim 13  wherein the time required for said complete release of energy is reduced by at least 50 msec by using said nano-sized reactive metals having said average particle size of approximetaly 20 nano-meters in said metal composite when compared to an explosive having 200 nano-meter metal particles contained therein.