Metal matrix reactive composite projectiles

Abstract

A method of making a projectile, and the resulting projectile, comprising providing a nose, providing a body, and incorporating within the body incendiary materials mixed into a metal binder, the metal binder comprising a metal or non-steel alloy of density greater than approximately 5 g/cm 3 and a melting point of less than approximately 395 degrees C.

1 . A projectile comprising:
 a nose;   a body; and   incendiary materials within said body and mixed into a metal binder, said metal binder comprising a metal or metal alloy of density greater than approximately 5 g/cm 3  and a melting point of less than approximately 395 degrees C.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein said density is between approximately 7.5 and 10.5 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         3 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein said metal binder comprises a member from the group consisting of bismuth, lead, tin, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, gallium, indium, zinc, and alloys thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile of  claim 3  wherein said metal binder comprises a member from the group consisting of 52.2% In/45% Sn/1.8% Zn; 58% Bi/42% Sn; 60% Sn/40% Bi; 95% Bi/5% Sn; 55% Ge/45% Al; 63% Sn/37% Pb; 88.3% Al/11.7% Si; 92.5% Al/7.5% Si; and 95% Al/5% Si; zinc alloy UNS Z33523; zinc alloy UNS Z3841, and commercially pure zinc. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein said projectile has a compressive strength in excess of approximately 14000 psi. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein said incendiary materials are flaked, powdered, or crystallized. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein said incendiary materials comprise thermite. 
     
     
         8 . The projectile of  claim 6  wherein said incendiary materials comprise thin film thermite. 
     
     
         9 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein said projectile is substantially insensitive to ignition if impacting a hard surface at less than approximately 300 ft/s. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein said incendiary materials within said body and mixed into a metal binder are additionally mixed with one or more of the group consisting of metastable intermolecular compounds, hydrides, polymeric materials that release a gas upon thermal decomposition, continuous fibers, chopped fibers, whiskers, filaments, structural preforms, woven fibrous materials, dispersed particulates, and nonwoven fibrous materials. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a projectile, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a nose;   providing a body; and   incorporating within the body incendiary materials mixed into a metal binder, the metal binder comprising a metal or metal alloy of density greater than approximately 5 g/cm 3  and a melting point of less than approximately 395 degrees C.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the density is between approximately 7.5 and 10.5 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the metal binder comprises a member from the group consisting of bismuth, lead, tin, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, gallium, indium, zinc, and alloys thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the metal binder comprises a member from the group consisting of 52.2% In/45% Sn/1.8% Zn; 58% Bi/42% Sn; 60% Sn/40% Bi; 95% Bi/5% Sn; 55% Ge/45% Al; 63% Sn/37% Pb; 88.3% Al/11.7% Si; 92.5% Al/7.5% Si; and 95% Al/5% Si; zinc alloy UNS Z33523; zinc alloy UNS Z3841, and commercially pure zinc. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the resulting projectile has a compressive strength in excess of approximately 14000 psi. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the incendiary materials are flaked, powdered, or crystallized. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the incendiary materials comprise thermite. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the incendiary materials comprise thin film thermite. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the resulting projectile is substantially insensitive to ignition if impacting a hard surface at less than approximately 300 ft/s. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the incendiary materials within the body and mixed into a metal binder are additionally mixed with one or more of the group consisting of metastable intermolecular compounds, hydrides, polymeric materials that release a gas upon thermal decomposition, continuous fibers, chopped fibers, whiskers, filaments, structural preforms, woven fibrous materials, dispersed particulates, and nonwoven fibrous materials.