Cast explosive composition

Abstract

The invention relates to a cast explosive composition comprising a polymer-bonded explosive and a defoaming agent, and to a process for reducing the number and/or total volume of voids in a cast explosive composition comprising the steps of: combining a polymer-bonded explosive and a defoaming agent; and casting the explosive composition. The defoaming agent may be used for reducing the number and/or total volume of voids in a cast explosive composition and the cast explosive composition may be used in an explosive product.

1 . An explosive composition comprising a polymer-bonded explosive and 0.01-2 wt % of a defoaming agent, wherein said polymer-bonded explosive is comprised of an explosive and a polymer binder. 
     
     
         2 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1  wherein said polymer binder is selected from polyurethane, cellulosic materials such as cellulose acetate, polyesters, polybutadienes, polyethylenes, polyisobutylenes, PVA, chlorinated rubber, epoxy resins, two-pack polyurethane systems, alkyd/melanine, vinyl resins, alkyds, self-crosslinking acrylates, butadiene-styrene block copolymers, polyNIMMO, polyGLYN, GAP, and blends, copolymers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said explosive is selected from RDX, HMX, FOX-7, TATND, HNS, TATB, NTO, HNIW, GUDN, picrite, ethylene dinitramine, nitroglycerine, butane triol trinitrate, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, DNAN trinitrotoluene, ammonium nitrate, ADN, ammonium perchlorate, energetic alkali metal salts, energetic alkaline earth metal salts, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The explosive composition according to  claim 19 , wherein said metal powder is selected from aluminum, magnesium, tungsten, alloys of these metals, and combinations thereof, in admixture with the polymer-bonded explosive. 
     
     
         5 . The explosive composition according to  claim 22 , wherein said RDX is in an amount in the range of about 75-95 wt % and said polyurethane binder is in an amount in the range of about 5-25 wt %. 
     
     
         6 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the defoaming agent is a polysiloxane. 
     
     
         7 . The explosive composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the polysiloxane is selected from polyalkyl siloxanes, polyalkylaryl siloxanes, polyether siloxane co-polymers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the defoaming agent is present in the range of about 0.05-1 wt %. 
     
     
         9 . A in method for producing a cast of an explosive composition, the method comprising:
 combining a polymer-bonded explosive and 0.01-2 wt % of a defoaming agent to produce said explosive composition;   and   casting said explosive composition.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the cast explosive composition is cured. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the polymer-bonded explosive and the defoaming agent are combined in the presence of a solvent. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the casting comprises vacuum casting. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An explosive product comprising an explosive composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the defoaming agent comprises a silicone-free surface active polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the defoaming agent comprises a combination of silicone-free surface active polymer with a polysiloxane. 
     
     
         19 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising a metal powder. 
     
     
         20 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said explosive comprises RDX. 
     
     
         21 . The explosive composition according to  claim 20 , wherein said RDX comprises 50-100 wt % of the explosive. 
     
     
         22 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said explosive comprises RDX and said polymer binder comprises polyurethane. 
     
     
         23 . The explosive composition according to  claim 22 , wherein said polyurethane includes a hydroxyterminated polybutadiene. 
     
     
         24 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the defoaming agent is present in the range of about 0.03-2 wt %. 
     
     
         25 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the defoaming agent is present in the range of about 0.03-1.5 wt %. 
     
     
         26 . A method for producing a cast of an explosive composition, the method comprising casting an explosive composition comprised of polymer-bonded explosive in admixture with 0.01-2 wt % of a defoaming agent. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the defoaming agent is present in the range of about 0.03-2 wt %. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the polymer-bonded explosive and the defoaming agent are combined in the presence of a solvent. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the polymer-bonded explosive and the defoaming agent are combined in the absence of a solvent. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the casting comprises vacuum casting. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the defoaming agent is a polysiloxane. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the defoaming agent comprises a silicone-free surface active polymer. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the defoaming agent comprises a combination of silicone-free surface active polymer with a polysiloxane. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to claim, wherein the defoaming agent is present in the range of about 0.03-2 wt %. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the polymer-bonded explosive and the defoaming agent are combined in the absence of a solvent. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the defoaming agent is a polysiloxane. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the defoaming agent comprises a silicone-free surface active polymer. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the defoaming agent comprises a combination of silicone-free surface active polymer with a polysiloxane.