Non-lethal payloads and methods of producing same

Abstract

Non-lethal payloads including at least one of boron and silicon, at least one fuel, and at least one oxidizer. The non-lethal payload may be a single-component or dual-component payload. Methods of producing the non-lethal payloads are also disclosed.

1 . A non-lethal payload, comprising:
 an illuminant comprising at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and at least one of boron and silicon; and   an igniter comprising at least one fuel and at least one oxidizer.   
     
     
         2 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant consists of the at least one fuel, the at least one oxidizer, and the at least one of boron and silicon. 
     
     
         3 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fuel of the illuminant comprises magnesium, aluminum, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one oxidizer of the illuminant comprises potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of boron and silicon comprises from approximately 2% by weight to approximately 30 wt % of the illuminant. 
     
     
         6 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of boron and silicon comprises from approximately 4% by weight to approximately 15 wt % of the illuminant. 
     
     
         7 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant consists of potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron. 
     
     
         8 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant comprises potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron, and the igniter comprises potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron, the illuminant having a higher fuel/oxidizer ratio than the igniter. 
     
     
         9 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant comprises 23.0% by weight potassium nitrate, 4% by weight strontium nitrate, 65.0% by weight magnesium, and 8% by weight boron, and the igniter comprises 21% by weight potassium nitrate, 33% by weight strontium nitrate, 38% by weight magnesium, and 8% by weight boron. 
     
     
         10 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant is substantially free of a binder. 
     
     
         11 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter comprises a dry mixture of the at least one fuel and the at least one oxidizer. 
     
     
         12 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter is substantially free of a binder. 
     
     
         13 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter further comprises at least one of boron and silicon. 
     
     
         14 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter consists of potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron. 
     
     
         15 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the non-lethal payload is substantially free of a binder. 
     
     
         16 . A non-lethal payload, comprising:
 at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and at least one of boron and silicon, wherein the at least one of boron and silicon comprises from approximately 1% by weight to approximately 30% by weight of the non-lethal payload.   
     
     
         17 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of boron and silicon comprises from approximately 2% by weight to approximately 20 wt % of the non-lethal payload. 
     
     
         18 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 16 , wherein the non-lethal payload comprises potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron. 
     
     
         19 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 16 , wherein the non-lethal payload consists of potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron. 
     
     
         20 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 16 , wherein the non-lethal payload comprises 23.4% by weight potassium nitrate, 10% by weight strontium nitrate, 57.6% by weight magnesium, and 9% by weight boron. 
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a non-lethal payload, comprising:
 combining at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and at least one of boron and silicon in the absence of any solvent.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein combining at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and at least one of boron and silicon comprises combining the at least one fuel, the at least one oxidizer, and the at least one of boron and silicon without a binder. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein combining at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and at least one of boron and silicon comprises dry blending the at least one fuel, the at least one oxidizer, and the at least one of boron and silicon. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein combining at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and at least one of boron and silicon comprises dry blending potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron.