Colored Pyrotechnic Smoke-Producing Composition

Abstract

A colored pyrotechnic smoke-producing composition has an oxidizer, a fuel, a flame retardant, a dye, a coolant, and a binder. The oxidizer may be potassium chlorate. The fuel may be starch, dextrose, lactose, and/or sucrose. The coolant may be sodium bicarbonate or magnesium carbonate. The binder may be nitrocellulose or a halogen-free thermoplastic. The flame retardant may be one or more nitrogen-rich compounds. The composition may be in pelletized form or in the form of a solid charge. The composition may consist of on a mass basis oxidizer 20-35%, fuel 15-25%, flame retardant 5-15%, dye 27-40%, coolant 8-18%, and binder 1-2%. The invention may be a device consisting of a body filled with the composition and a first fire starter composition, and an attached squib igniter. The body may be a grenade. A process for producing the composition is also disclosed.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A pyrotechnic flameless ignition composition comprising:
 an oxidizer;   a fuel;   a flame retardant;   a dye;   a coolant; and   a binder.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the oxidizer is potassium chlorate. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the fuel is at least one of the group consisting of starch, dextrose, lactose, and sucrose. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the coolant is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate and magnesium carbonate. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of nitrocellulose, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl ester, and polyvinyl ether. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of amethoxybenzenazo-β-naphthol, 1-methylaminoanthraquinone, 1-((2,4-Dimethylphenyl)azo)-2-naphthalenol, 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone, 1-methylamino-4-ethanolaminoanthraquinone, 1,4-diamino-2,3-dihydroanthraquinone, a mixture of 2-(2-quinolinyl)-1,3-indandione and 2-(6-methyl-2-quinolinyl)-1,3-indandione, 1,4-di-p-toluidinoanthraquinone, and 2-methylanthraquinone. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the flame retardant is at least one of the group consisting of guanidine nitrate, guanidine carbonate, dicyandiamide, azodicarbonamide, melamine, and oxamide. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition is in pelletized form. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises on a mass basis oxidizer 20-35%, fuel 15-25%, flame retardant 5-15%, dye 27-40%, coolant 8-18%, and binder 1-2%. 
     
     
         10 . A colored smoke-producing pyrotechnic device comprising a body filled with the composition of  claim 1  and a first fire starter composition, and an attached squib igniter. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the composition of  claim 1  filling the body is in the form of pressed pellets. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the composition of  claim 1  filling the body is in the form of a solid charge. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the body is a grenade. 
     
     
         14 . A process for producing a pyrotechnic flameless ignition composition comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a quantity of oxidizer;   obtaining a quantity of fuel;   obtaining a quantity of flame retardant;   obtain a quantity of dye;   obtaining a quantity of coolant;   obtaining a quantity of binder; and   adding the quantities of oxidizer, fuel, flame retardant, dye, coolant, and binder together to form a dry mix.   
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a quantity of liquid; 
 adding the quantity of liquid to the dry mix to form a first mixture; and 
 mixing the first mixture until all visible liquid has evaporated to form a second mixture. 
 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15  further comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a drying tray; 
 pouring the second mixture into the drying tray; and 
 drying the second mixture until any residual liquid has evaporated. 
 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  further comprising the step of grinding the dried second mixture. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17  further comprising the steps of:
 pelletizing the ground second mixture; 
 obtaining a body; 
 loading the second mixture pellets into the body; 
 loading a first fire starter composition into the body; 
 sealing the body; and 
 attaching an igniter to the grenade. 
 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 17  further comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a body; 
 loading the ground second mixture into the body as a solid charge; 
 loading a first fire starter composition into the body; 
 sealing the body; and 
 attaching an igniter to the grenade. 
 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the quantity of liquid is at least 0.2 L per kilogram of dry mix and is less than 0.3 L per kilogram of dry mix. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 20  wherein the liquid is acetone. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 14  wherein the dry mix comprises on a mass basis oxidizer 20-35%, fuel 15-25%, flame retardant 5-15%, dye 27-40%, coolant 8-18%, and binder 1-2%.