Explosive composition for use in telescopically expanding non-lethal training ammunition

Abstract

An explosive composition for use in telescopically expanding non-lethal training ammunition comprises tetrazene and paraffin wax. The explosive composition can be used as a primer and/or as a source of energetic material in a telescopically expanding non-lethal training cartridge; it can be used to propel a projectile from a telescopically expanding non-lethal training cartridge; and/or it can be used to expand telescopically a non-lethal training cartridge within a host gun.

1 . An explosive composition for use in telescopically expanding non-lethal training ammunition comprising tetrazene and paraffin wax. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the paraffin wax is present in the form of micro particles. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the paraffin wax micro particles have particle diameters in the range of about 0.5 μm to about 500 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the paraffin wax micro particles have particle diameters in the range of about 20 μm to about 200 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the micro particles have been prepared by a process of spray-cooling or spray congealing of molten paraffin wax. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising from about 1% to about 50% of paraffin wax by void less volume. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the composition comprises from about 4.5% to about 5.5% of paraffin wax by void less volume. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free from lead. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free from heavy metals and heavy metal compounds. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free from metals, semi-metals, metal compounds, and semi-metal compounds. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free from perchlorate salts. 
     
     
         12 . A cartridge for use in non-lethal applications comprising, an anterior portion and a posterior portion, the posterior portion comprising a recycling mechanism, the recycling mechanism being initiated on activation of a primer and the anterior portion being provided with a nose portion which is suitable for receiving a projectile, and a source of energetic material located in the anterior portion, the energetic material being initiatable by a reaction produced on activation of the primer to cause propulsion of the projectile from the cartridge, wherein either the primer, or the source of energetic material, or both the primer and the source of energetic material include an explosive composition having tetrazene and paraffin wax. 
     
     
         13 . Use of the explosive composition of  claim 1  as a primer and/or as a source of energetic material in a telescopically expanding non-lethal training cartridge. 
     
     
         14 . Use of the explosive composition of  claim 1  to propel a projectile from a telescopically expanding non-lethal training cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . Use of the explosive composition of  claim 1  to expand telescopically a non-lethal training cartridge within a host gun. 
     
     
         16 . A combination of a weapon, a telescopically expanding non-lethal training cartridge, and an explosive composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the micro particles are filtered through one or more meshes.