Ignition formulation and combustible composition

Abstract

An ignition formulation for an incendiary material is disclosed. The ignition formulation comprises an initiator capable of reacting exothermically with the incendiary material to an extent sufficient to generate a flame when contacted with the incendiary material and a non-aqueous inhibitor capable of slowing the rate of exothermic reaction between the incendiary material and the initiator, thereby providing a delay period between contact of the ignition formulation with the incendiary material and generation of the flame. The non-aqueous inhibitor may be a compound selected from a group comprising, for example, long chain (C5-C12) alcohols, alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, ethers, esters, ketones, carboxylic acids, aromatic hydrocarbons, organonitrates, diesel, biodiesel, kerosene, modified kerosene and oils.

1 . An ignition formulation comprising:
 an initiator capable of reacting exothermically with an incendiary material to an extent sufficient to generate a flame when contacted therewith; and   a non-aqueous inhibitor capable of slowing the rate of the exothermic reaction between the incendiary material and the initiator,   wherein the ignition formulation includes a controlled ratio of the amount of the initiator to the amount of the inhibitor to provide a delay period in which a flame is generated caused by reaction between the ignition formulation with the incendiary material.   
     
     
         2 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the amount of the initiator to the amount of inhibitor is in the range of 1:10 to 10:1 on a mass basis. 
     
     
         3 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the amount of the initiator to the amount of inhibitor is in the range of 2:3 to 3:2 on a mass basis. 
     
     
         4 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the controlled ratio of the amount of the initiator to the amount of the inhibitor is provided to delay generation of a flame by a period in a range of 20 seconds to 240 seconds from a time of initial contact with the incendiary material, and ideally, in a range from 20 to 120 seconds, and even more ideally, in a range from 60 to 80 seconds. 
     
     
         5 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein a reaction between the inhibitor and incendiary material is less exothermic than the reaction between the initiator and the incendiary material. 
     
     
         6 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the initiator is a hydrocarbon having from one to four carbon atoms and includes at least one hydroxyl group. 
     
     
         7 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the initiator is a glycol or a glycol ether. 
     
     
         8 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor is combustible. 
     
     
         9 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor is a hydrocarbon free of hydroxyl groups. 
     
     
         10 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor is a compound selected from a group comprising long chain (C 5 -C 12 ) alcohols, alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, ethers, esters, ketones, carboxylic acids, aromatic hydrocarbons, organonitrates, diesel, biodiesel, kerosene, modified kerosene and oils. 
     
     
         11 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stabiliser for increasing the shelf-life of the formulation for a period of at least 4 to 6 months. 
     
     
         12 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 11 , wherein the stabiliser is terpene including cyclic terpene. 
     
     
         13 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 11 , wherein the stabiliser is d-limonene. 
     
     
         14 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 11 , in which proportion of the amount to initiator, inhibitor to stabilizer is in the following ranges on a mass % basis to a total of 100%:
 Ratios   
       Initiator 15 to 25 
       Inhibitor 60 to 84 
       Stabilizer 1 to 15 
     
     
         15 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 11 , in which proportion of the amount to initiator, inhibitor and stabilizer are 20%, 75% and 5% respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the initiator and the inhibitor are miscible liquids. 
     
     
         17 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the initiator and the inhibitor are immiscible liquids. 
     
     
         18 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 17 , further comprising a co-solvent in which the initiator and the inhibitor are soluble. 
     
     
         19 . The ignition formulation according to  claim 17 , further comprising an agent to produce a homogenous mixture of the initiator and the inhibitor, wherein the agent comprises a surfactant or an emulsifier. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A combustible composition comprising Part A and Part B, wherein
 Part A comprises an incendiary material; and   Part B comprises the ignition formulation  claim 1 .   
     
     
         22 . The composition according to  claim 21 , wherein the incendiary material includes an oxidizing agent that reacts exothermically with the initiator. 
     
     
         23 . The composition according to  claim 21 , wherein the incendiary material includes a metal oxidizing agent that reacts exothermically with the initiator. 
     
     
         24 . The composition according to  claim 21 , wherein the incendiary material includes at least one of the following metal oxidizing agents that reacts exothermically with the initiator, permanganate (MnO 4   2+ ), chromate (CrO 4   2− ), dichromate (CrO 4   2− ), cobalt (Co 2 O 3 ) 
     
     
         25 . The composition according to  claim 21 , wherein the incendiary material is potassium permanganate. 
     
     
         26 . The composition according to  claim 21 , wherein the composition includes a controlled ratio of an amount of Part A to Part B to allow complete reaction of incendiary material. 
     
     
         27 . The composition according to  claim 21 , wherein the composition includes a controlled ratio of an amount of Part A to Part B at a ratio ranging from 10:1 to 5:1 on a mass basis, and preferably the ratio of Part A to Part B ranges from 3:2 to 2:3. 
     
     
         28 . The composition according to  claim 21 , wherein Part A, in particulate form, is preloaded into a container, and Part B is thereafter loaded into the container, following which the initiator reacts with the incendiary material. 
     
     
         29 . A package for using in controlled back-burning, the package including a receptacle containing an incendiary material, wherein the receptacle is adapted to receive the ignition formulation according to  claim 1  to commence the reaction of the incendiary material. 
     
     
         30 . The package according to  claim 29 , wherein the package is adapted to receive a controlled amount of the ignition formulation, in which a ratio of the amount of the incendiary material to the ignition formulation is in a ratio ranging from 10:1 to 5:1 on a mass basis, and preferably the ratio of the amount of the incendiary material to the ignition formulation is in ranging from 3:2 to 2:3 on an mass basis. 
     
     
         31 - 62 . (canceled)