Low-smoke pyrotechnic composition

Abstract

A low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition is provided. The composition may include Ceric Ammonium Nitrate as an oxidizer, a fuel source, stabilizer, and a binder. The use of Ceric Ammonium Nitrate as an oxidizing agent within the composition can result in reducing the amount of smoke generated during combustion of the composition, which may be beneficial for certain pyrotechnic applications. In certain constructions, the composition may include Ceric Ammonium Nitrate as an oxidizer, Nitrocellulose and Titanium as fuel sources, Cyanoguanidine as a stabilizer, Cupric Oxide as a burn rate catalyst, and any suitable binder agent. The amount of Ceric Ammonium Nitrate by percent weight of the composition may range between 20-80 percent, 30-40 percent, or 30.0-37.5 percent. In certain configurations, the amount of Ceric Ammonium Nitrate may be about 36.7 percent by weight.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition comprising:
 an oxidizer comprising Ceric Ammonium Nitrate;   a fuel source;   a stabilizer; and   a binder.   
     
     
         2 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel source comprises at least one of Nitrocellulose, Hexamine, Cellulose Nitrate, Nitroguanidine, Red Gum, Titanium, Aluminum, Magnesium, Boron, Charcoal, Silicon, and a transition metal. 
     
     
         3 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said stabilizer comprises at least one of Cyanoguanidine, Dicyanodiamide, 2-cyanoguanidine, Guanidine-1-carbonitrile, Diphenylamine, Nitrodiphenylamine, Akardite, Ethyl Centralite, Methyl Centralite, and Carbonate salts. 
     
     
         4 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said binder comprises at least one of Ethylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl ethylcellulose polyvinyl alcohol, Viton, Parlon, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol-polyvinyl alcohol copolymer. 
     
     
         5 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 1  further comprising a burn rate catalyst. 
     
     
         6 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 5 , wherein said burn rate catalyst comprises at least one of Cupric Oxide, Ferric Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Bismuth Trioxide, Molybdenum Trioxide, barium peroxide, strontium peroxide, calcium peroxide, chromic oxide, silicon dioxide, manganese (II) oxide, and boron oxide. 
     
     
         7 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a second oxidizer comprising at least one of nitrate salts, perchlorate salts, and metal oxides. 
     
     
         8 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 1 , comprising 20 percent by weight to 80 percent by weight said Ceric Ammonium Nitrate. 
     
     
         9 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 1 , comprising 30 percent by weight to 40 percent by weight said Ceric Ammonium Nitrate. 
     
     
         10 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 1 , comprising approximately 36.0 percent by weight to 37.5 percent by weight said Ceric Ammonium Nitrate. 
     
     
         11 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 1 , comprising 20-80 percent by weight said Ceric Ammonium Nitrate, 0-60 percent by weight said fuel source, 1-20 percent by weight said stabilizer, and 0-15 percent by weight said binder. 
     
     
         12 . A low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition comprising:
 an oxidizer comprising Ceric Ammonium Nitrate;   a non-metal fuel source comprising Nitrocellulose;   a metal fuel source comprising Titanium;   a stabilizer comprising Cyanoguanidine;   a burn rate catalyst comprising Cupric Oxide; and   a binder.   
     
     
         13 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 12 , comprising 20-80 percent by weight said oxidizer. 
     
     
         14 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 12 , comprising 30-40 percent by weight said oxidizer. 
     
     
         15 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 12 , comprising approximately 36.0-37.5 percent by weight said oxidizer. 
     
     
         16 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 12 , comprising 20-80 percent by weight said oxidizer, 0-60 percent by weight said non-metal fuel source, 5-20 percent by weight said metal fuel source, 1-5 percent by weight said stabilizer, 0.5-20 percent by weight said burn rate catalyst, and 0-15 percent by weight said binder. 
     
     
         17 . The low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition of  claim 12 , comprising approximately 36.7 percent by weight said oxidizer, approximately 51.4 percent by weight said non-metal fuel source, approximately 3.7 percent by weight said metal fuel source, approximately 0.9 percent by weight said stabilizer, and approximately 7.3 percent by weight said burn rate catalyst.