Exploding thermite compositions and methods

Abstract

Exploding thermite compositions and methods. A composition may comprise a metal powder and a metal oxide powder. The composition may produce an explosion hazard upon receiving a thermite reaction activation. A method for producing a thermite composition may comprise providing one or more metal oxide powders and providing one or more metal powders. The method may also include homogenously combining the one or more metal oxide powders with the one or more metal powders to form the thermite composition. The resulting thermite composition may produce an explosion hazard upon receiving a thermite reaction activation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising:
 a metal powder; and   a metal oxide powder;   wherein the composition produces an explosion hazard upon receiving a thermite reaction activation.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is selected from a group comprising bismuth (III) oxide (Bi 2 O 3 ), manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ), molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ), and copper (II)/cupric oxide (CuO). 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metal powder is selected from a group comprising aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and magnalium alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the composition comprises a magnalium alloy ratio of magnesium to aluminum (Mg:Al) that is 50:50 or 1:1 by mass. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metal powder is aluminum, and the metal oxide powder is bismuth (III) oxide (Bi 2 O 3 ), and wherein the metal powder is between 5%-65% of a mass of the composition, and wherein the metal oxide powder is between 35%-95% of the mass of the composition. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metal powder is titanium, and the metal oxide powder is bismuth (III) oxide (Bi 2 O 3 ), and wherein the metal powder is between 5%-65% of a mass of the composition, and wherein the metal oxide powder is between 35%-95% of the mass of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metal powder is magnesium, and the metal oxide powder is manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ), and wherein the metal powder is between 10%-70% of a mass of the composition, and wherein the metal oxide powder is between 30%-90% of the mass of the composition. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metal powder and the metal oxide powder each comprise a particle size ranging from one or more of:
 less than 1 micron;   up to 20 microns;   up to 70 microns; or   up to 200 microns.   
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition excludes any propellant stabilizers. 
     
     
         10 . A composition comprising:
 a metal powder;   a metal oxide powder; and   an additive;   wherein the composition produces an explosion hazard upon receiving a thermite reaction activation.   
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the metal oxide is selected from a group comprising bismuth (III) oxide (Bi 2 O 3 ), manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ), molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ), and copper (II)/cupric oxide (CuO). 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the metal powder is selected from a group comprising aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and magnalium alloy. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the metal powder is magnalium alloy and the metal oxide powder is copper (II)/cupric oxide (CuO), wherein the metal powder is between 10%-70% of a mass of the composition, wherein the metal oxide powder is between 30%-90% of the mass of the composition, and wherein the additive is PTFE and between 0%-50% of the mass of the composition. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the metal powder is magnalium alloy and the metal oxide powder is copper (II)/cupric oxide (CuO), wherein the metal powder is between 10%-70% of a mass of the composition, wherein the metal oxide powder is between 30%-90% of the mass of the composition, and wherein the additive is NaNO 3  and between 10%-30% of the mass of the composition. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the metal powder and the metal oxide powder each comprise a particle size ranging from one or more of:
 less than 1 micron;   up to 20 microns;   up to 70 microns; or   up to 200 microns.   
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the additive comprises one or more of PTFE, a binder, a polymer, an oxidizer, or an oxide. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the thermite reaction is not activated at less than 400° Celsius. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the composition excludes any propellant stabilizers. 
     
     
         19 . A method for producing a thermite composition, the method comprising:
 providing one or more metal oxide powders;   providing one or more metal powders; and   homogenously combining the one or more metal oxide powders with the one or more metal powders to form the thermite composition;   wherein the resulting thermite composition produces an explosion hazard upon receiving a thermite reaction activation.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein homogenously combining the one or more metal oxide powders with the one or more metal powders comprises:
 providing a mixer, wherein the mixer is a 0.5-Liter electrically-conductive plastic container comprising a stainless steel wire whisk shaker ball;   remotely tumbling the mixer end-over-end once every four seconds for fifteen minutes.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
 providing an ignition source capable of providing a sustained temperature of at least 1200° Celsius for igniting the thermite composition.