Lead-free electric match compositions

Abstract

An electric match including nanoscale particulates of an energetic material and a binder is provided. The energetic material can be a nanoscale thermite metal/metal oxide mixture, a nanoscale intermetallic material mixture, or a nanoscale fuel and oxidant mixture.

1 . An electric match composition comprising nanoscale particulates of an energetic material and a binder.  
   
   
       2 . The electric match composition of  claim 1  wherein said binder is nitrocellulose.  
   
   
       3 . The electric match composition of  claim 1  wherein said energetic material is selected from the group consisting of a nanoscale thermite metal/metal oxide mixture, a nanaoscale intermetallic material mixture and a nanoscale fuel and oxidant mixture.  
   
   
       4 . The electric match composition of  claim 3  wherein said nanoscale thermite metal/metal oxide mixture includes a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, lanthanum, magnesium, tantalum, titanium, yttrium and vanadium and a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silver oxide, boron oxide, bismuth oxide, copper oxide, cobalt oxide, iron oxide, manganese oxide, molybdenum trioxide, nickel oxide, silicon oxide, tin oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide and vanadium oxide.  
   
   
       5 . The electric match composition of  claim 3  wherein said nanoscale thermite metal/metal oxide mixture is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and copper oxide, aluminum and iron oxide, aluminum and molybdenum trioxide, and aluminum and tungsten oxide.  
   
   
       6 . The electric match composition of  claim 3  wherein said nanoscale thermite metal/metal oxide mixture is of aluminum and molybdenum trioxide.  
   
   
       7 . The electric match composition of  claim 3  wherein said intermetallic material mixture is selected from the group consisting of titanium boron and nickel aluminum.  
   
   
       8 . The electric match composition of  claim 3  wherein said nanoscale fuel and oxidant mixture includes a metal fuel selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, magnesium, carbon and silicon and an oxidant including a cation selected from the group consisting of potassium sodium and ammonium and an anion selected from the group consisting of perchlorate, chlorate and nitrate.  
   
   
       9 . The electric match composition of  claim 1  wherein said nanoscale particulates have a mean size of from about 40 nm to 500 nm in smallest dimension.  
   
   
       10 . The electric match composition of  claim 1  wherein said match is lead-free.  
   
   
       11 . An electric match comprising a match head coated with an electric match composition including nanoscale particulates of an energetic material and a binder.  
   
   
       12 . The electric match of  claim 11  wherein said energetic material is selected from the group consisting of a nanoscale thermite metal/metal oxide mixture, a nanoscale intermetallic material mixture and a nanoscale fuel and oxidant mixture.  
   
   
       13 . The electric match of  claim 11  wherein said binder is nitrocellulose.  
   
   
       14 . The electric match of  claim 11  wherein said match head includes a first layer coating including nanoscale particulates of an energetic material and a first binder, a second layer coating including secondary pyrotechnic composition and a second binder, and a protective waterproof topcoat polymer layer.  
   
   
       15 . The electric match of  claim 14  wherein said first binder and second binder are nitrocellulose.  
   
   
       16 . The electric match of  claim 14  further including a layer of nitrocellulose between said second layer coating and said protective topcoat layer.  
   
   
       17 . The electric match of  claim 14  further including a layer of nitrocellulose between said first layer coating and said second layer coating and a layer of nitrocellulose between said second layer coating and said protective topcoat layer.  
   
   
       18 . The electric match of  claim 12  wherein said nanoscale thermite metal/metal oxide composition includes a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, lanthanum, magnesium, tantalum, titanium, yttrium and vanadium and a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silver oxide, boron oxide, bismuth oxide, copper oxide, cobalt oxide, iron oxide, manganese oxide, molybdenum oxide, nickel oxide, silicon oxide, tin oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide and vanadium oxide.  
   
   
       19 . The electric match of  claim 12  wherein said nanoscale thermite metal/metal oxide mixture is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and copper oxide, aluminum and iron oxide, aluminum and molybdenum trioxide, and aluminum and tungsten oxide.  
   
   
       20 . The electric match of  claim 12  wherein said nanoscale thermite metal/metal oxide mixture is aluminum and molybdenum trioxide.