Asphalt-containing projectable targets

Abstract

A projectable target is made from a composition including a filler material and a binder for the filler material. The binder includes a mixture of asphalt and an asphalt modifier selected from polymers, waxes, asphaltites, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the asphalt modifier is a combination of polymer and wax, and the binder has a penetration from 0 dmm to 5 dmm at 25° C., a softening point from 80° C. to 175° C., and a viscosity from 1000 centipoise to 25,000 centipoise at 163° C. The composition is formed into the shape of the projectable target and hardened.

1 . A projectable target made from a composition comprising a filler material and a binder for the filler material, the binder comprising a mixture of asphalt and an asphalt modifier selected from the group consisting of polymers, waxes, asphaltites, and combinations thereof, the composition being formed into the shape of the projectable target and hardened. 
     
     
         2 . The projectable target defined in  claim 1  wherein the binder has physical properties including at least one of a penetration within a range of from 0 dmm to about 5 dmm at 25° C., a softening point within a range of from about 80° C. to about 175° C., and a viscosity within a range of from about 1000 centipoise to about 25,000 centipoise at 163° C. 
     
     
         3 . The projectable target defined in  claim 2  wherein the penetration, viscosity and softening point of the binder are all within the defined ranges. 
     
     
         4 . The projectable target defined in  claim 1  wherein the penetration of the binder is within a range of from about 0 dmm to about 3 dmm at 25° C. 
     
     
         5 . The projectable target defined in  claim 1  wherein the softening point of the binder is within a range of from about 90° C. to about 150° C. 
     
     
         6 . The projectable target defined in  claim 1  wherein the viscosity of the binder is within a range of from about 1,500 centipoise to about 10,000 centipoise at 163° C. 
     
     
         7 . The projectable target defined in  claim 1  which has a brittleness enabling the target to disintegrate when hit by shotgun pellets. 
     
     
         8 . The projectable target defined in  claim 1  wherein the asphalt is a solvent extracted asphalt. 
     
     
         9 . The projectable target defined in  claim 1  wherein the asphalt modifier comprises a combination of polymer and wax. 
     
     
         10 . The projectable target defined in  claim 9  wherein the polymer is a hydrocarbon resin. 
     
     
         11 . The projectable target defined in  claim 9  wherein the binder comprises from about 50 wt % to about 90 wt % asphalt, from about 5 wt % to about 30 wt % polymer and from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % wax. 
     
     
         12 . The projectable target defined in  claim 1  wherein the asphalt modifier comprises wax. 
     
     
         13 . The projectable target defined in  claim 12  wherein the wax has a softening point within a range of from about 50° C. to about 170° C. 
     
     
         14 . The projectable target defined in  claim 12  wherein the binder comprises from about 60 wt % to about 95 wt % asphalt and from about 5 wt % to about 40 wt % wax. 
     
     
         15 . The projectable target defined in  claim 1  wherein the asphalt modifier comprises asphaltite. 
     
     
         16 . The projectable target defined in  claim 15  wherein the binder comprises from about 60 wt % to about 95 wt % asphalt and from about 5 wt % to about 40 wt % asphaltite. 
     
     
         17 . A projectable target made from a composition comprising a filler material and a binder for the filler material, the binder comprising a mixture of asphalt, polymer and wax, the binder having a penetration within a range of from 0 dmm to about 5 dmm at 25° C., a softening point within a range of from about 80° C. to about 175° C., and a viscosity within a range of from about 1000 centipoise to about 25,000 centipoise at 163° C., the composition being formed into the shape of the projectable target and hardened. 
     
     
         18 . A projectable target made from a composition comprising a filler material and a binder for the filler material, the binder comprising a mixture of:
 solvent extracted asphalt which is oxidized to a softening point within a range of from about 140° C. to about 180° C., the asphalt having a penetration of about 0 dmm at 25° C.;   hydrocarbon resin having a softening point within a range of from about 120° C. to about 175° C.; and   wax;   the composition being formed into the shape of the projectable target and hardened.   
     
     
         19 . The projectable target defined in  claim 18  wherein the hydrocarbon resin is included in an amount within a range of from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the binder. 
     
     
         20 . The projectable target defined in  claim 18  wherein the wax is included in an amount within a range of from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the binder.