Micro-encapsulation of components and incorporation of such into energetic formulations

Abstract

Method for controlling the release of a component in an energetic material formulation comprising encapsulating at least one component in the energetic material formulation, said component selected from the group consisting of a stabilizer, a plasticizer, a burn rate modifier, and combinations thereof, in a suitable encapsulation material; and admixing the encapsulated selected components into the energetic material formulation.

1 . An energetic material formulation comprising at least one encapsulated component selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, stabilizers, burn rate modifiers and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       2 . The energetic material formulation of  claim 1  wherein the formulation is an explosive, a pyrotechnic composition, a propellant, a smokeless powder, or a fuel. 
   
   
       3 . The energetic material formulation of  claim 2  wherein the formulation is a smokeless powder comprising a single-base powder, a double-base powder or a triple-base powder. 
   
   
       4 . The energetic material formulation of  claim 1  wherein said component is microencapsulated. 
   
   
       5 . The energetic material formulation of  claim 4  wherein the microencapsulated component has an average diameter of from about 1 μm to about 120 μm. 
   
   
       6 . The energetic material formulation of  claim 1  wherein the component is encapsulated with a material selected from the group consisting of methacrylates, polyamides, nylons, polyureas, polyurethanes, gelatins, polyesters, polycarbonates, modified polystyrenes, ethylcellulose degradable polymer matrices, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The energetic material formulation of  claim 1  wherein the component is encapsulated with a material selected from the group consisting of poly(lactide-co-glycolide), poly(glycidylmethacrylate), polystyrene, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The energetic material formulation of  claim 1  wherein the stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of 2-nitrodiphenylamine, p-nitromethylaniline, diphenylamine, nitrodiphenylamine, methyl centralite, ethyl centralite and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The energetic material formulation of  claim 1  wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dioctyl adipate, dioctyl azelate, isodecyl dipenylphosphate and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       10 . A method for controlling the release of a component in an energetic material formulation comprising: encapsulating at least one component in the energetic material formulation, said component selected from the group consisting of a stabilizer, a plasticizer, a burn rate modifier, and combinations thereof, in a suitable encapsulation material; and admixing the encapsulated selected components into the energetic material formulation. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said suitable encapsulation material is selected from the group consisting of methacrylates, polyamides, nylons, polyureas, polyurethanes, gelatins, polyesters, polycarbonates, modified polystyrenes, ethylcellulose degradable polymer matrices, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said suitable encapsulation material is selected from the group consisting of poly(lactide-co-glycolide), poly(glycidylmethacrylate), polystyrene, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of 2-nitrodiphenylamine, p-nitromethylaniline, diphenylamine, nitrodiphenylamine, methyl centralite, ethyl centralite and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dioctyl adipate, dioctyl azelate, isodecyl dipenylphosphate and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said component is microencapsulated. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the microencapsulated component has an average diameter of from about from about 1 μm to about 120 μm. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the component is substantially continuously released into the formulation. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the component is intermittently released into the composition.