Demilitarization of wax desensitized explosive projectiles

Abstract

A method for demilitarizing projectiles, typically military projectiles, containing a class of energetic materials known as Composition A which are wax desensitized materials. The projectiles are opened to expose the wax desensitized energetic material, which is then removed from the projectile by fluid jet technology. The wax component is separated from the energetic particles only to a degree that will leave an effective amount of desensitizing coating of wax remaining on the particles.

1 . A process for demilitarizing a projectile containing a wax desensitized energetic material comprised of a wax component and an energetic particulate component, which process comprises:
 a) exposing the wax desensitized energetic material in the projectile;   b) removing the wax desensitized energetic material from the projectile with the use of a fluid jet operated at a pressure from about 20,000 to about 150,000 psig thereby resulting in wax desensitized energetic particles having a fraction of the wax component separated therefrom, but leaving an effective amount of wax on said energetic material so that the energetic particles remain desensitized;   c) collecting the separated wax component; and   d) collecting the resulting wax desensitized energetic particles.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the fluid of the fluid jet is water. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the pressure of the fluid jet is from about 40,000 psig to about 150,000 psig. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the wax is a naturally occurring wax. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein the wax is a beeswax. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the wax is a synthetic wax. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the energetic component is selected from the group consisting of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX); cyclotetromethylene tetranitramine (HMX); 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNT); Amatol (Ammonium Nitrate/TNT); Cyclotol (RDX/TNT); and Octol (HMX/TNT). 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein there is also present aluminum particles along with the energetic particles. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 7  wherein the energetic is selected from the group consisting of RDX, TNT, and HMX. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the wax desensitized material is exposed by cutting open the projectile by use of a high pressure fluid jet. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  wherein the fluid of the fluid jet is water and wherein there is also present an abrasive material. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein the abrasive material is selected from the group consisting of glass, silica, alumina, silicon carbide, garnet, as well as elemental metal and metal alloy slags and grits. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the abrasive material is garnet.