Multi component reactive metal penetrators, and their method of manufacture

Abstract

A penetrator comprising a layered composite of at least one high density metal and at least one reactive material such as a reactive metal.

1 . A penetrator comprising a composite material having a uniform structure  1  wherein said composite material comprises at least one high density metal and at least one reactive material. 
     
     
         2 . The penetrator of  claim 1 , wherein the high density metal is Ta and the reactive material is Zr. 
     
     
         3 . The penetrator of  claim 1 , wherein the high density metal is selected from the group consisting of Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, U, and Hf, and an alloy thereof, and the reactive material is a reactive metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Mg, Al, Li, Be, Ti, Sc, V, H, Sr, Y, Si, and Ge, and an alloy thereof, a rare earth element and an alloy thereof, hydrogen, carbon and a metal carbide. 
     
     
         4 . The penetrator of  claim 3 , wherein the rare earth metal is selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu. 
     
     
         5 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The penetrator of  claim 1 , wherein the penetrator has a shape of a cube. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The penetrator of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive material is a reactive metal. 
     
     
         11 . The penetrator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one high density metal and the at least one reactive material are bonded by powder metallurgical processing. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The penetrator of  claim 1 , wherein the high density material is in particle form, and a layer of the reactive material is deposited on particles of the high density material. 
     
     
         14 . The penetrator of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive material is an alloy of at least two reactive metals. 
     
     
         15 . The penetrator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the high density metal and the reactive material comprises a particulate composite. 
     
     
         16 . A penetrator consisting essentially of a composite material having at least one constituent comprising at least one high density metal and at least one constituent comprising at least one reactive material. 
     
     
         17 . The penetrator of  claim 16 , wherein the high density metal is selected from the group consisting of Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, U, and Hf, and an alloy thereof, and the reactive material is a reactive metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Mg, Al, Li, Be, Ti, Sc, V, H, Sr, Y, Si, and Ge, and an alloy thereof, a rare earth element and an alloy thereof, hydrogen, carbon and a metal carbide. 
     
     
         18 . The penetrator of  claim 17 , wherein the rare earth metal is selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu. 
     
     
         19 . The penetrator of  claim 16 , wherein the penetrator has a shape of a cube. 
     
     
         20 . The penetrator of  claim 16 , wherein the reactive material is a reactive metal. 
     
     
         21 . The penetrator of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one high density metal and the at least one reactive material are bonded by powder metallurgical processing. 
     
     
         22 . The penetrator of  claim 16 , wherein the high density material is in particle form, and a layer of the reactive material is deposited on particles of the high density material. 
     
     
         23 . The penetrator of  claim 16 , wherein the reactive material is an alloy of at least two reactive metals. 
     
     
         24 . The penetrator of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the high density metal and the reactive material comprises a particulate composite.