Methods of applying a protective barrier to the liner of an explosive charge

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a method of protecting at least a liner of an explosive charge from an environment comprises: applying a material onto or adjacent to the liner of the explosive charge, wherein prior to the step of applying, the liner is capable of being exposed to the environment, and wherein the material is capable of providing a protective barrier to at least the liner against the environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of protecting at least a liner of an explosive charge from an environment comprising:
 applying a material onto or adjacent to the liner of the explosive charge,
 wherein prior to the step of applying, the liner is capable of being exposed to the environment, and 
 wherein the material is capable of providing a protective barrier to at least the liner against the environment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the charge is a shaped charge. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liner is made from a substance selected from the group consisting of glass, copper, aluminum, tungsten, tantalum, depleted uranium, lead, tin, cadmium, cobalt, magnesium, titanium, zinc, zirconium, molybdenum, beryllium, nickel, silver, gold, platinum, pseudo-alloys of tungsten filler and copper binder, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the charge further comprises a charge case, an explosive load, and a hollow cavity, wherein the explosive load is located within and adjacent to the charge case, and wherein the liner is positioned adjacent to the explosive load. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein charge case is pyramidal or conical in shape and wherein the step of applying can comprise applying the material to the base of the charge case. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the material is a solid prior to and during the step of applying. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the material further comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying comprises the step of spraying the material onto the liner. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the material is selected such that it is capable of being applied to the liner via a spraying apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the material is a liquid or a foam during the step of applying. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the liquid portion of the material solidifies after the step of applying. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the environment contains at least one component that is capable of degrading at least a portion of the liner. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the material and the thickness of the material are selected such that the component is prevented from penetrating the material. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is selected such that the material is compatible with the explosive load. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the material is selected such that the functioning of the charge is not impaired. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of a polymer, polyester films, polyimide films, polyamide films, polymer tapes, foil tapes, polyesters, ceramic tapes, metals, such as aluminum and aluminum foil tape, paint compositions, silicon based paints and coatings, polyurethanes, synthetic resins, conformal coatings, nanotechnology coatings, synthetic closed cell foams and compounds, silicon foams and compounds, syntactic foams and compounds, rubber foams and compounds, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of manufacturing the charge. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing components capable of causing degradation to the liner prior to the step of applying and during the step of applying. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the methods can also include the step of partially or fully assembling the charge into a device after the step of applying. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of placing the charge in an enclosure after the step of applying.