Non-lethal payloads and methods of producing same

Abstract

Non-lethal payloads including at least one of boron and silicon, at least one fuel, and at least one oxidizer. The non-lethal payload may be a single-component or dual-component payload. Methods of producing the non-lethal payloads are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-lethal payload, comprising:
 an illuminant comprising at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and at least one of boron or silicon, the at least one oxidizer comprising potassium nitrate and strontium nitrate; and   an igniter comprising at least one fuel and at least one oxidizer,   the illuminant substantially free of a binder.   
     
     
         2 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fuel of the illuminant comprises at least one of magnesium or aluminum. 
     
     
         3 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one oxidizer of the illuminant further comprises ammonium nitrate, an alkali metal nitrate, an alkaline earth nitrate, a transition metal nitrate, an ammonium perchlorate, an alkali metal perchlorate, an alkaline earth perchlorate, an alkali metal peroxide, an alkali metal peroxide, or an alkaline earth peroxide. 
     
     
         4 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of boron or silicon comprises from approximately 4% by weight to approximately 15 wt % of the illuminant. 
     
     
         5 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one oxidizer consists of potassium nitrate and strontium nitrate. 
     
     
         6 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant consists of the at least one fuel, the potassium nitrate and strontium nitrate, and the at least one of boron or silicon. 
     
     
         7 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant consists of potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron. 
     
     
         8 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the illuminant comprises potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron; and   the igniter comprises potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron.   
     
     
         9 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 8 , wherein the illuminant comprises a higher fuel/oxidizer ratio than the igniter. 
     
     
         10 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the illuminant consists of potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron; and   the igniter consists of potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron.   
     
     
         11 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the illuminant consists of potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, boron, and at least one of carbon black or graphite; and   the igniter consists of potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron.   
     
     
         12 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the illuminant comprises 23.0% by weight potassium nitrate, 4% by weight strontium nitrate, 65.0% by weight magnesium, and 8% by weight boron; and   the igniter comprises 21% by weight potassium nitrate, 33% by weight strontium nitrate, 38% by weight magnesium, and 8% by weight boron.   
     
     
         13 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter comprises a dry mixture of the at least one fuel and the at least one oxidizer. 
     
     
         14 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter consists of potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron. 
     
     
         15 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 1 , wherein the non-lethal payload is substantially free of a binder. 
     
     
         16 . A non-lethal payload, comprising:
 at least one fuel, an oxidizer comprising potassium nitrate and strontium nitrate, and at least one of boron or silicon, wherein the at least one of boron or silicon comprises from approximately 1% by weight to approximately 30% by weight of the non-lethal payload and the non-lethal payload is substantially free of a binder.   
     
     
         17 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of boron or silicon comprises from approximately 2% by weight to approximately 20 wt % of the non-lethal payload. 
     
     
         18 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 16 , wherein the non-lethal payload comprises potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron. 
     
     
         19 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one of carbon black or graphite. 
     
     
         20 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 16 , wherein the non-lethal payload consists of potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron. 
     
     
         21 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 16 , wherein the oxidizer consists of potassium nitrate and strontium nitrate. 
     
     
         22 . The non-lethal payload of  claim 16 , wherein the non-lethal payload consists of potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, boron, and at least one of carbon black or graphite. 
     
     
         23 . A method of forming a non-lethal payload, comprising:
 combining at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and at least one of boron or silicon in the absence of any solvent and without a binder, wherein the at least one oxidizer comprises potassium nitrate and strontium nitrate, the at least one of boron or silicon comprises from approximately 1% by weight to approximately 30% by weight of the non-lethal payload, and the non-lethal payload is substantially free of a binder.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein combining at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and at least one of boron or silicon comprises dry blending the at least one fuel, the at least one oxidizer, and the at least one of boron or silicon. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein combining at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and at least one of boron or silicon comprises dry blending potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, magnesium, and boron.