Low temperature, extrudable, high density reactive materials

Abstract

A reactive material for use as a reactive liner in penetrating (shape-charge) warheads and for use in reactive fragments in fragmenting warheads is disclosed. The reactive material comprises an oxidizing agent and a metal filler or metal/metal oxide filler. The oxidizing agent comprises a fluoropolymer having high fluorine content, a low melt temperature, and a high mechanical strength. Preferably, the fluoropolymer is a thermoplastic fluoropolymer, such as a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride. The metal filler comprises a high density, reactive metal. Preferably, the metal filler is hafnium or tantalum. The reactive material is safely processed at temperatures significantly below the thermal autoignition point of the reactive material.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A composition for a reactive material, comprising consisting of:
 an oxidizing agent comprising a fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorovinylether, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene, and a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene; and 
 at least one metal filler, 
 the fluoropolymer present in the composition at from approximately 15% by weight to approximately 90% by weight. 
 
     
     
       2. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer is present in the reactive material at approximately 15-90% by weight. 
     
     
       3. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer is present in the reactive material composition at from approximately 25% by weight to approximately 25-75% 75% by weight. 
     
     
       4. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidizing agent has a fluorine content of greater than approximately 45% by weight. 
     
     
       5. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal filler comprises a metal having a density approximately equal to or greater than the density of magnesium. 
     
     
       6. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal filler is present in the reactive material composition at from approximately 10% by weight to approximately 10-85% 85% by weight. 
     
     
       7. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal filler is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, magnesium/aluminum alloys, iron, copper, zirconium, titanium, zinc, manganese, tin, boron, silicon, hafnium, tungsten, depleted uranium, and tantalum, and metal carbides, oxides, and nitrides thereof. 
     
     
       8. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal filler is a metal/metal oxide thermite or a metal/metal intermetallic. 
     
     
       9. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a processing temperature of the reactive material is substantially below a thermal autoignition temperature of the reactive material. 
     
     
       10. An article comprising a liner formed from a reactive material, the reactive material, comprising:
 a reactive material liner consisting of: an oxidizing agent comprising a fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorovinylether, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene, and a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene; and   
 at least one metal filler, 
 the fluoropolymer present in the reactive material liner at from approximately 15% by weight to approximately 90% by weight. 
 
     
     
       11. The article of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one metal filler comprises a metal having a density approximately equal to or greater than the density of magnesium. 
     
     
       12. The article of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one metal filler is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, magnesium/aluminum alloys, iron, copper, zirconium, titanium, zinc, manganese, tin, boron, silicon, hafnium, tungsten, depleted uranium, and tantalum, and metal carbides, oxides, and nitrides thereof. 
     
     
       13. The article of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one metal filler is a metal/metal oxide thermite or a metal/metal intermetallic. 
     
     
       14. The article of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one metal filler is present in the reactive material at approximately 10-85% by weight. 
     
     
       15. The article of  claim 10 , wherein a processing temperature of the reactive material is substantially below a thermal autoignition temperature of the reactive material. 
     
     
       16. The article of  claim 10 , wherein the fluoropolymer is present in the reactive material at approximately 15-90% by weight. 
     
     
       17. The ice of  claim 10 , wherein the fluoropolymer is present in the reactive material at approximately 25-75% by weight. 
     
     
       18. A method of processing a reactive material, comprising:
 mixing at least one metal filler with an oxidizing agent a fluoropolymer to form a reactive material consisting of the at least one metal filler and the fluoropolymer, the oxidizing agent comprising a fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorovinylether, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene, and a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene, and the fluoropolymer present in the reactive material at from approximately 15% by weight to approximately 90% by weight; and 
 processing the reactive material at a temperature that does not exceed a thermal autoignition temperature of the reactive material. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein mixing at least one metal filler with an oxidizing agent comprises mixing the at least one metal filler selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, magnesium/aluminum alloys, iron, copper, zirconium, titanium, zinc, manganese, tin, boron, silicon, hafnium, tungsten, depleted uranium, and tantalum, and metal carbides, oxides, and nitrides thereof, with the oxidizing agent. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein mixing at least one metal filler with an oxidizing agent comprises mixing at least one metal/metal oxide with the oxidizing agent. 
     
     
       21. A method of processing a reactive material, comprising:
 mixing a metal filler with an oxidizing agent to form a reactive material, the oxidizing agent comprising a fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorovinylether, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene, and a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene; and   processing the reactive material at a temperature substantially below a thermal autoignition point of the reactive material.   
     
     
       22. An artillery projectile comprising a liner formed from a reactive material, the reactive material, comprising:
 an oxidizing agent comprising a fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorovinylether, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene, and a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene; and 
 at least one metal filler 
 a reactive material liner consisting of: a fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorovinylether, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene, and a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene; and   at least one metal filler,   
 the fluoropolymer present in the reactive material liner at from approximately 15% by weight to approximately 90% by weight. 
 
     
     
       23. A warhead comprising fragments or a liner formed from a reactive material, the reactive material, comprising:
 an oxidizing agent comprising a fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorovinylether, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene, and a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene; and 
 at least one metal filler 
 reactive material fragments or a reactive material liner, the reactive material fragments or the reactive material liner consisting of:
 a fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorovinylether, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene, and a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene; and   at least one metal filler,   
 the fluoropolymer present in the reactive material fragments or the reactive material liner at from approximately 15% by weight to approximately 90% by weight. 
 
     
     
       24. A warhead for use in a projectile, comprising:
 a case; 
 an explosive material; 
 an initiator; and 
 a liner or fragments, the liner or fragments formed from a reactive material comprising consisting of at least one metal filler and an oxidizing agent, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises a from approximately 15% by weight to approximately 90% by weight of a fluoropolymer, the fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorovinylether, a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene, and a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene.