Limited-life cartridge primers

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:871665

Makowiecki, Daniel M ^[1]; Rosen, Robert S ^[2]

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1. Livermore, CA
2. San Ramon, CA

A cartridge primer which utilizes an explosive that can be designed to become inactive in a predetermined period of time: a limited-life primer. The explosive or combustible material of the primer is an inorganic reactive multilayer (RML). The reaction products of the RML are sub-micron grains of non-corrosive inorganic compounds that would have no harmful effects on firearms or cartridge cases. Unlike use of primers containing lead components, primers utilizing RML's would not present a hazard to the environment. The sensitivity of an RML is determined by the physical structure and the stored interfacial energy. The sensitivity lowers with time due to a decrease in interfacial energy resulting from interdiffusion of the elemental layers. Time-dependent interdiffusion is predictable, thereby enabling the functional lifetime of an RML primer to be predetermined by the initial thickness and materials selection of the reacting layers.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5773748
• OSTI ID: 871665
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

limited-life
cartridge
primers
primer
utilizes
explosive
designed
inactive
predetermined
period
time
combustible
material
inorganic
reactive
multilayer
rml
reaction
products
sub-micron
grains
non-corrosive
compounds
harmful
effects
firearms
unlike
containing
lead
components
utilizing
hazard
environment
sensitivity
determined
physical
structure
stored
interfacial
energy
lowers
due
decrease
resulting
interdiffusion
elemental
layers
time-dependent
predictable
enabling
functional
lifetime
initial
thickness
materials
selection
reacting
inorganic compounds
organic compound
organic compounds
reaction product
reaction products
combustible material
predetermined period
energy resulting
containing lead
harmful effects
reactive multilayer
cartridge primer
time due
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