Environmentally Acceptable Medium Caliber Ammunition Percussion Primers

Abstract

Percussion primer are used to ignite fixed ammunition propellant charges with a very high functional reliability. In order to achieve this high degree of reliability, extremely sensitive primary explosive compositions are selected as the initiating materials. Medium caliber ammunition percussion primers typically consist of lead styphnate and antimony sulfide. Although highly effective, these heavy metal compounds have been identified under 40 CFR 401.15 as toxic pollutants and should be replaced or eliminated. This project evaluated Metastable Intermolecular Composites (MIC) as potential replacements for the hazardous composition currently used in medium caliber ammunition percussion primers. MIC offers a non-toxic alternative to conventional military primers. Candidate MIC primers were evaluated in the laboratory for ignition characteristics and ballistically tested in 25mm cartridges for ammunition requirement conformance.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 31, 2007
Accession Number
ADA488258

Entities

People

  • Michael E. Ellis

Organizations

  • United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aging (Materials)
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Closed Bomb Tests
  • Explosives
  • High Explosives
  • Ignition
  • Ignition Systems
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Science
  • Metallic Nanoparticles
  • Metastable Intermolecular Composites
  • Nanoenergetics
  • Particle Size
  • Projectiles
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Proposed Air Force Base Actions.
  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • ballistics.