United States Patent O?

tice

2,918,362
Patented Dec. 272, i959
2

- 1

volume of space which may be allotted to the explosives.

Accordingly,,it is desirable that anlexplosive composi

2,918,362
EXPLOSIVE COMPOSITION

Duncan P. MacDougall, Pittsburgh, Pa., Paul M. ljye,

Woods Hole, Mass., and George B. Kistiakowsky, Pitts

tion be utilized which will contribute to the weight, and

therefore the density, of the ordnance equipment for un
derwater use.

Example 1

burgh, Pa., assignors to the United States of America

as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

A technical grade barium nitrate powder was selected

relation to an explosive composition of high density for

use in ordnance devices, such as depth charges, mines,

lected, approximately 95 percent of which was capable

of being passed through a 200 mesh screen. The par

having an approximate screen analysis as follows: 53

percent through a 325 mesh screen; 20 percent through a
No Drawing. Application June 24, 1944' '
10
200 mesh screen onto a 325 mesh screen;'11 percent
Serial No. 542,008
7_ a
through a 150 mesh screen onto a 200 mesh screen; 7
1 Claim. (c1. 152-6)
percent through a 100 mesh screen onto a 150 mesh
screen; and 9 percent through a screen-slightly coarser
This invention relates to explosives and has particular 15 than 100 mesh. An atomized aluminum powder was se

and the like, where high density is one of the desired

characteristics of the explosive.

'

ticular aluminum powder used in this exmaple was com

mercial grade MD 101. An ordinary military grade of

An object of this invention is to provide an explosive 20 granular trinitrotoluene was used. These ingredients were
compounded into a composition comprising 35 percent
composition which will have a high density, an increased
trinitrotoluene, 50 percent barium nitrate, and 15 percent
damage range as compared to known explosives such as
of the aluminum powder. It has been found that this
trinitrotoluene, and good casting properties.
preferred percentage composition results in an explosive
Another object of the invention is to provide an ex

plosive composition which will have desirable thermo 25 composition having desirable characteristics including high
density, increased damage range and good casting prop
stability and an impact sensitivity in the neighborhood
erties.
of that possessed by trinitrotoluene.
A further object of the invention is to provide an ex

The new explosive composition was tested for thermo

stability by heating 10 to 20 gram samples up to 200

plosive composition which will be ?uid enough to be
readily poured at temperatures of about 80 to 90 C. 30 C. for 20 minute periods. These samples failed to ignite
but will not be so ?uid as to cause serious segregation of

the components.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an

nor was there any visible evidence of decomposition.

Further samples were held for a period of two hours
at temperatures between 150 C. and 200 C. without

any indication of decomposition having taken place.

explosive composition which will solidify on cooling to
give a solid having a consistent density throughout its 35 Other samples exposed to the standard 135 C. thermo

stability test for a period of ?ve hours showed no acidity,

explosion or other evidence of decomposition. Other
samples exposed to the vacuum stability test showed re
explosive composition which is capable of being safely
sults approximately the same as those obtained with tri
and e?iciently melted, cast and subsequently handled by
methods now used for trinitrotoluene and other known 40 nitrotoluene, while still other samples of the new ex

mass.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an

explosives.

plosive composition were subjected to the standard

Woods-metal bath explosion test and gave no indication

of exploding at 360 C.
It is di?icult to compare the sensitivity of a mechani
used in place of trinitrotoluene and other known military
explosives in ordnance equipment, such as depth charges, 45 cal explosive composition with that of a pure explosive

A still further object of the invention is to provide an

explosive composition which may be safely and efficiently

mines, and the like.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an

explosive composition which may be subjected to existing

military and naval practices for handling and ?ring ex

material. However, when the new explosive composition

was subjected to tests on standard impact machines, the
tests indicated an impact sensitivity not appreciably greater

than that exhibited by trinitrotoluene. When exposed to

50 the standard ri?e bullet test, the new explosive composi

tion gave some evidence of partial detonation when cast
These and other objects of the invention will be better
in either a welded steel case or in standard plumbing pipe
understood by reference to the accompanying descrip

plosives.

nipples.
tion.
The new explosive composition solidi?ed on cooling
The invention broadly comprises an explosive com
position of trinitrotoluene, barium nitrate and aluminum 55 from the molten state to give a slightly porous, rock-like
material having a density of about 2.3 grams per ml.
powder. 'In a preferred form, the new explosive composi
A cast charge of the new explosive composition was sepa
tion comprises a composition of 35 percent trinitrotoluene,
rated into various small sections which were measured
50 percent barium nitrate and 15 percent aluminum pow
for density. It was observed that there was no marked
' der.
It will be understood that other substantial per
centages of these ingredients may be employed. For ex 60 variation in density between the small sections, which in
dicated that very little settling took place either prior to
ample, the composition may include from 15 to 50 per
or during solidi?cation of the cast charge.
cent tn'nitrotoluene, 30 to 60 percent barium nitrate and
The physical characteristics of the new explosive com
about 10 to 25 percent aluminum powder.
position are such that it may be readily substituted for
An explosive having a high density is particularly de
sirable for use in underwater ordnance devices, such as 65 present explosives now used in underwater ordnance
equipment. Thus, the new explosive composition may be
depth charges, mines, and the like, where the function
of the ordnance is partially dependent upon its degree of
subjected to present loading conditions and practices, it
buoyancy. For example, the rate of sinking of a depth

may be shipped and stored by present practices, and it

charge is primarily dependent upon its density. Although

may be detonated by means of detonators now in use.

the addition of heavy weights, such addition lessens the

plosive composition is ?uid enough to be readily poured

the weight of the ordnance devices may be increased by 70 In this connection, it 'has been found that the new ex

2,918,362

3
it is not so ?uid as to cause serious segregation between

the components of the composition.

We claim:

A cast explosive composition for underwater ordnance 5

characterized by a density of substantially 2.3 and con

sisting essentially of the following, by weight: 35 per

cent trinitrotoluene, 50 percent barium nitrate powder

2,333,275

Smelling _____________ __ Nov. 2, 1943

2,369,517

Bageley 7.7.1-, ________ __ Feb. 13, 1945

FOREIGN PATENTS

4,699

of 5 3 percent 325 mesh screen particle size, 20 percent 200

mesh screen particle size, 11 percent 150 mesh screen 10
particle size, 7 percent 100 mesh screen particle size and
9 percent of particle size coarser than 100 mesh screen;

and 15 percent atomized aluminum powder, approxi

mately 95 percent of which is of particle size ?ner than
200 mesh screen.

4
References Cited in the ?le of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS

when heated at temperatures from 80 to 90 C., but

15

341,633

6,651

25,351

18,551

37,331
472,371
408,260

Great Britain ______________ __ of

France ______________ __ June 15,
Great Britain _____________ __ of
Austria ______________ __ Aug. 10,

1904
1904
1905
1906

vGreat Britain ______________ __ of

Austria ______________ __ May 25,
France _______________ __ Aug. 1,
Great Britain ________ _._ Mar. 26,

1909
1909
1914
1934