A solid rocket propellant grain having rocket propellant and a membrane in contact with the rocket propellant. The membrane includes a highly heat conductive pattern which affects the propellant burning rate through localized conductive heat transfer from the combustion zone and into the uncombusted propellant. Different geometries for the thermally conductive pattern produce different combustion results.

A training aid for use in training canines to detect an explosive material includes an explosive material adsorbed in the pores of a high surface area mesoporous or nanoporous host material. By adjusting the surfaces of the pores of the substrate material, the substrate can accommodate various types of explosive materials in a non-detonable and non-flammable manner, including nitroaromatics, nitroamines, nitrate-based explosives, and peroxide-based explosives. When the training aid is in an unsealed condition, a continuous flux of explosive material is released without providing any explosive or flame hazard to the trainer and canine.

An energetic nanocomposite includes fuel nanoparticles and oxidizer nanoparticles covalently bonded to negatively charged functionalized graphene sheets. A preferred example includes Al fuel nanoparticles and Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 nanoparticles. A preferred method of formation mixes a solution of positively charged fuel nanoparticles, positively charged oxidizer nanoparticles, and negatively charged functionalized graphene sheets having functional groups to bond with the positively charged fuel nanoparticles and positively charged oxidizer nanoparticles. Self-assembly of the energetic nanocomposite is permitted over a predetermined time via the attraction and aggregation of the positively charged fuel nanoparticles positively charged oxidizer nanoparticles and negatively charged functionalized graphene sheets. Additional methods and nanocomposites include unfunctionalized graphene sheets, which can be commercial grade sheets.

The present invention provides an improved sorbent and corresponding device(s) and uses thereof for the capture and stabilization of volatile organic compounds (VOC) or semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) from a gaseous atmosphere. The sorbent is capable of rapid and high uptake of one or more compounds and provides quantitative release (recovery) of the compound(s) when exposed to elevated temperature and/or organic solvent. Uses of particular improved grades of mesoporous silica are disclosed.

A training aid for use in training canines to detect an explosive material includes an explosive material adsorbed in the pores of a high surface area mesoporous or nanoporous host material. By adjusting the surfaces of the pores of the substrate material, the substrate can accommodate various types of explosive materials in a non-detonable and non-flammable manner, including nitroaromatics, nitroamines, nitrate-based explosives, and peroxide-based explosives. When the training aid is in an unsealed condition, a continuous flux of explosive material is released without providing any explosive or flame hazard to the trainer and canine.

An explosive composition for use in telescopically expanding non-lethal training ammunition comprises tetrazene and paraffin wax. The explosive composition can be used as a primer and/or as a source of energetic material in a telescopically expanding non-lethal training cartridge; it can be used to propel a projectile from a telescopically expanding non-lethal training cartridge; and/or it can be used to expand telescopically a non-lethal training cartridge within a host gun.

An explosive composition for use in telescopically expanding non-lethal training ammunition comprises tetrazene and paraffin wax. The explosive composition can be used as a primer and/or as a source of energetic material in a telescopically expanding non-lethal training cartridge; it can be used to propel a projectile from a telescopically expanding non-lethal training cartridge; and/or it can be used to expand telescopically a non-lethal training cartridge within a host gun.

A metal magnalium thermite pellet for creating heated gas is presented. The metal magnalium thermite pellet is insertable into a cutting apparatus and/or a high power igniter that releasably secures to the cutting apparatus. The cutting apparatus for radially projecting a flow of heated gas to cut from an internal surface through an external surface of a conduit for oil, gas, mining, and underwater pressure sealed tool applications. The metal magnalium thermite pellet comprises a metal magnalium thermite composition consisting of between 1 to 44 percent magnalium alloy, between 1 to 44 percent aluminum, between 40 to 60 percent iron oxide, and between 10 to 20 percent polytetrafluoroethylene.

A metal magnalium thermite pellet for creating heated gas is presented. The metal magnalium thermite pellet is insertable into a cutting apparatus and/or a high power igniter that releasably secures to the cutting apparatus. The cutting apparatus for radially projecting a flow of heated gas to cut from an internal surface through an external surface of a conduit for oil, gas, mining, and underwater pressure sealed tool applications. The metal magnalium thermite pellet comprises a metal magnalium thermite composition consisting of between 1 to 44 percent magnalium alloy, between 1 to 44 percent aluminum, between 40 to 60 percent iron oxide, and between 10 to 20 percent polytetrafluoroethylene.

The invention is directed to a propellant charge, to a method of preparing a propellant charge, and to uses of the propellant charge. The propellant charge or grain of the invention comprises two or more energetic materials with different linear burn rate, wherein the two or more energetic materials are distributed within the charge or grain such that two perpendicular cross-sections of said propellant charge or grain have at least two linear burn rate gradients in non-parallel directions, wherein said propellant charge or grain is layered with layers having a layer thickness in the range of 1-10 000 m, wherein, if the propellant charge or grain has a longitudinal axis, at least one of said perpendicular cross-sections is along said longitudinal axis, and wherein said propellant charge or grain further comprises one or more perforations.