Single-walled nanotubes for use as additives in energetic materials, and methods for synthesizing such materials are described. The single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) additives comprise a mixture of high-purity SWNT and carbon encapsulated iron nanoparticles. The SWNT mixtures may comprise no more than 5% non-SWNT carbon, and the iron nanoparticles may be from 2-5 nm. The method of synthesizing the SWNTs may comprise a high-pressure carbon monoxide (HiPCO) process. The SWNT mixtures may be adapted for use as additives in energetic processes, such as, for example, rocket motors.

The present invention relates to a manufactured graphene/metal or metalloid core-shell composite and manufacturing method thereof. The method comprising: using a modified graphene oxide as a base, then performing concentration and steam drying followed by organic solvent replacement to obtain a modified graphene oxide organic solvent; using a liquid-phase self-assembly method to coat the modified graphene oxide onto a surface of the metal or metalloid to form a graphene/metal or metalloid coated particle solution, then filtering and drying to obtain the graphene metal/metalloid core-shell composite. The method improves upon a conventional organic and inorganic material coating technique, and reduces an impact of a water-based solvent and high temperature on a highly reactive metal and metalloid, thereby expanding the feasibility of the coating technique and addressing a barrier of applicability of graphene and reactive metal or metalloid in the field of energetic materials.

The present invention relates to a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion explosive comprising one or more of graphene oxide (GO), partially reduced graphene oxide (prGO), and functionalized graphene oxide (fGO). There is also provided a method of improving one or more properties of a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion explosive.

The present application generally relates to compositions with solid fuel loaded on graphene foams (GFs) for enhanced burn rates, and methods of making and using the compositions with solid fuel loaded on graphene foam.

A device is disclosed for controlling a rate of gas pressure increase generated by a propellant for propelling a projectile from an upstream towards a downstream end of a gun barrel. The device includes a first surface area defined by the propellant and a deterrent applied to a second surface area defined by the first surface area, the second surface area being less than the first surface area. The arrangement is such that the second surface area defines a deterrent free third surface area of the propellant. A primer is operatively disposed relative to the third surface area such that when the primer is activated, the third surface area of the propellant is ignited. The arrangement is such that firstly, while the third surface area is burning and generating gas between the upstream end of the gun barrel and the projectile, the rate of gas pressure increase begins to propel the projectile towards the downstream end of the gun barrel. Secondly, the third surface area of the propellant while burning exposes a progressively increasing surface area of the propellant for burning together with an associated increased generation of gas, the increasing surface area of the propellant defining a concave crater, the crater having a wall which progressively increases in surface area during the burning such that the rate of increase in gas pressure continues to increase for accelerating the projectile towards the downstream end of the gun barrel.

A pyrotechnic composition includes a fuel, an oxidizer, flow and rate control agents and oleoresin capsicum as an irritant. The composition is useful in crowd control products. The composition contains rate control ingredients to maintain combustion at a temperature below the point of degradation of the oleoresin capsicum, balanced with a booster material to maintain combustion.

A device is disclosed for controlling a rate of gas pressure increase generated by a propellant for propelling a projectile from an upstream towards a downstream end of a gun barrel. The device includes a first surface area defined by the propellant and a deterrent applied to a second surface area defined by the first surface area, the second surface area being less than the first surface area. The arrangement is such that the second surface area defines a deterrent free third surface area of the propellant. A primer is operatively disposed relative to the third surface area such that when the primer is activated, the third surface area of the propellant is ignited. The arrangement is such that firstly, while the third surface area is burning and generating gas between the upstream end of the gun barrel and the projectile, the rate of gas pressure increase begins to propel the projectile towards the downstream end of the gun barrel. Secondly, the third surface area of the propellant while burning exposes a progressively increasing surface area of the propellant for burning together with an associated increased generation of gas, the increasing surface area of the propellant defining a concave crater, the crater having a wall which progressively increases in surface area during the burning such that the rate of increase in gas pressure continues to increase for accelerating the projectile towards the downstream end of the gun barrel.

Gas-generating pyrotechnic solid objects, the composition of which, free of binder and of explosive ingredient, expressed as weight percentages, contains from 35 to 50%, advantageously from 40 to 50%, of guanidine nitrate, from 35 to 50% of basic copper nitrate, from 0.5 to 6% of at least one compound chosen from alumina and inorganic titanates, the melting point of which is above 2100 K, and from 5 to 18% of at least one inorganic oxalate, chosen from sodium oxalate, tin oxalate, strontium oxalate, iron oxalate, copper oxalate and mixtures thereof.

Disclosed are a nanoenergetic material composite-based solid propellant, a method of preparing the same, and a projectile using the same. The propellant includes: potassium nitrate-sucrose (KNSU) composite powder; and nanoenergetic material (nEM) composite powder in a solid powder form mixed with the KNSU composite powder to prepare a KNSU/nEM propellant. The method includes: preparing KNSU composite powder; preparing nEM composite powder; and preparing a KNSU/nEM propellant by mixing the KNSU composite powder and the nEM composite powder in a solid powder form. The projectile includes: a clay block; a clay nozzle responsible for releasing the pressure generated by explosion of a propellant; and a propellant lamination area disposed between the clay block and the clay nozzle. Upon ignition of the KNSU/nEM propellant, the nEM composite powder increases the combustion rate and combustion temperature of a potassium nitrate-sucrose (KNSU) propellant.

A method of forming polymer composites includes mixing a transition metal oxide precursor including at least one transition metal, a polymer as a binder, a solvent for the polymer, and water to form a first solution including polymer-transition metal complexes. The polymer-transition metal complexes are hydrolyzed to produce a plurality of transition metal oxide nanoparticles, wherein water is added in the mixing in a stoichiometric excess for the hydrolyzing. The solvent and residual of the water remaining after the hydrolyzing are removed. A polymer composite including the transition metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed in the polymer results after the removing, where some of the polymer is chemically conjugated to a surface of the transition metal oxide nanoparticles.