United States Patent [191

[111

Finnegan et al.

[451 July 3,1973

[54] EXPLOSIVE CHARGE

[75] Inventors: William G. Finnegan; Lohr A.

[56]

Burkardt; William B. McLean;

William S. McEwan, all of China

Lake; Edward W. Larocca,

Placentia, all of Calif.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as

represented by the Secretary of the
Navy, Washington, DC.
[22] Filed: '
Apr. 2,}1965
[21] Appl. No.: 445,279
[521

US. Cl .................. .. 102/101, 102/24, 102/104,

[51]
[53]

Int. Cl. ............................................ .. F421) l/00

149/8

References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS

3,082,689

3/1963

Griffith et a1. ...................... ., 102/24

Primary Examiner-Robert F. Stahl

Attorney-G. J. Rubens, R. Miller and V. C. Muller

[5 7 ]

ABSTRACT

A dual explosive charge comprising concentric layers

of di?'ering detonation velocity compositions for use
against armoured targets, in underwater ordnance and
for cratering. The charge consists of a core composed
of a composition having a detonation velocity of less
than 5,000 meters per second and an annulus having a
detonation velocity above 5,000 meters per second.

Field of Search"; .................. .. 102/98, 24, 101,

102/39; 60/35.6 RS, 250; 149/8

3,742,859

6 Claims, N0 Drawings

3,742,859

Excess fuel in the detonation products of the core is

forced in part through the hole formed in the target.

tured and used by or for the Government of the United

States of America for governmental purposes without

the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
The present invention relates to an improved explo
sive charge. More particularly, the invention relates to
a composite or dual explosive charge comprising con

centric layers of differing detonation velocity composi

tions.

surrounding layer of high detonation velocity material.

EXPLOSIVE CHARGE
The invention described herein may be manufac

This fuel reacts with air or water on the far side of the

target to enhance damage in thisarea. If the pressure

created by the high detonation velocity outer layer of
the charge is not great enough to completely cut

through the object, then the delayed response of the

core explosion will tend to prolong the detonation pres
10 sure duration and will enhance the hole cutting ability

The expanding techniques of modern weapons devel

of the high detonating velocity composition to a greater

extent than an equivalent quantity of conventional high

opment lead to more and more specialized require

ments for explosives. Dual or composite explosive

charges have been developed utilizing mixtures of cur
rently known high and low explosive compositions and

The following examples will better illustrate this im

proved dual or composite explosive charge, but should

other materials. The present invention is for an im

not be construed as limiting it.

detonating velocity explosive.

proved composite or dual explosive which is capable of

EXAMPLE I

producing greater follow-through damage than any

other explosive of this type known today.

The core used in this charge consisted essentially of

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide 20 a stoichiometric mixture of three moles of magnesium
an explosive with enhanced penetrating power for use
powder and one mole of hexachloroethane. These in
against armoured targets.

gredients were thoroughly blended and compressed at

Another object is to provide an explosive which

leaves water soluble explosive products making it use

40,000 pounds gauge pressure into pellets about 2 to

2% inches in diameter with a density of 1.83 grams per

25
ful for underwater ordnance.
cubic centimeter. The outer layer or annulus which was
Still another object is to provide an explosive useful
pressed around the pellet was about 11% to 1 inch wide
in cratering.
and consisted of a plastic demolition explosive known
Yet another object is to provide a composite or dual
as composition C-3. This explosive has been standard
explosive charge having increased penetrating power
30 ized by the United States. It contains 78.0 i 2.0 percent
for the amount of explosive.
cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and 22.0 i 2.0

A further object is to provide an explosive charge

which gives high axial pressure and also provides a pro

percent explosive plasticizer which contains mononi

trotoluene, dinitrotoluenes, trinitrotoluene and tetryl.

longed pressure peak.

Composition C-3 has a detonation rate of 7,625 meters

Another object of this invention is to provide im

per second. The explosive charge on test against a steel

proved explosive charges which have enhanced reac 35

plate showed unusual damage caused by the unex

pected pressure prolongation. This is due to the widely
differing rates of detonation.

tion pressure or duration of detonation pressure.

These and other more specific objects of the inven

tion will become apparent from the following detailed

description.

The present invention is directed to an improved 40

composite explosive charge comprising a plurality of

concentric layers of differing detonation velocity com

positions. The composition having the more rapid deto

nation rate forms the outermost layer or annulus and '

surrounds the central core or innermost layer having a

slower detonation rate. The charge may be enclosed in

EXAMPLE n _

The low detonation composition comprising the core

in this example consisted of a mixture of about 21.06
percent aluminum powder, 12.16 percent sulfur and

66.78 percent potassium perchlorate. The ingredients

45 were blended and pressed into pellets. It has a detona

tion rate of about 1,500 meters per second. A layer of

Composition B was cast around these pellets. Composi
a suitable container which may be of any lightweight,
tion B was developed by the British during World War
self-sustaining, structurally weak material. Thin plastic,
I and 11 and was standardized by the United States early
metal or cardboard is quite satisfactory.
50 in World War II. it contains about 55.2 percent cyclo
The compositions found to be suitable'for this inven
tion were chosen or formulated with care because the

composition used for the core is critical to obtaining

trimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), about 40 percent tri

nitrotoluene (TNT), 1.2 percent polysoluctylene and

0.6 percent wax. Its detonation rate is 7,800 meters per

the penetrating damage for which the charge is in
'
tended. Conventional explosives with the proper low 55 second.
rate of detonation were not known. Compositions hav

ing a detonation velocity of less than 5,000 meters per

second were found suitable for the core and those with

EXAMPLE Ill
The core of this example consisted of about 60 per

cent by weight powdered aluminum and about 40 per

a detonation velocity above 5,000 meters per second
were found suitable for the surrounding annulus. 1n op 60 cent by weight ammonium nitrate. The mixture was
pressed lightly into pellets and surrounded with a layer
eration the charge is placed or propelled against the ob
ject to be damaged and detonated by ?ring the detonat
able or sensitive outer layer. It functions to crater or

of Composition C-3, described in Example I herein

above. Detonation of this charge demonstrated that the

powdered metal over the stoichiometric amount per

partially cut a hole through the object and simulta
neously initiates the detonation of the core composed 65 mitted injection of metal vapor through the crater or
hole. This phenomenon potentially enhances the dam~
of the low detonatable or insensitive composition. The
age which might be expected from a charge of this
core by virtue of its low velocity, completes detonation
character by reaction of the metal fuel with oxygen
at a time later than that required for detonation of the

3,742,859
3

containing media (air or water) on the far side of the

The charges described herein were detonated by fir

ing the sensitive composition or outer layer. This was

target.

done by an electrical detonator, but a booster charge

Other metals which may be used in place of alumi

num include zinc, zirconium, boron and beryllium.

Other oxidizers include potassium, sodium and lithium

or other suitable means. may be employed.

perchlorates and nitrates.

cut much larger holes with more tearing and shattering

The composite explosive charges of this invention,

than other types used heretofore. The recognition of an

EXAMPLE IV

unexpected type damage caused by the follow

through explosive core makes this invention a valu

The core of this example consisted of a Stoichiomet

able product.

ric mixture of powdered aluminum and octachloropro

Obviously many modi?cations and variations of the

present invention are possible in the light of the above
teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within

pane. The materials were blended and pressed into pel

lets which were covered with a layer of Composition
C-3. Detonation of this charge gives the same type re

the scope of the appended claims the invention may be

sults as the charge described in Example 1.

~ 15

1. An explosive charge comprising

The core of this explosive example consisted of a

stoichiometric mixture of ?ake aluminum and carbon

two concentric layers of explosive composition;

tetrachloride. A small amount, one-percent or less, of

a silica pigment sold under the tradename of Cab-o-sil 20
was added to thicken the mixture so that a ?rm pellet
could be formed. This core was covered with a layer of

Composition (1-3, described hereinbefore. This charge

detonated successfully and provided the unexpected
follow-through or enhanced damage effect.

practiced otherwise than asrrspeci?callyr described.

What is claimed is:

EXAMPLE V

the inner layer consisting essentially of a Stoichiomet

ric mixture of

1 mole magnesium and

3 moies hexachloroethane; and

the outer layer consisting of

78.0

25

2.0

percent

of

cyclotrimeth

ylenetrinitramine and

An explosive charge was prepared using Composition

22.0 :L- 2.0 percent explosive plasticizer;

said plasticizer consisting of mononitrotoluene, dini
trotoluene, trinitrotoluene and tetryl.
2. An explosive charge comprising

C-3 as the outer annulus and lithium and water as the

a plurality of concentric layers of low detonation ve

EXAMPLE VI

central core. Because lithium reacts readily with water

and must be stored in kerosene, gasoline or inert gases,

locity compositions and high detonation velocity

the lithium used in the explosive charge was packaged

in stick form in thin air-and-water-proof plastic car

the innermost layer being a low detonation velocity

tridges which were then positioned in a thin plastic wa 35

ter-proof canister. Water was admitted to ?ll the spaces

and hexachloroethane; and

the outermost layer being a high detonation velocity

compositions;
composition consisting essentially of magnesium
composition consisting essentially of cyclotrimeth

surrounding the cartridges and the canister was sealed.

This formed the central core. Composition C-3 was
pressed around the sides and top of the canister. The
charge was then encased in a thin aluminum housing.

ylenetrinitramine, mononitrotoluene, dinitrotol

uene, trinitrotoluene and tetryl.

3. An explosive charge comprising two concentric

layers of explosive composition; the inner layer consist

0n ?ring it demonstrated a powerful follow-through

ing essentially of

effect. The lithium could be contained in glass, copper,

plastic or other suitable materials. Other reactive met

Percent

lngredients

by weight
21.06
12.16
66.78 and

ber of equivalents of powdered metal may be equal to

Aluminum powder
Sulfur
Potassium perchlorate
the outer layer consisting essentially of

the number of equivalents of chlorine or oxygen in the

Ingredients

als and alloys may be used.

Stoichiometry of reaction ingredients may be main 45
tained to gain a maximum heat of explosion. The num

Percent

mixture. The percentage of powdered metal may be in

creasd over the stoichiometric amount, as shown in Ex

ample IIl, so as to permit injection of metal vapor

through the crater or hole produced by detonation of

the dual explosive charge.

The high detonation, sensitive composition compris

has a detonation rate of 7,800 meters per second and

60

Composition (3-3, which was often used because of its

availability, has a detonation rate of 7,625 meters per

methylenetrinitramine are all satisfactory. Many others

will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this de

scription.

55.2
40.0

Polyisoluctylene and

1.2

Wax

0.6.

two concentric layers of material, the inner layer

consisting essentially of lithium and water

the outer layer consisting essentially of cyclotrimeth

ylenetrinitramine, mononitrotoluene, dinitrotol
uene, trinitrotoluene and tetryl.

5. An explosive charge comprising two concentric

layers of explosive composition, the inner layer consist
ing essentially of

Ingredients
Aluminum
Ammonium nitrate

second. Explosives such as dynamite, nitroglycerin, tri

nitrotoluene, pentaerythritol tetranitrate and cyclotri

Cyelotrimethylenetrinitramine'
Trinitrotoluene

4. An explosive charge comprising

ing the outer annulus or layer may be any detonatable 55

material of the brisance required for detonation of the
insensitive or low detonation velocity core composi
tion. Compositions having a detonation rate above

5,000 meters per second are preferred. Composition B

by weight

65

the outer layer consisting of

Ingredients
Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine
Explosive plasticizer

Percent by weight
60

40; and

Percent by weight
78 i 2
22 i 2

3,742,859
5

said plasticizer consisting of mononitrotoluene, dini"Qtoluelle, mmtrotoluelle and telryl6. An explosive charge comprising two concentric

the outer layer consisting of 78.0 i 2.0 percent cyclo

trimethylenetrinitramine and 22.2 i 2.0 percent

explosive plasticizer;

layers of explosive composition;

said plasticizer consisting of mononitrotoluene, dini

trotoluene, "initmtoluenea and tetl'll

the inner layer consisting essentially of a stoichiomet

ric mixture of aluminum and carbon tetrachloride;
v

and

I0

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

60

65