Compositions usable as flare compositions, countermeasure devices containing the flare compositions, and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11014859-B2
Application number	US-201916265857-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2019
Priority date	Oct 16, 2014
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

A composition that includes a fuel and a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) is disclosed. The composition may be used as a flare composition in a countermeasure device. Countermeasure devices including the flare composition are also disclosed, as are methods of forming grains of the countermeasure device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A composition, comprising:
a fuel comprising one or more of aluminum, bismuth, copper, iron, hafnium, magnesium, palladium, tantalum, tin, titanium, zinc, zirconium, or an alloy thereof;
a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) comprising a chemical structure of R H —CF 2 O—(CF 2 CF 2 O) m —(CF 2 O) n —CF 2 —R H , wherein R H is a functional group selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, an alcohol, an alkyl amide, an alkoxy silane, an amide, an amido silane, an ester, an ethoxylated alcohol, methacrylate, a methoxy, a phosphate, and a phosphate dispersion, m is an integer between 1 and 50, and n is an integer between 1 and 50; and
an isocyanate compound,
the PFPE comprising from about 15% by weight (wt %) to about 45 wt % of the composition.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the PFPE comprises a fluorine content of from about 20 wt % to about 70 wt % of the PFPE.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the PFPE comprises a fluorine content of from about 20 wt % to about 25 wt % of the PFPE.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the PFPE comprises a fluorine content of from about 40 wt % to about 55 wt % of the PFPE.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the PFPE comprises a fluorine content of from about 55 wt % to about 70 wt % of the PFPE.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the PFPE comprises a fluorine content of from about 60 wt % to about 70 wt % of the PFPE.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the functional group comprises an ethoxy silane group.

8. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising boron.

9. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of boron, phosphorous, or silicon.

10. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of potassium ferricyanide, cupric oxide, or iron oxide.

11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises magnesium, the PFPE, isophorone diisocyanate, octadecyl isocyanate, PTFE, conductive carbon, phenolphthalein, triphenyl tin chloride, a metal chelator, triethylene glycol, boron, iron oxide, and potassium ferricyanide.

12. A composition, comprising:
a fuel;
a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) comprising a chemical structure of HOCH 2 CFCF 3 OCF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 —CH 2 CF 2 OCF 2 CF 2 OCF 3 CFCF 2 OCF 3 CFCF 2 OCF 3 CFCH 2 OH; and
an isocyanate compound,
the PFPE comprising from about 15% by weight (wt %) to about 45 wt % of the composition and the fuel comprising from about 45% wt % to about 70 wt % of the composition.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the PFPE comprises a fluorine content of about 60 wt % to about 70 wt %.

14. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the fuel comprises from about 50% wt % to about 70 wt % of the composition.

15. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the fuel comprises aluminum, bismuth, copper, iron, hafnium, magnesium, nickel, palladium, tantalum, tin, titanium, zinc, zirconium, an alloy thereof, or a combination thereof.

16. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the fuel comprises magnesium and aluminum.

17. A countermeasure device comprising a casing and a flare composition within the casing, the flare composition comprising:
a fuel comprising one or more of aluminum, bismuth, copper, iron, hafnium, magnesium, palladium, tantalum, tin, titanium, zinc, zirconium, or an alloy thereof;
a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) comprising a chemical structure of R H —CF 2 O—(CF 2 CF 2 O) m —(CF 2 O) n —CF 2 —R H , wherein R H is a functional group selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, an alcohol, an alkyl amide, an alkoxy silane, an amide, an amido silane, an ester, an ethoxylated alcohol, methacrylate, a methoxy, a phosphate, and a phosphate dispersion, m is an integer between 1 and 50, and n is an integer between 1 and 50; and
an isocyanate compound,
the PFPE comprising from about 15% by weight (wt %) to about 45 wt % of the composition.

18. A method of forming grains of a countermeasure device, comprising:
forming a flare composition comprising a fuel comprising one or more of aluminum, bismuth, copper, iron, hafnium, magnesium, palladium, tantalum, tin, titanium, zinc, zirconium, or an alloy thereof, an isocyanate compound, and perfluoropolyether (PFPE) comprising a chemical structure of R H —CF 2 O—(CF 2 CF 2 O) m —(CF 2 O) n —CF 2 —R H , wherein R H is a functional group selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, an alcohol, an alkyl amide, an alkoxy silane, an amide, an amido silane, an ester, an ethoxylated alcohol, methacrylate, a methoxy, a phosphate, and a phosphate dispersion, m is an integer between 1 and 50, and n is an integer between 1 and 50, the PFPE comprising from about 15% by weight (wt %) to about 45 wt % of the composition; and
casting the flare composition into grains.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein casting the flare composition into grains comprises casting the grains at a temperature of from about 22° C. to about 65.6° C.

20. A composition, comprising:
a fuel comprising magnesium and aluminum;
a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) comprising a chemical structure of R H —CF 2 O—(CF 2 CF 2 O) m —(CF 2 O) n —CF 2 —R H , wherein R H is a functional group selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, an alcohol, an alkyl amide, an alkoxy silane, an amide, an amido silane, an ester, an ethoxylated alcohol, a methacrylate, a methoxy, a phosphate, and a phosphate dispersion, m is an integer between 1 and 50, and n is an integer between 1 and 50; and
an isocyanate compound,
the PFPE comprising from about 15% by weight (wt %) to about 45 wt % of the composition.

Assignees

• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp

Inventors

• Nielson Daniel B
• Fielding Curtis W

Classifications

• C06B43/00 Primary

  Compositions characterised by explosive or thermic constituents not provided for in groups C06B25/00 - C06B41/00 · CPC title

• C06B21/0058

  by casting a curable composition, e.g. of the plastisol type · CPC title

• F42B4/26

  Flares; Torches {(mines for practice or training containing flares or illuminating charges F42B8/28; projectiles of illuminating type F42B12/42)} · CPC title

• C06C15/00

  Pyrophoric compositions; Flints (chemical lighters C06C9/00) · CPC title

• F42B4/30

  Manufacture · CPC title