Versatile Boron Carbide-Based Visual Obscurant Compositions
for Smoke Munitions
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Abstract
New pyrotechnic smoke
compositions, containing only environmentally
benign materials, have been demonstrated to produce thick white smoke
clouds upon combustion. These compositions use powdered boron carbide
(B<sub>4</sub>C) as a pyrotechnic fuel, KNO<sub>3</sub> as a pyrotechnic
oxidizer, and KCl as a combustion temperature moderator. Small amounts
of calcium stearate and polymeric binders may be added to moderate
burning rate and for composition granulation. Prototype tests involving
three preferred compositions were conducted in end- and core-burning
grenade and canister configurations. Smoke release times ranged from
3.5 to 70 s for the grenades and from 8 to 100 s for the canisters.
Notably, any desired smoke release time within these ranges may be
obtained by fine adjustment to the calcium stearate content of the
compositions and/or small changes to the device containers. Aerosolization
efficiency and quantitative performance, as determined by smoke chamber
measurements, remain consistent regardless of smoke release time.
Impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge tests show that the
compositions are insensitive to accidental ignition and are safe to
handle