Reactive Tungsten Alloy For Inert Warheads

http://www.psicorp.com/
Abstract:
Physical Sciences Inc. and ATK Thiokol, Inc. propose to develop novel high-density tungsten-based reactive composites for application to inert kinetic energy munitions. These materials will be inert such that they do not reduce the projectile's Insensitive Munitions compliance. Their critical benefit will be to enhance projectile lethality by depositing a combined kinetic and chemical energy in the target, which is greater than the corresponding kinetic energy deposited by a non-reactive tungsten munition. This lethality enhancement will occur over most of the range of anticipated projectile (1300-5000 fps) and payload pellet (2000-6000 fps) velocities. Novel metallurgical fabrication techniques will be applied in these material developments. In Phase I, we shall fabricate samples of two different tungsten metal-oxidizer systems, and characterize their energetic and mechanical properties.
Benefits:The proposed materials technology development constitutes a potentially great benefit to battlefield scenarios involving penetrator munitions. We anticipate that successful development of these reactive tungsten alloys will allow the Navy to achieve superior inert warhead penetrator designs in the future, incorporating these materials as replacements for conventional components, and as lethality-enhancing projectiles and pellets. The commercial market, originally based in military munitions, could expand to include applications in mining, anti-terrorism, energy exploration, and other industries.
Hanns CEO/Chinatungten।com