A Titanium‐Based Igniter System for Hand Grenade Fuzes

摘要

The A‐1A and TPP igniter compositions have been used in hand grenade fuzes for many years. However, it has proven challenging to produce or source A‐1A of acceptable quality, and TPP contains potassium perchlorate which has been targeted for removal from pyrotechnics by the Department of Defense. In hand grenade fuzes, an input charge is often used to ignite the delay composition. After a period of time the delay composition typically ignites an output charge, causing hot gases, incandescent combustion products, and titanium sparks to be ejected. Conventional pyrotechnic wisdom has called for a nearly‐gasless input charge (A‐1A) and an explosive output charge (TPP). Surprisingly, we have discovered that a ternary mixture of titanium, manganese dioxide, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) can fulfill both purposes. Here, the PTFE serves as a gas generator, lubricant, and dry binder. Pressed layers of the new titanium‐based igniter possess adequate mechanical strength and effectively retain delay increments that do not contain any binder. Importantly, as an input charge, the new igniter does not prematurely rupture fuze cases or eject percussion primers. Yet, as an output charge, it produces a brilliant burst of sparks similar to that produced by TPP.