Environmentally Acceptable Medium Caliber Ammunition Percussion Primers

摘要

Percussion primer are used to ignite fixed ammunition propellant charges with a very high functional reliability. In order to achieve this high degree of reliability, extremely sensitive primary explosive compositions are selected as the initiating materials. Medium caliber ammunition percussion primers typically consist of lead styphnate and antimony sulfide. Although highly effective, these heavy metal compounds have been identified under 40 CFR 401.15 as toxic pollutants and should be replaced or eliminated. This project evaluated Metastable Intermolecular Composites (MIC) as potential replacements for the hazardous composition currently used in medium caliber ammunition percussion primers. MIC offers a non-toxic alternative to conventional military primers. Candidate MIC primers were evaluated in the laboratory for ignition characteristics and ballistically tested in 25mm cartridges for ammunition requirement conformance.