Reactive conductors for increased efficiency of exploding foil initiators and other detonators

• Main Authors: MAY CHADD, ZAKAR EUGENE, MORRIS CHRISTOPHER J, WILKINS PAUL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.05.2015
• Subjects: AMMUNITION; BLASTING; EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; WEAPONS

Provided among other things are reactive energetic material systems used for conductors in detonators for increased efficiencies. According to an embodiment, a detonator may include: a conductor including at least two constituents including (i) an electrically conductive constituent, and (ii) an electrically non-conductive constituent, that when subjected to sufficient electrical energy, result in an exothermic reaction; and a flyer plate having a non-conductive surface in contact with said conductor. When the sufficient electrical energy is supplied to said conductor, rapid heating and vaporization of at least a portion of the conductor occurs so as to explosively drive at least a portion of the flyer plate away from said conductor. In an embodiment, a multilayer conductor may be formed of alternating layers of at least one electrically conductive layer, and at least one electrically non-conductive layer, that when subjected to sufficient electrical energy, result in an exothermic reaction.