초록 ▼

Compositions are provided which, when burned, produce significant levels of infrared radiation, but only limited levels of visible radiation. The basic components of the compositions include a binder, an oxidizer, and an organic fuel. Preferred oxidizers include those compounds which produce large q

Compositions are provided which, when burned, produce significant levels of infrared radiation, but only limited levels of visible radiation. The basic components of the compositions include a binder, an oxidizer, and an organic fuel. Preferred oxidizers include those compounds which produce large quantities of infrared radiation when the flare composition is burned. Such oxidizers include potassium nitrate, cesium nitrate, rubidium nitrate, and combinations of these compounds. The composition preferably includes significant quantities of cesium nitrate as an oxidizer. Selection of the binder is important in order to provide the composition with the desirable characteristics identified above. The binder of the present invention does not produce significant soot when burned. At the same time, the binder serves to form a composition which is processible, avoids chunking, and is compatible with the oxidizers used. It has been found that polymer binders which include relatively short carbon chains (1-6 continuous carbon atoms) are preferred. Examples of such polymers include polyesters, polyethers, polyamides, and polyamines. Similarly, non-soot producing organic fuels are employed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:] [1.] An infrared producing illuminant composition which consists essentially of:from about 40% to about 90% by weight alkali metal oxidizer salt, wherein said alkali metal oxidizer salt is selected from the group consis

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:] [1.] An infrared producing illuminant composition which consists essentially of:from about 40% to about 90% by weight alkali metal oxidizer salt, wherein said alkali metal oxidizer salt is selected from the group consisting of potassium, cesium, and rubidium oxidizer salts, and mixtures thereof, wherein the amount of potassium oxidizer salt is limited such that the infrared producing illuminant composition has at least 25% by weight cesium oxidizer salt;a combustion rate catalyst which is at least one of boron or silicon, wherein the boron is in an amount of from about 0% to about 10%, and wherein silicon is present in an amount of from about 0% to about 25%;from about 1% to about 35% by weight polymer binder which is not hexamine,wherein upon burning, the infrared illuminant composition produces little or no visible light such that the ratio of infrared radiation to visible radiation is greater than approximately 6.0, and wherein the infrared producing illuminant composition has a burn rate greater than 0.060 inches/second.