초록 ▼

High density, nontoxic projectiles and other articles, and their methods of manufacture, are disclosed. More particularly, high density nontoxic W--Cu--Ni--Fe alloy compositions, methods of their manufacture and methods by which they may be used as projectiles such as shots, bullets, and pellets and

High density, nontoxic projectiles and other articles, and their methods of manufacture, are disclosed. More particularly, high density nontoxic W--Cu--Ni--Fe alloy compositions, methods of their manufacture and methods by which they may be used as projectiles such as shots, bullets, and pellets and other products traditionally made of lead alloys will be detailed herein in some embodiments. These products have a density comparable to that of lead while avoiding problems of toxicity associated with the use of lead.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An ammunition projectile, comprising: a first component comprising tungsten; and a second component comprising at least one of copper, iron and nickel; wherein the projectile is uniformly agglomerated over substantially its entire diameter, has a density of at least 10 g/cm3

What is claimed is: 1. An ammunition projectile, comprising: a first component comprising tungsten; and a second component comprising at least one of copper, iron and nickel; wherein the projectile is uniformly agglomerated over substantially its entire diameter, has a density of at least 10 g/cm3 and has a Vickers hardness HV of about 230 or less. 2. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the ammunition projectile comprises primarily tungsten. 3. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the projectile is sintered. 4. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the projectile is made by mechanical agitation. 5. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the second component comprises copper, iron and nickel. 6. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the projectile is spherical. 7. The projectile of claim 6, having a ball diameter variation of about 0.0068" or less. 8. The projectile of claim 1, having a density of about 10 to 15.5 g/cm3. 9. The projectile of claim 6, wherein the projectile has a diameter suitable for use as a shot in a shotgun shell. 10. An ammunition projectile, comprising: powder components comprising tungsten and at least one of copper, iron and nickel; and a binder; wherein the powder components are bound by the binder, grown in layers and sintered to form a uniformly agglomerated sphere over substantially its entire diameter. 11. The projectile of claim 10, wherein the sphere has a substantially uniform ball diameter variation. 12. The projectile of claim 11, wherein the ball diameter variation is about 0.0068" or less. 13. The projectile of claim 10, wherein the powder components comprise primarily tungsten. 14. The projectile of claim 10, wherein the powder components comprise copper, iron and nickel. 15. The projectile of claim 10, wherein the sphere has a density of about 10 to 16 g/cm3. 16. The projectile of claim 10, wherein the sphere has a density of about 10 to 13.5 g/cm3. 17. The projectile of claim 10, wherein the projectile is a shot suitable for use in a shotgun shell. 18. The projectile of claim 17, wherein the shot has a diameter from about 0.05" to about 0.36". 19. The projectile of claim 17, wherein the shot has a diameter from 0.070" to 0.220". 20. The projectile of claim 10, wherein the projectile has an outer coating of soft metal. 21. The projectile of claim 20, wherein the outer coating is made of tin. 22. A lot of ammunition projectiles, the lot comprising: a plurality of spherical shots each having a diameter, each shot comprising: a first component comprising tungsten; and a second component comprising at least one of copper, iron and nickel; wherein the first and second components are bound together with a binder and sintered to form said shot, said shot comprising a uniformly grown agglomerated structure over substantially the entire diameter of said shot; wherein the plurality of spherical shots have a lot diameter variation of about 0.01" or less. 23. The lot of claim 22, wherein the plurality of spherical shots have a lot diameter variation of about 0.008" or less. 24. The lot of claim 22, wherein the plurality of spherical shots have a lot diameter variation of about 0.006" or less. 25. The lot of claim 22, wherein the plurality of spherical shots have a lot diameter variation of about 0.005" or less. 26. The lot of claim 22, wherein the second component comprises copper, iron and nickel. 27. The lot of claim 22, wherein each spherical shot has a density of about 10 to 16 g/cm3. 28. The lot of claim 22, wherein each spherical shot has a density of about 10 to 13.5 g/cm3. 29. The lot of claim 22, wherein each spherical shot has the same diameter in the range of 0.070" to 0.220". 30. An ammunition projectile having a desired aggregate density, comprising: a plurality of layers of different compositions, said plurality of layers including a relatively soft surface layer and a relatively hard section within the surface layer; wherein each layer has an agglomerated structure and the desired aggregate density is in the range of about 9 to 16 g/cm3. 31. The projectile of claim 30, wherein the projectile is spherical, and the plurality of layers are concentrically arranged. 32. The projectile of claim 31, wherein the projectile forms a shot suitably sized for use in a shotgun shell. 33. The projectile of claim 30, wherein the relatively hard section within the surface layer is a core. 34. The projectile of claim 30, wherein the surface layer has a density of between about 8 and 10 g/cm3. 35. The projectile of claim 30, wherein the relatively hard section has a density of between about 11 and 18 g/cm3. 36. The projectile of claim 30, wherein the desired aggregate density is in the range of about 9.4 and 15 g/cm3. 37. The projectile of claim 30, wherein the relatively hard section has a hardness of between about HV 200 and HV 270 and the surface layer has a hardness of about HV 200 or lower. 38. The projectile of claim 30, wherein the projectile is substantially lead free. 39. The projectile of claim 30, wherein the surface layer comprises primarily iron and the relatively hard section comprises primarily tungsten. 40. An ammunition projectile having a desired aggregate density, comprising: a plurality of layers of different compositions, said plurality of layers including a relatively soft surface layer, a relatively hard intermediate section within the surface layer, and a relatively soft core; wherein the desired aggregate density is in the range of about 9 to 16 g/cm3. 41. The projectile of claim 40, wherein the core has a density of between about 8 and 10 g/cm3. 42. The projectile of claim 41, wherein the surface layer has a density of between about 8 and 10 g/cm3, and the relatively hard intermediate section has a density of between about 11 and 18 g/cm3. 43. The projectile of claim 40, wherein the core and surface layer have a hardness of about HV 200 or lower and the intermediate layer has a hardness between about HV 200 and HV 270. 44. The projectile of claim 40, wherein the surface layer and the core comprise primarily iron and the relatively hard intermediate section comprises primarily tungsten. 45. The projectile of claim 40, wherein the layers of different composition are each uniformly agglomerated. 46. The projectile of claim 40, wherein the projectile is substantially lead free. 47. The projectile of claim 40, wherein the projectile forms a shot suitably sized for use in a shotgun shell.