June 13, 1956

w. F, FlLBERT

'

2,51L?59

IGNITION COMPOSITION

Filed Oct. 20, 1945

'

INVENVTOR.

WILLIAM WEDERICK FILBE'RT

A T TORNE Y

Patented June 13, 1950

2,511,669

2,511,669
'fIGN'ITIQN COMPOSITION
William F. Filbert, "Woodbmfy, "N.
assignor to
E. I. du Pont 'iie'Ne'mollrs & Company, Wil

imingItomtDL, acorporaition ofrDelaware

l-Applieation?ctoberr 20, 19.45,, lSeriaiLNo. 623,473

10 Claims. (Cl. 524)

2
This invention relates , to, an improved ignition

composition and assembly characterized by speed

with "a ibis fbasi'cjleadsalt o'f "4,6-dinitro-ortho

cresol-with a binding agent and, if desired, an

and uniformity of action and other desirable

oxidizing agent.

This _ preferred double salt "I

"shall vdiesignateyas lead salt Thereafter in ,this

.It is customary, .for thelinitiationof explosive 0! speci?cation for purposes of simplification.
-charges,.,to_rnal~:e use ,O'Lpreliminary, readily, ig
"Theifollowingexample of compositions and as
nitalole nompositionsrthatcan be fired by a spark
seniblies williserve to show speci?c embodiments
or slight flame, or ,by the .heat from an, incan
offtheinvention. "It will he understoodthat these
...descent ,wire. Blastingicapsiand sguibs aretypes
are illustrative only "and are notrlimiting in any
.yproperties.

-of~._initiators employed with detonating and de

flagrating explosives respectively, depending in

,way.

the first case. foriunetion onrthe detonatingim

pulseyand .inithe second case on the .?ame'from
the main initiating ,charge,_ While the explosion
of charges by so-called instantaneous commer W5

Accelerated.:black\powder charges of the above

description were prepared, the black, powder it

self having'the composition: potassium nitrate,

74%; charcoal, 15.6%; sulfur, 10.4%. The I01
flowing blends ,Were used:

cial initiators takes ,place With, relatively great

rapidity, a signi?cant time flag (invariably 0c
lcursbetween the?rst application of ?ame or' heat
and the full development, of the .power .of, the
initiator.

vEur certainpurposes whereigniters are ,used,

it is desirable that there 'bea yery shortlag
and that uniformity of action should invariably
result. ,Priorrartigniters of extremely rapid ,ac
rtion have tended to :be ,characterizedby aconsid $25 It was found that mixtures oftheabove-descrip
'erable degree of .sensitiveness toelectrostatic dis
.tion ,showed. de?nite decrease ,in .time ,of igni
charges. This has been particularly undesirable
tion, thoughthe ruse ofaninitial ignition charge
when igniters were usedhavinga relatively'lalfge
ahead ..0.f ,the .blaokpowder composition ,was .de
amount of the ?ame-producing charge, in order I ssirable ,ior satisfactory execution. The ,use of
to-lassurerignitionsof the article desired. .7
the ,very?ne dust. wasadvantageousin avoiding
An object of theypresentinvention is an im
segregation of ,the \di?erent components.
,proved ignition composition characterized by
:Fnr the primary ignition charge, compositions

very rapid action andrexhibitingha relatively. short

ylagibetween initiation and vfull development of

the .?ame. A further object ,is a very rapid

werens ed .asiollows :
.35

]ourning compositionofithe type described, which

is relatively insensitive to. smallstati? charges.

Illead

'iPotassium

INitro- ' iCalcium

lSalt ,

Ghlorate

.statch ._ .Silicide

A further objectv is an ignition assemblyof more

than one?ame-producing"charge where thejore

going desirable properties are present. Addi

4.0

.i

10

_____ _.

tional objects will be disclosed as the invention

.is described in more detailhereinafter.

Lhave found that the "foregoing objects areac

complished WhBIYI employan ignition composi

The *n'itros'tarch \in the above com-positions was

used as abinding agent, gelatinization being ei

tion comprising a .black'upowder type composition ~

?fyected'tby butyl acetate or other suitable volatile

solvent; this tsolvent being removed by, evapora

including a minor proportion of .an added ex

ftion prior vto use. '_ The -72l810 composition

.rplosive ignitionaccelerant. While various types

'was particularly attractive, being readily and

ofblackpowder are applicable, desirably af?nely

divided unglazed dust ,isused. The above com
position alone is not entirely satisfactory and:
an initial ignition _charge is desirably used with

"very rapidly ignited by an incandescent Wire and

the above main charge. A complex salt of lead

nitrate with a lead salt of a nitrophenol is a sat

being "capable of extremely-rapid propagation

of the "-initia'1'>\'?ring impulse -to the mainblac'k
rpowder vignition vcharge. 'Desirably this initial
"charge isrcontain'ed in-the cavity'of -a bridge plug,
*surroundingithe-bridge:Wire.
'"'llhez'aceompanyingrdrawingshowssthe assembly

isfactory ingredient 5of this initial :Charge, and

preferably I use the double salt of lead nitrate #55 of the two ignition charges. 'ilhei'cylindricalacon

2,611,669

3
tainer I has at its base the main ignition charge

The invention has been described adequately

2, consisting of a ?nely-divided black powder

in the foregoing, but it will be understood that

composition having a 5% content of the lead salt,

this main charge amounting to 12 grams in
weight. The leg wires 3 and 4 enter the initiator
shell and are held ?rmly in spaced relationship
with one another by the bridge plug 5. A cavity
at the base of the bridge plug contains a small
agglomerated initial charge 1 surrounding the
bridge wire 6. and adapted to become ignited by 10

many variations may be introduced in the details

this wire on passage of an electric current there

through.

This small initial charge comprises the v ,

of compositions and assemblies without departure

from the scope of the invention.

I intend to be

limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An ignition composition comprising at least

75% of a black powder composition and from 1
to 25% of an added explosive ignition accelerant

iconsisting essentially of a primary detonating

compound.
2. The ignition composition of claim 1, in which

following composition: 72% of lead salt, 18% of

potassium chlorate, and 10%. of nitrostarch. the explosive ignition accelerant is mercury ful
When this initial charge is ?red, the ?ame in 15'
3. An ignition composition comprising at least
stantly ignites the main charge 2, with a very
75% of a black powder composition and from 1
small lag between the breaking of the bridge wire
minate.

and the exertion of the full igniting power of the

main charge.

. '

'

"

._

to 25% of a complex salt of lead nitrate with a

lead salt of a nitrophenol as ignition accelerant,

4. An ignition composition comprising at least

The main charge in the foregoing igniter is, as 20
75% '01 a black powder composition and as ig
has been brought out, an accelerated black pow
der composition comprising black powder con
nition accelerant from 1 to 25% of a double salt
of lead nitrate with a his basic lead salt of 4,6
taining desirably between 1 and 25% of an ex
dinitro-ortho-cresol.
plosive ignition accelerant. While various types
5. An ignition composition comprising at least
of black powder in ?ne granulation may be used, 25
7.5% ofunglazed black powder and between 1 and
it is advantageous to employ an unglazed pow
25% of a doublesalt of lead nitrate with a bis
der of a considerable degree of ?neness. Desira
bly the powder will be comprised of particles sui
basic lead salt of,4,6-dinitro-ortho-cresol.
6. .An ignition assembly comprising (1) a main
?ciently ?ne to pass a 24-mesh screen. Even ?ner
powder is preferable, and very satisfactory re 30 ignition charge of at least 75% of a black powder
composition and from 1% to 25% of an added
sults were obtained when a powder dust was used
explosive ignition accelerant consisting essential
where substantially all passed an 80-mesh screen
ly of a primary detonating compound and (2)
and over 50% passed a150-mesh screen. The
an initial ignition charge comprising a complex
use of very ?ne powder not-only gave certain,
rapid ignition but was particularly advantageous 35 salt of lead nitrate with a lead salt of a nitro
in facilitating the blending with the accelerant
and preventing subsequent segregation. As such
high explosive accelerant we may use various

complex salts of lead nitrate with lead salts of

nitrophenol, for example salts of dinitrocresols,

phenol.

'7. An ignition assembly comprising (1) a main

ignition charge of at least 75% of a black powder
composition and from 1% to 25% of an added

I employ the lead salt previously described and

explosive ignition accelerant consisting essential_

ly of a primary, detonating compound and (2)
an initial ignition charge comprising a double

designated. Other explosive compounds may be

salt of lead nitrate with a bis basic lead salt of

dinitrophenols, trinitrophenols, etc. Preferably

used, however, such as mercury fulminate, diazo

4,6-dinitro-ortho-cresol.
dinitrophenol, and the like.
45 , 8. An ignition assembly comprising (1) a main
ignition charge of at least 75% of a black powder
As initial ignition charge, a suitable composi
composition and from 1% to 25% of an added
tion comprises the doublesalt of lead nitrate with
a lead salt of a nitrophenol, and again I ?nd the
same lead salt speci?cally designated very satis

explosive ignition accelerantconsisting essential

ly of a primary detonating compound and (2) an

factory, preferably with a binding agent and, if 50 initial ignition charge comprising a double salt
of lead nitrate with a bis basic lead salt of 4,6
desired, an oxidizing ingredient. As binding
dinitro-ortho-cresol and a binding agent.
agent nitrostarch may be used, a gelatinization
agent such as butyl acetate or other. suitable vola

tile solvent being employed to obtain agglomera

9. An ignition assembly comprising ( 1) a main

ignition charge of at least 75% of a black powder

tion, the solvent being subsequently removed by .55 composition and from 1% to 25% of an added
explosive ignition accelerant consisting essential
evaporation. My preferred composition includes
lyloi' a primary detonating compound and (2)
a blend of the double lead salt, potassium chlo
an initial ignition charge comprising a double
rate and nitrostarch, a satisfactory ratio being
72l8-10 for the respective ingredients.
salt of lead nitrate with a bis basic lead salt of
The igniter assembly described in the fore 60 4,6-dinitro-ortho-cresol and nitrostarch.
10. An ignition assembly comprising ( 1) a main
going possesses high utility for certain applica
ignition charge comprising at least 75% of un
tions where unusually rapid and uniform ignition
glazed black powder and from 1% to 25% ofan
is desired. It may be used, for example, in the

ignition of propellants, incendiary compositions,

etc.

added ignition accelerant consisting essentially of

Whereas igniters of safe . characteristics 65 a primary detonating compound, and (2) an ini

previously available showed a total lag from the

time the current was applied to the development

of the greater part of the pressure of the main
ignition charge amounting to around 30 milli
seconds, the lag was reduced to around 10- milli

seconds, when the igniter assembly of the present

invention was used.

At the same time, no haz

ardous condition was present with respect to'ac

cidental ignition by electrostatic discharges ac
cumulated by operators.

. >_.

tial ignition charge located in the cavity of a

bridge plug of an electric initiating assembly, said
initial charge comprising a blend of a double salt
of lead nitrate with a his basic lead salt of 4;,6'-d_i
70 nitro-ortho-cresol, nitrostarch, and an oxidizing
agent.

>

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WILLIAM F. FILBERT.

(References on following page)

8,511,669
REFERENCES CITED
Number
2,173,271
The following references are of record in the
?le of this patent:
2,175,249
2,268,372
UNITED STATES PATENTS
5
2,363,863
Number
Name
Date

871,395
1,110,944
1,858,373
1,943,513

Gentieu __________ __ Nov. 19, 1907

Sparre __________ __ Nov. 10, 1914
McNutt __________ __ May 17, 1932
Brun ____________ __ Jan. 16, 1934 10
Hill ______________ __ Jan. 8, 1935

Number

21,621
639,938

6
Name

Burrows _________ __ Dec. 30, 1941

Hanley __________ __ Nov. 28, 1944

FOREIGN PATENTS
Country

Date

Great Britain _________ __-_ of 1901

France __________ __ Mar. 19, 1928

1,987,295
1,999,820
2,111,203
2,115,066

Brun ____________ __ Mar. 15, 1938

Filbert __________ __ Apr. 26, 1938

2,124,568

Hale ____________ __ July 26 1938 15 D. 0.), page 6, last complete paragraph.

Nash ____________ __ Apr. 30, 1935

Date

Burrows ________ __ Sept. 19, 1939

Burrows _________ __ Oct. 10, 1939

OTHER REFERENCES

Tech. Paper 162, Initial Priming Substances

for High Explosives (G. P. 0., Washington,