DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
10 In one embodiment of this invention, neat 1,2-butylene oxide liquid is used as the fuel in a fuel air explosive weapon in lieu of the previously most commonly used fuels, ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. It has been found that butylene oxide is significantly less toxic than 15 either of the two commonly used oxides. Air containing 400 parts per million of 1,2-butylene oxide may be breathed safely for up to 8 hours with no undesirable results as compared to 100 parts per million for propylene oxide and only 50 parts per million for ethylene 20 oxide.
1,2-butylene oxide offers a second distinct advantage over ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. Its boiling point is 63° C. as opposed to 10.4° C. and 34.2° C. respectively 25 for the other two oxides. Thus, loading operations are much easier to carry out. No special equipment is needed for its handling.
Tests have shown that, insofar as ease of detonation is concerned, 1,2-butylene oxide is similar to propylene 30 oxide. Its explosive limits range from about 3.1 to 25.1 percent by volume as opposed to 3.1 to 27.5 percent by volume for propylene oxide. Thus, its significantly lower toxicity can be taken advantage of with very little loss in explosive efficiency. 35
Another factor contributing to the ease of handling of 1,2-butylene oxide is its vapor pressure. The vapor pressure of 1,2-butylene oxide is only 207.0 mm Hg at 25° C. as opposed to 1,292.0 for ethylene oxide and 569.0 for propylene oxide. 40
In a second embodiment of this invention, 1,2-butylene oxide may be used in a gelled state. It has been found that, if 1,2-butylene oxide is gelled by adding about 3 to about 10 weight percent of a gelling agent such as SiO2 (Cab-O-Sil), particulate carbon or aluminum 45 octoate, it will still be dispersed into a detonable cloud by a typical fuel air explosive weapon. This is perhaps the best mode of practicing this invention for several reasons. First, the gel is more easily handled than the neat liquid. Second, if spilled the gel will not 50 disperse as a liquid will.
In storage, no self-polymerization of 1,2-butylene oxide has been detected. Thus, a warhead loaded with the material has an indefinite shelf-life.
I claim: 55
1. In a method for producing an explosion comprising the steps of dispersing a cloud of liquid particles in the air and detonating the cloud, the improvement residing in utilizing 1,2-butylene oxide in gel form as said liquid.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said gel 60 consists essentially of 1,2-butylene oxide and a gelling agent selected from the group consisting of SiO2, particulate carbon and aluminum octoate.
3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said gelling 65 agent is present in an amount in the range of from about 3 to about 10 weight percent.