Replacement of Red Phosphorus in Smoke Producing Munitions

Future combat scenarios requires a red and/or white phosphorus alternative as a multi-role munitions filler for obscuring, screening, marking, incendiary and thermobaric applications. Currently, red and white phosphorus filled munitions are successfully being deployed in combat, especially in “shake and bake” missions in Fallujah. However, processing, deployment, storage and overall safety concerns primarily limit the utilization of red and white phosphorus. Especially when stored, phosphorus decomposes to phosphorus pentoxide and then phosphoric acid in moist environments. In lieu of safety concerns and cost ineffectiveness in producing red and white phosphorus, Powdermet Inc. proposes to use reactive fuel/oxidizer microcomposite obscurants with “nanolaminate” fuel/stabilizer/thermite coatings produced by Fluidized Bed Chemical Vapor Deposition (FBCVD) and fluoropolymer press coatings as a suitable/superior alternative for red and white phosphorus fillers for current and future munitions. The particle size, composition, and intimate mixing of fuel and oxidizer during spray drying, FBCVD, and fluoropolymer press coatings will yield favorable combustion and reaction rates in order to maximize smoke production, colored smoke production, exothermicity, and blast/expansion pressure. Complete characterization will be performed to ensure that the correct properties are achieved.