Reactive Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials

We propose to develop reactive composite materials with sufficient strength and stiffness to serve as warhead fragments and structural missile components. The materials will be composed of an active metal, such as aluminum, in the form of wire or wire-mesh, within a bonding matrix of an oxidizer-rich polymer, such as PTFE. The result will be a fiber-reinforced composite material with substantial strength and stiffness properties that can be tailored to specific applications, while providing significant thermal energy release in impacts and explosions. This energy will provide increased lethality, especially in neutralizing explosive-containing munitions and missiles. Various material systems and fabrication techniques will be investigated.