Improved high-temperature percussion primer

A study was conducted to develop a percussion primer mix that would be capable of functioning after a 20-hour exposure at 200/sup 0/C. A total of 16 mixes were studied, of which 6 were chosen for basic thermal and chemical properties. All mixtures were thermally evaluated with the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and showed no exothermic activity below 250/sup 0/C. The mixtures were further evaluated by impact and friction sensitivity. Two of the candidate mixtures were selected for further development of a high-temperature, hermetically sealed percussion primer. These were KClO/sub 3//Sb/sub 2/S/sub 3//CaSi/sub 2/ and KClO/sub 3//Sb/sub 2/S/sub 3//CaSi/sub 2//HNS. The primer mixes were loaded into conventional hardware and subjected to ball-drop sensitivity testing. These two mixes have similar mean sensitivity of approximately 30 in. oz. which are well within the design requirements of 60 in. oz. The hermetically sealed primer that is being developed uses a stainless steel cup, anvil, and sealing ring with a glass-to-metal seal in the output hole. This primer has no reconsolidation requirements, and the sensitivity of this percussion primer is comparable with other commercial primers which are not hermetically sealed. 6 refs., 6 figs., 8 tabs.