Reactive Polymer Matrix Composite

Missiles and other munitions contain many structural elements that provide functionality, strength and integrity to the whole system (walls, hulls, shields etc.). Normally, these parts are made of the conventional structural materials (steels, alloys, plastics, ceramics) and do not contribute anything toward munitions lethality. Such parts may be produced of composites that are strong and safe enough during manufacturing, storage, launch and flight to work as missile structural materials. After ignition by explosion of the regular munition payload, the components of such composites will chemically react, evolving a large amount of exothermal heat, or explode thus significantly enhancing lethality of a missile, bomb, shell etc. Conventional highly exothermal chemical mixtures (thermites, some refractory compounds and intermetallic precursors) cannot be produced in the form of solid materials possessing specific strength close to that of mild steel. In order to attain the latter, polymer matrix composites (PMC) are proposed. The strong polymers (Selazole, Torlon and others) will provide required specific strength, which may be increased by organic or metal fiber reinforcement. The filler of such a PMC will exothermally react (after ignition by blast of the regular explosive) with the polymer matrix, ensuring chemical energy release, thus enhancing munition lethality.