Primers antimony-free

To clarify the situation it was decided to investigate the possibility that the antimony originated from the bullet. Discharge residue particles originating from ammunition with antimony-free primers and antimony-hardened bullets were examined for the presence of antimony. Results are given in Table 20.14. 

Table 20.14 Discharge Particles from Ammunition with Antimony-Free Primers...

In more recent years there has been the development of lead-free primers based on the organic shock-sensitive initiator dinol (diazodinitrophenol) in place of the lead styphnate. Commercial formulations of dinoTbased primer have been developed which include mixtures such as dinol, zinc peroxide, metallic titanium, and tetrazene dinol, manganese(IV) oxide, and metallic aluminum and dinol, antimony sulfide, and barium nitrate. 

The nylon-coated bullets from Smith Wesson and the Geco TMJ bul-let/new primer composition, although effective in markedly reducing the lead levels, did not totally eliminate the problem. In 1983, Dynamit Nobel introduced 9 mmP caliber ammunition with a TMJ bullet and a primer free of lead, antimony, barium. The new primer type was called Sintox. A typical Sintox primer composition contains 15% diazodinitrophenol (DDNP) and 3% tetracene as the explosive ingredients, 50% zinc peroxide as the oxidizer, 5% of 40-pm size titanium metal powder, and 27% nitrocellulose as propellant powder.202 As expected, other munitions manufacturers eventually introduced similar ammunition, some with primers that were lead free but containing antimony and barium and others free of lead, antimony, and barium. The objective was to produce ammunition which performed satisfactorily in every way and did not produce any toxic product on discharge. 

The Czech ammunition manufacturer Sellier Bellot says, After firing the [non-toxic] cartridge is free from toxic exposure to barium, lead, mercury [and] antimony. [They mean the brass, not the bullet.] It does not pollute the environment, does not endanger the shooter s health with combustion products, and does not pollute the gun. It ensures safe shoohng in closed premises and on target ranges. Unique patented primer design. ... 

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