Incendiary — Thermit

Aluminum Powder Flaked, Grained and Atomized" (for use in ammunition) 2)US Spec JAN-A-512, "Aluminum Powdered" (Grained or Atomized)(from secondary metal) (for use in pyrotechnics or in incendiary "thermite") 3)US Spec JAN-A-667, "Aluminum Powder, Superfine" 4)US Spec JAN-M-454, "Magnesium-Aluminum Alloy, Powdered" 5)W.W.Scott N.H.Furman, "Standard Methods of Chemical Analysis, "Van No strand, NY(1939) 6)H.V. Churchill... 

CRL Corr sp File, Proj AS.j-i, Incendiary, FE (formerly Incendiary Filling for Bombs and Incendiary, Thermite Type), Nov ja-Jun j8. KCRC. 

The thermate mixture, composed of thermite and various additives, is used in igniter compositions for magnesium bombs. A number of such compositions have been developed. Three of these were Therm-8, Thermate-TH2 (formerly Therm-8-2), and Thermate-TH3 (formerly Therm-64-C). Therm-8 was the precursor of later, improved igniting formulations TH2 differs from Therm-8 in that TH2 contains no sulfur and slightly less thermite. TH3 was found to be superior to the others and thus adopted for use in the incendiary magnesium bomb. The wt % composition of TH3 is thermite, 68.7 barium nitrate, 29.0 sulfur, 2.0 and as a binder, oil, 0.3. 

Thermit-bom be, /. thermite bomb, -brand-bombe, /. thermite incendiary bomb, -fiil-iung, /. thermite filling or charge, -ladung, /. thermite charge, -schweissung,/. thermite weld(ing). -verfahren, n. thermite process. 

Igniters. A pellet composed of 26.5% K. perchlorate, 16.6% Ba nitrate, 53,9% 50/50 Zr/Ni alloy, and 3.0% et cellulose can be used to ignite solid propint grains (Ref 25), A series of mixts of K perchlorate with powd metals and other oxidizable mat were examined as substitutes for BikPdr as a gun primer. Most of the mixts tested were found to be satisfactory and to be compatible with brass and other metals (Ref 9) Incendiary Compositions. Stoichiometric mixts of K perchlorate with metals and oxidizable mat have been proposed as incendiaries of the Thermit type and have heats of reaction as follows Al dust 2504, powd Mg 2429. red P 1477, powd S 705 and powd C (lampblack) 1118cal/g (Ref 4). A mixt of 12.5% K perchlorate, 75% powd Zr, and 12,5% of a 50/50 Al/Mg alloy is reported to be a readily-ignited incendiary (Ref 20). Mixts of powd Al and/or powd Fe with K perchlorate with 1.5—2% NC as a binder are also good incendiaries (Ref 35). 

Crozier, T. H., HMInsp. Expl. Spec. Rept. 237, London, HMSO, 1929 A 20 t quantity of an incendiary bomb mixture of the finely powdered oxide, aluminium and sulfur became accidentally ignited and burned with almost explosive violence. It is similar to thermite mixture. 

Thermite mixtures have foimd application as incendiary compositions and spot-welding mixtures. They are also used for the intentional demolition of machinery and for the destruction of documents. Thermites are usually produced without a binder (or with a minimum of binder), because the gaseous products resulting from the combustion of the organic binder will carry away heat and cool the reaction. 

There also existed several models of shells designed solely for incendiary effects. Most of them contained thermite with inflammable organic materials. Others contained phosphorous, sodium, etc... 

The British designed a 77mm shell which carried thermite (A1 + Fe203) as an incendiary... 

For larger sizes, eg, 15.3cm, a shell was designed which contained units of thermite or other incendiary materials held in perforated cases. These units were ignited from a central tube and expelled from the front of the shell by the explosion of the powder charge located in the base... 

The Stoke s bombs were loaded for best results with about 7.5 lbs of thermite as the incendiary compound, and ophorite as the explosive igniter. The ignition was started by a time fuse... 

In its action the little bomb resembles that of a mortar and projectile. It consists of a cartridge very much like a shotgun shell which is functioned on impact by a strike point in the base of the body of the assembly. The flash from the cartridge ignites an incendiary charge of flaming thermite consisting of 11 pts of thermite and 6 pts of Ba(N03)2. 

The second type, intended for use against buildings, contained a thermite-gelled oil mixture as an incendiary. This bomb had sufficient penetrating power to pierce a roof... 

It was used in anti-aircraft fire (Ref 9, p 55) 5-inch Incendiary Rocket, used at ranges of about 5,000 yds, was an effective weapon when fired from landing craft in amphibious operations. The rocket head was loaded with thermite or oil incendiary mixtures... 

J. H. Hammond Jr, 17, 472 (1923). Incendiary shell containing a thermite charge ignited by a mixture of Ba02 and Al, fired by a concussion fuse... 

Isooiefin Polymers of molecular wt 50000 to 100000, such as Isobutylene polymer, were patented as thickeners for flammable naphtha used in incendiary bomb mixts. Up to 25% may be incorporated. Small amts of metal soaps may replace part of the polymer. Thermite mixts, Na, K and P may also be included in such an incendiary filler Ref H.H. Cooke, E. J. Holzclaw, USP s 2445311 2445312 (1948) CA 42, 7985 (1948)... 

Metal Incendiary Cylinders were 6% inches long and 2% inches in diam filled with Thermite (Incendiary) and provided with two Igniters, Delay and First Fire Charge consisting of KC103, Sb2S3 A1 pdr (pp 261—62, Fig 198) Incendiary Brick consists of an incendiary mix-... 

Flaming Thermit. An incendiary mixture developed by the British during WWI and used in dietr small unit (cluster) bombs. It was a mixture of commercial thermit and barium nitrate... 

The incendiary bombs usually contained thermite or magnesium incendiary mixture, and some smoke bombs contained a titanium tetrachloride mixture... 

The Thermite type reaction was used in making incendiary bombs during WWII. Thermite is more effective when used with... 

This material was about 5 times as effective as Thermite or SDO-sodium nitrate incendiaries Ref L.F. Fieser, OSRD 173(1941)... 

An incendiary material may be defined as a material that is readily capable of starting fires and can be used in a flame thrower, bomb, shell or warhead. It may also be defined as a material that burns with a hot flame for a long duration. Its purpose is to set fire wooden structures and other combustible targets. There are some incendiaries such as thermite which can be used for melting, cutting or welding metals. 

An incendiary agent should be difficult to extinguish. However, this does not mean that an agent that resists extinguishment is always a better incendiary but it is desirable. For example, thermite that continues to burn even under water, is not satisfactory as a general purpose incendiary. 

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