Self-consuming materials
| DWPI Title: Self-consuming composition used e.g. for sealing borehole, comprises crosslinked, thermosetting polymer comprising epoxy or polyurethane, and a fuel i.e. triethylborane and oxidizer that are molecularly dispersed in the polymer |
| Abstract: A self-consuming structure is disclosed that is formed from a self-consuming composition based on an epoxy or polyurethane having fuel and/or oxidizer molecularly dispersed and/or as particulates in the epoxy or polyurethane. The composition may be used to form self-consuming structural components. |
| Use: The self-consuming composition is useful: for forming a component of self-consuming structure that is used for sealing a borehole, where the self-consuming structure is a drilling packer or plug, or a component comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an electronic component, a release mechanism, an enclosure, a temporary composite structure, a potting compound (all claimed), structural conduit, airframe, structural member (e.g. spar or beam), electronics component, electronics casing or propellant; for forming an aircraft wing, fuselage, circuit board, electronic enclosure, computer case, and fasteners e.g. bolts, nuts, pins or screws; as an adhesive for bonding items together that can be separated as needed, for removing wing from UAV fuselage or removing a plug from a well bore; and as a foam i.e. thermal or electrical insulator, or space-filling structural material. |
| Advantage: The composition: is self-consuming; exhibits Young's modulus of greater than 10 MPa (claimed); is rigid and strong; has mechanical properties that offer structural support, both from a modulus and stress-strain behavior under load perspective (e.g. creep, maximum load and fracture behavior); provides self-destruction capability to polymeric or composite based hardware; is water resistant; provides self-consuming structures that burn through sub-100 μ defined spaces, without requiring atmospheric oxygen for combustion, and which are difficult to identify or detect as self-consuming, hence provides enhanced security, asset protection, asset denial, and removal protection or commanded removal. |
| Novelty: Self-consuming composition comprises: a crosslinked, thermosetting polymer comprising an epoxy or polyurethane; a fuel that is triethylborane; and an oxidizer. The fuel and/or oxidizer are molecularly dispersed in the crosslinked, thermosetting polymer. |
| Filed: 7/17/2013 |
| Application Number: US13943959A |
| Tech ID: SD 11845.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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