ALI4ElE ree rere acetoneREPORT MDC AD514 30 JUNE 1970 REVISION 8. 5 APRIL 1082 COPY NO. ZS PERCUSSION PRIMERS, DESIGN REQUIREMENTS an Dobe mow LW Onedahen ut ee sensu Ent reennce MCDONNELL AIRCRAFT COMPANY Bon 516, Sant Lows, Masoun 62166 nl [This dooument has be for public toloase on Aiiabution fs united.Report MOC A064 PERCUSSION PRIMERS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS 30 June 1970 AssTaact Percussion primers are the key to sany critical functions tn aerospact ordnance hardware. This report is to be used as a specification for the use of percussion primers. It also provides the historical background of priming compositions through to the sost recent high tesperature 1 tates. ‘The input energy Tequired to fire a priner with adequate safety margin Le dis— cussed, together with priner output. The influence of priner Teconsolidation, flash hole size and baffling to reduce primer violence are included. Design data sheate for those primers most frequently used in MCATR pyrotechnic com ponents are included, Feoession Por a wats onal pate TAR a ncag a (Rieraso, Byam — pisteivat: Avadlability Coes [ivan andor Speat et il |REPORT MOC A0S14 REVISION B PERCUSSION PRIMERS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS S APRIL 1982 ‘TABLE OF CONTENTS) ABSTRACT oe ee eee LO WMTRODUCTION oe eee et eee teen eee eee ob | ecg) ai ceunaermacerieg) ee DA eo eee eee ee i E | | oom CL i: 2.361 Commercial Formlations sees eee ee eee ee 4 ey Osea Mutecy Parntiatiogsy © 2 ts | E33 Gift'telpcneare formations 0220000020 8 ly 2eh INPUT CHARACTERISTICS 6 6 eee ee ee eee ee eee lo ir fet meee it] Bet fed BAe eeaseecrenene Cl | | 2.5 OUNPUT GUARACTERISTICS 6. se ee eee eee e eee 7 26 MISGHLLAMEOUS CHARACTERISTIC vv ve eee eens 8 261. Priner Raconsolidation 6 6 6 es ss a i] ied feiwe last Biles e's cscs eee :® | Pekar beckeup Olas css St : ly Midig eo > _ i 3,0 INSPECTION AND QUALITY CONTROL «eee eee eee eee ee eee 10 \iq 4.0 SPECLELC PROER APPLLCATION AND SELECTIONS... ee eee eee © 5.0 REFERENCES ee eee eee eee e etter ees BB APPENDIX A Se eeeREPORT MDC 0814 REVISION B PERCUSSION PRIMERS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS S APRIL 1982 I ee ; Hoguses | COOGRCTAL OR MILITARY CENTER FIRE FRIMER ves yee eee 2 SHOTSHELL OR BATTERY CUP PROGR ve eevee ee eee 8 | lo i jas Pie : : r TYPICAL THLOCTANATE/CHLORATE PRIMING COMPOSITIONS ....... 3 ® b : bed STORAGE DATA FOR M42 PRIMERS LOADED WITH COMMERCIAL LEAD 1 TTHIOCYANATE/POTASSTIM GHLORATE. TRIMING MIX AND ABSEABLED i NClcunens Ceci 8 i HIE PA 101 MILITARY LEAD STYPRNATE PRIMING COMPOSITION ...... 5 @ ; 1¥ HIGH TEMPERATURE RESISTANT PRIMING COMPOSITIONS vss sees 6 ¥ GOMPAREGON OF ENERGY DATA POR WAZ PROGRS sss see 8 Oa PERCUSSION PRIMER SELECTION LOGIC CHART 6. eee ae ws aut _ } ‘Mist oF Pages. :* ‘TITLE PAGE i "THOUGH tv iq 1 manoucH 14 \# del THROUGH 13 14 at ie ie 11 MoDONNELL DovaLAS conPORATION |PERCUSSION PRIMERS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS REPORT MOC A0S14 REVISION B SAPRIL 1002 THOEX OF PAGE CHANGES TETRA ROPER Revise BY -aPPnovEDRepor MOC A0814 Soe PERCUSSION PRIMERS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS: eed 1,0 irRopuerzoN ‘The purpose of this report ia co acquaint, refresh and guide the aero~ space ordnance designer with the fine pointe of selection and use of canter ‘Hire percussion primers for aerospace application. Percussion priasrs, which appear to have bean independently invented about 1815, by an Anarican, Joshua Shaw of Philadelphia and an Englishaan, Egg (References 1 and 2), form part of a general fanily of pyrotechnic weified as inteiators, ‘Included in this grouping but of 20th century vintage are stab primers, detonators, and electric initiators While the aleceric initiator requires the application of an electric currant fo heat up a resiecive bridgevira to provide the igniting stinulus, both the percussion and stab prinare an vell ae atab datonatore function by the applica tion of aachanical energy in the form of « rapidly ispacting firing pin. ‘The jercussion primer fa probably the smallest component the pyrotechnic designer Le likely to encounter. Ae such {t ie likavise the aost frequently overlooked and tisunderstood component, tte function may be likened. to an energy tranaducer, wherein it converte nechanical energy fron a suitable ergy source into cheaical anergy in the fore of a defiagratiog (to sear eonating) pyrotechnic reaction. Since the primer functions as the Link between the euergy source and the ordnance device end operation, it becomes the kay to many critical functions, Contrary to popular belief, percussion priners do sonetines fail to function despite the application ‘of adequate input energy. Failure analysis in nearly every cane reveals that the malfunce tion ia due to etther incorrect primer inepection or instalation. The Purpose of this report ia to provide the pyrotechnic engineer with design par as well an av information on the usage of percussion primera, This report covers the folloving design pointe: © Selection of the proper primer to fit the specific igattion Fequirenants. (© Selection of the optimum prining mix for the temperature environment, anticipated. © X-ray inspection and dimensional selection of the primera prior to Anatallation. © Primer pocket sizing and reconsolidation recommendations. © Firing pin design and firing energy requirement. © Primer output eneray. MODONNELL DOVALAS CORPORATION 1ad dds Report MOC A08: ‘30 June 1970, PERCUSSION PRIMERS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS 2.0 PRIMER CHARACTERISTICS 2.1 GENERAL Typleal construction of a canter fire percussion primer is shown in Figure 1, which also depicts both the tvo and three legged blunt anvil vari tions common to different priner sanufacturers. The potnted anvil design ‘shown in Figure 2 is used exclusively for shotgun shell prinera (sonetines referred to as battery cup primers). Priser assembly consists of loading an tive mix into the priser cup, covering it with « paper disc and ig the anvil into place, Impact by « suitably constructed heni~ spherical end firing pin on the metal primer cup produces an indentation ia the latter, The locally compresses the impact sensitive mix between che indentation and the anvil causing it to deflagrate. Since the prizer cup 18 not perforated, the percussion primer unlike the stab primer, is capable of uaintaining a relatively high pressure gas The priner cups are generally constructed from a ductile metel euch ae cartridge brass, to permit the required deforaation by the firing pin while still saintaining integrity of the primer cup. 2 Legged Primer Cup Legged Anil ‘anwll Priming Composition FIQUAE 1, COMMERCIAL OR MILITARY CENTER FIRE PRIMER MODONNELL BOVALAS CORPORATIONReport HOC ADBTA 30 dune 1970 PERCUSSION PRIMERS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS Y a Pr ee Papa Diae Primer Mix FIGURE 2, SHOTSHELL OR BATTERY CUP PRIMER The impact sensitive mixes, which are sore frequently referred to priming mixes or compositions, consist generally of « primary explosive, an oxidizer, a fuel and occasionally an abrasive material to increase sensitivity to initiation. Primary explosives are incorporated because of their ability to explode when exposed to either shock, friction (and heat) or any combina- tion of these atimuli. The earliest known primary explosives, nanely platinum, gold and ailver fulainates (fron the Latin, fulnenare, seaning strike vith Lightning) were described an early as 1602. Some fifty yeara later mercury fulninate wae discovered and. by 1800 its preparation and Proparcies had been well established. In the late 1930's mercury fulainate formulations were gradually replaced by the much more stable lead styphnate which had firet been reported in 1914, Despite chis trend mercury fulninate from general use until after World Wer IT. fe of an oxidizer, such as a chlorate or nitrate, in priming compositions 1a necessary due to the poor oxygen balance of ‘the primary explonive present. Probably the ost frequently used fuel for priming compositions is antinoay trigulfide, since it also double so an abrasive. 2.2 suuxetion Ae previously atated, the designer of an explosive train has two foras of Anteiating stimul{ available, namely electrical and mechanical energy. — In selecting the latter soda, vhich frequently involves less conettainte than Amposed by the use of electric initiators, the designer algo has the option of choosing either stab or percustion initiated componente, The former in of MCDONNMLL DOVELAS CORPORATION 3ad edt oo oe } nee REPORT MOG A0é14 REVISION B PERCUSSION PRIMERS DESIQN REQUIREMENTS SS APRIL 1982 value vhen the avatiable sechanical inietating energy ie low but it suffers from the possible disadvantage of back venting through the perforated cup. While the percussion primer provides a gas seal, tt does necessitate th availability of spproxinately twice the energy required for initiating the ‘Ae a general rule it is best for the designer to select the ‘sensitive initiator available that ie compatible with all of the once the designer bas decided upon the use of a percussion primer, te ts ry to select one compatible with che train to be initiated. For example, a pyrotechnic delay generally requires the least brisant priser avail~ ble in’ order to provide surface ignition and to prevent colum breskup fron the shock. Initiation of an explosive train, on the other band, 1s aided by the use of the aost brisant primer in order ‘to build up the detonation rate au rapidly as possible 2.3 PRIMING composzTroNs 2.31 Commevesal Formulations - Comercial priming compositions tod beat be divided Into the non-corrosive and the corrosive type formulations. Because of the auintenence impact on the small arme users (Reference 3), primers containing the non-corrosive coupositions are by far the sost commonly ‘sed, and are generally referred to ax the atyphnate type, Exact formulations for these comercial iead styphnate coupositions are considered, by the indivi- dual primer aauufacturera to ba proprietary and are therefore not available for publication, of coumerctal priming compositions, namely the corrosive type, contain no’ prinaty explosive materials. The earliest formulation of this’ clase was developed ia about 1922 by the Winchester Arne Coupany spect~ fieally as 4 replacenent for the aarcury fulnicate priaing composition vhich had been found to deteriorate rapidly under tropical conditions. These compo fletons vere based upon the reaction between iead thiocyanate and potaseiun chiorate, wherela the former acte prinar/ly as « fuel, but also ethibite « arked sensitizing effect upon the latter, Wincheater's first foreulacion vas ubsequently sold (for one dollar) to the goveranent after which the Aray fseigued L¢ the nov well knovn FA-70 designation (Reference 4). Three typical lead’ thiocyanate/potassium chlorate priming aix formulations are shown in Table T for 4nfornational purposes. The corrosive affects of this type compo- sition result fron the formation of soluble chloride combustion by-products produced by the chlorate oxidizer, The vendor advertised elevated stort Specification for both corrosive and non-corrosive priming coapositions are a miniaum of one year at i60°F dry storage, hovever, Table II date on the M2 priner indicates « Linited higher tenpersture capability. NOTE: Any utili- Tatioa of primers above the specified teaperature linits must be with the written approval of NCAIR. MODONNALL DOUGLAS CORPORATION 4ese REPORT MOG A0614 REVISION B PERCUSSION PRIMERS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS SAPRIL 1982 TABLE I. TYPICAL THIOCYANATE/CHLORATE PRIMING COMPOSITIONS ‘Commerce Talay) mit Imarediante | | cApprenimate) "A70) , : ese | pc aot |e 8 ra 2 7 Potassium Ciorate 3 3 3 antimony Tisutige 2 7 2 wr 3 5 a Calcium Siiice “ - 8 Ta 700. oo) TABLET STORAGE DATA FOR M42 PRIMERS LOADED WITH COMMERCIAL LEAD THIOCYANATE/POTASSIUM CHLORATE PRIMING MIX AND ASSEMBLED INTO M71 CARTRIDGES (8) ‘neato Exponure Lil Duration | Fring Osta “2 Monthe | 100% Mistred| 148 Weeks | 100% mistred! 42 Woes | 40% Minted 17 Weeks | 80% Minted 2,32, wlisary Fopmlations = Because of proprietary probleme associated vith the” comercia ing Compositions, che U.S. Aray through their Picatinny Artanal developed a number of formulations based on lead atyphnace. The formula for the aost frequently used military equivalent, designated PA 101 ie shom in Table II. Although thie vae historically developed ae a substitute for the comercial thiocyasate/chlorate printing compositions, primarily for the igattion ef pyrotechnic tise delays (Rafe ence 5), tt is considerably wore br: asi MLPA 101 MILITARY LEAD STYPHNATE PRIMING COMPOSITION (5 & 6) Barium Nitrate Antimony Trisutide ‘Aluminum (Powaeree) Tectracane— REPORT MOC AOs14 REVISION 8 PERCUSSION PRIMERS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS SAPRI: 1982 2.3.3 igh Temperature Formulations - As a retult of examining initiators recovered: Hien a ESE Svash in April 1957, Frankford Arecnal found ‘tha they d degradative effects, particularly in the prizers, from exposure to atures in excess of the normally accepted high of 165°F, Wietorically At vas determined that these sana initiators had previously been installed on 2347 that had been based in the desert. It should be noted that it vat customary practice at that tine to "nspect and repair as necessary” cartridge actuated davices renoved fron aircraft prior to their return to ctock. eurally visual examination would not reveal the degraded condition of the primers It was subsequently confirmed through a teat Arizona, that solar radiation of a 347 cockpit ‘high as 180" to 200°, In 1959 Frankford Arsenal therefore undertook the davelopmant of a high taaperature Fesistant prining coaposition, Since it vas felt chat higher perforaance aireratt would aleo require improved tenparature resistant primer auccesaful functioning after 2000 hours expomure at 400'F vas Remington Arns Company subsequently daveloped a nusber of promising high tenpal prefix 'G! | (Re! Of the twenty three reported a best long term high teaperature capability with the latter exhibiting some Limited capability for operation above S00*F (Reference 10 & 11). The #49 primera loaded with G-11 priming mix have exceeded the original design goal by 1000 hours, vherein successful firing vaw achieved after 3000 hours storage at Sooty, 18 should be noted that significant desensitization will occur if priners loaded with G-11 or G-16 priming composition are alloved to be exposed to high hunidity following, or during any high tenperature exposure. The baste sensitivity of che Geil and G-l6 mixes ara considerably lens than th of the styphnate compositions and therefore require considerably inert firing energy for intttation. ‘TABLE IW, HIGH TEMPERATURE RESISTANT PRIMING COMPOSITIONS aa ae Ingredients | Percent by Weight | Percent by Weight Potassium Chlorate 3 3 Antimony 3 0 Callum Silicioe 2 7 Tacor* 10 = Taal 00 T00) "TRGOT a he ranma ore OPon ngRWHREN We 2.4 INPUT CHARACTERISTICS 2.4.1 Biring Pin Design - Although percussion firing pin design criteria have not beat refined to the sane extent co that required for the. initiation of stab devices, it has been deteruined that a firing pin with a hemlepherical tip gives duproved sensitivity over that of a truncated cone (Reference 6)» The radiue of the tip, however, appears to have Little effact on sensitivity (References 6 & 12).” Nevertheless, sanufacturers recomendations for tip radius, which range frow .020 to 050 inchea, should be followed for each MCOONNELL DOVALAS CORPORATION 6 ®REPORT MOC A0S14 REVISION B PERCUSSION PRIMERS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS 5 APRIL 1982 individual application. For example, the hand grenade type of firing echanion (with rotational travel) has in the past used a firing pin tip with fn 020 tnch radius of curvature, while the tips of small ares firing pine Giteh Linear travel) are generally about 045 inches radius (Reference 13). + Primer manufacturers in their data shea! Nallcfire" level of their products jentially the sane as the mean firing height plus five a or H+ 5c) x (drop weight), where H 1a the sean firing standard deviation and the drop weight 18 that specified in the priner aanufac~ specification. Tt should be noted that these data are based on Faconsolidated primers, to be discussed later, fired at ambient temperature (72°F), Since ‘these would be considered optimum conditions, it is highly denirable that an added margin of input energy be provided. NeDonnell Air~ ‘Coapany requires thet this be accomplished by using twice the specified sain faring height plus the five standard deviations, 2H» 50) x (drop weight). 2she3 Petmar Cup Indentation ~ Any discussion of firing pin design ts not cooplate Without mentioning primer cup indentation, Uncontrolled indentation can lead to penetration of the primer cup, which results is sone back-venting of the priner aa it functions, On the other hand, too enall an indentation may uot adequately collapae the cup against the prising composition and the anvil, resulting ina no-fire, I has been found that a depth of .020 to .025 Snches should be considered ideal for small dtaneter (pistol type) priser while a figure of .025 to .030 inches should be used for large rifle type peimare, Although lover indentations say be acceptable, a cinimun of .012 Inches should be observed vith conventional firing sechantene, since anything lee ia a "Light blow" and may be the cause of « malfunction. 2.5 gummur caunacreRtentcs The output characteriaticn of a percussion primer can bes as a deflagration of lov brisance with the accoupanying ealssion of hot perticles, flane and gases. In the past, various physical parameters of the Priner's output have been ensured in an effort to evaluate or compare same, Such measurauente have included voluse of gas produced, inpulee imparted to a colum of uercury by the pressure pulet ‘bomb data, Light and tenpera~ ture output. Eve tend to be empirical and not quantitative in nature and at provide only Matted primer to primer comparison. Quantitative neasuresents Of total energy, however, can now be obtained for any detonating or pressure producing device by the Hefonnell developed Initiator Output Test Pixture (Reference 14, aonetines oom as the Energy Sensor). For primera, the specific value of such an instrument ie ite ability to integrate the pressure time output, thereby prov’ ling a quantitative measure of ] 0.082000. (Us for Protas Tne aly anton i 0.080260 in (Je fr Exton Train r Propel Powder ton i Primer Reconselidation NOBIH Recommends that Primers Can be Reconsolidated (Seating the Anvil) from 01008 to 0.004 Im, During instalation Firing Pin Recommendations ‘Primer Cup indentation dau 0.020 t0 0.028, 1] —— MODONNELL DOVOLAL CONFORMATION ats a,