Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Code 4T1100D, 1 Administration Circle, China Lake, CA 93555-6100

A -- LEAD-FREE PERCUSSION PRIMER MIXES BASED ON METASTABLE INTERSTITIAL COMPOSITE (MIC) TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY POC Martha Harrington, CODE 4T1100D, (760) 939-1814 The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, (NAWCWPNS) China Lake, CA has been awarded a Patent(number 5,717,159), for Lead-Free Percussion Primer Mixes Based on Metastable Interstitial Composites (MIC) Technology. Most energetic mixes used in percussion primers for ammunition contain environmentally objectionable materials like lead azide, lead styphnate, barium nitrate and antimony sulfide, which are considered toxic per EPA Regulation 10 CFR Part 1910. Several commercial ammunition producers have developed lead-free percussion primer (LFPP) mixes, but these commercial primer mixes cannot successfully meet all U.S. and NATO performance requirements for use in military ammunition. Military standards require that a round of ammunition function reliably and consistently in the temperature range of -65 degrees to +125 degrees Fahrenheit and be safe to fire at +155 degrees. The currently available commercial LFPP mixes lose reliability at temperatures below -25 degrees. As part of a "Green Bullet" Program sponsored by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and managed by the U.S. Army, the task of developing a new LFPP for small caliber ammunition (5.56mm) was undertaken based on the direct substitution of Metastable Intermolecular (or Interstitial) Composite (MIC) technology, developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory, for the typical lead-based primer mix. Percussion primers in the 5.56mm size were produced and successfully fired over the necessary temperature range. However, the primers developed under this program were limited to small caliber ammunition and the MIC technology has the potential to be directly scaled-up and used in medium caliber and possibly large caliber applications. The objective of the Navy domestic technology transfer are: (1) to disseminate technology originally developed in support of military applications for alternative uses in the public and private sectors; (2) to provide joint cooperative development programs that address problems of critical concern to the Navy and other agencies or organizations; and (3) to leverage research and development opportunities of mutual interest to the Navy and industrial organizations. In pursuit of these objectives, the Navy transfers technology to other Federal Government agencies, state and local governments, small and large United States businesses, nonprofit organizations and such public service organizations as schools, hospitals and foundations. For more information contact the Technology Tranfer Office, Code 4T1100D, at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, (CHina Lake), CA 93555-6100, PHONE (760)939-1814. THis announcement is information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a RFB or RFP; it is not a commitment by the Government, and is not expected to lead to contracts to be let by the Government. Posted 04/13/99 (I-SN319658). (0103)

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