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Abstract

Pyrophorically activated aluminides of iron, nickel and cobalt, or mixtures thereof, are formed as discs or as coatings on substrates such as thin foils. The aluminide can be formed in situ by reacting aluminum powder with the aluminide-forming metal. Mixtures of these reactants can be applied to a substrate as such or suspended in a liquid like water or volatilizable organic liquids. Water is preferably used with a little binder such as an alkali metal silicate. An inhibitor is used to keep the water from reacting with finely-divided aluminum, and those silicates also perform such function. The pyrophoric products can be discharged to decoy heat-seeking missiles, or they can have their pyrophoricity destroyed to make catalysts. Pyrophoric action can be heightened by additives such as boron, and by post treatment with mild acid.

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First Claim