Highsmith, Thomas K. (382 E. 3350 N. North Ogden, UT, 84414, US)
Hanks, Jami M. (423 Spring Lane Logan, UT, 84341, US)
Lund, Gary K. (6276 S. Old Highway 91 Malad, ID, 83252, US)
Doll, Daniel W. (Apartment 10 1533 N. 925 W. Ogden, UT, 84404, US)
Highsmith, Thomas K. (382 E. 3350 N. North Ogden, UT, 84414, US)
Hanks, Jami M. (423 Spring Lane Logan, UT, 84341, US)
Lund, Gary K. (6276 S. Old Highway 91 Malad, ID, 83252, US)
| 1. | A meltcast explosive composition comprising: at least one meltcast binder comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of mononitrosubstituted arenes and dinitrosubstituted arenes; at least one thermal stabilizer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of Nalkylnitroanilines and Narylnitroanilines, said thermal stabilizer and said meltcast binder forming a mixture having a melting temperature in a range of from about 80°C to about 110°C ; coarse oxidizer particles having, on average, diameters in a range of from about 20 pm to about 600 pm ; and fine particles comprising at least one energetic filler, said fine particles having, on average, diameters in a range of from about 2 pm to about 10 u. m, wherein said meltcast explosive composition is meltpourable at at least one temperature in the range of from about 80°C to about 110°C. |
| 2. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 1, wherein said meltcast binder comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of nitrophenols, dinitrophenols, nitrotoluenes, dinitrotoluenes, mononitroanilines, dinitroanilines, and dinitronaphthalenes. |
| 3. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 1, wherein said energetic filler comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of 1,3,5 trinitro1, 3,5triazacyclohexane (RDX), 1, 3,5,7tetranitro1,3,5,7tetraaza cycloocatane (HMX), 2,4,6,8,10,12hexanitro2,4,6,8,10,12 hexaazatetracyclo [5.5.0.0590311] dodecane (HNIW), 4,10dinitro2,6,8,12tetraoxa 4,10diazatetracyclo [5.5.0.00'"]dodecane (TEX), nitroguanidine (NQ), 1,3,5 triamino2,4,6trinitrobenzene (TATB), 1, ldiamino2, 2dinitro ethane (DADNE), 1,3,3trinitroazetidine (TNAZ), and 3nitro1, 2,4triazol5one (NTO). |
| 4. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 1, wherein said carse oxidizer particles comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of inorganic perchlorates and inorganic nitrates. |
| 5. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 4, wherein said energetic filler comprises 1, 3,5trinitro1,3,5triazacyclohexane (RDX). |
| 6. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 5, wherein said thermal stabilizer comprises at least one Nalkylnitroaniline. |
| 7. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 5, wherein said thermal stabilizer comprises Nmethylnitroaniline. |
| 8. | A meltcast explosive composition comprising: at least one meltcast binder comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of mononitrosubstituted and dinitrosubstituted phenyl alkyl ethers; at least one thermal stabilizer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of Nalkylnitroanilines and Narylnitroanilines, said thermal stabilizer and said meltcast binder forming a mixture having a melting temperature in a range of from about 80°C to about 110°C ; coarse oxidizer particles having, on average, diameters in a range of from about 20 pm to about 600 pm ; and fine particles comprising at least one energetic filler, said fine particles having, on average, diameters in a range of from about 2 pLm to about 10 u. m, wherein said meltcast explosive composition is meltpourable at at least one temperature in the range of from about 80°C to about 110°C. |
| 9. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 8, wherein said meltcast binder comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of 2,4 dinitroanisole, 2,4dinitrophenotole, and 4methoxy2nitrophenol. |
| 10. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 8, wherein said meltcast binder comprises 2,4dinitroanisole. |
| 11. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 8, wherein said energetic filler comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of 1,3,5 trinitro1, 3,5triazacyclohexane (RDX), 1, 3,5,7tetranitro1,3,5,7tetraaza cycloocatane (HMX), 2,4,6,8,10,12hexanitro2,4,6,8,10,12 hexaazatetracyclo [5.5.0.0'"] dodecane (HNIW), 4,10dinitro2,6,8,12tetraoxa 4,10diazatetracyclo [5.5.0.05903 I]dodecane (TEX), nitroguanidine (NQ), 1,3,5 triamino2,4,6trinitrobenzene (TATB), 1, ldiamino2, 2dinitro ethane (DADNE), 1,3,3trinitroazetidine (TNAZ), and 3nitro1, 2,4triazol5one (NTO). |
| 12. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 8, wherein said coarse oxidizer particles comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of inorganic perchlorates and inorganic nitrates. |
| 13. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 12, wherein said energetic filler comprises 1, 3,5trinitro1,3,5triazacyclohexane (RDX). |
| 14. | A meltcast explosive composition comprising: at least one meltcast binder comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of mononitrosubstituted and dinitrosubstituted phenyl alkyl ethers; at least one thermal stabilizer comprising at least one Nalkylnitroanilines, said thermal stabilizer and said melt cast binder forming a mixture having a melting temperature in a range of from about 80°C to about 110°C ; coarse particles comprising at least one inorganic oxidizer, said coarse particles having, on average, diameters in a range of from about 20 pm to about 600 pm ; and fine particles comprising at least one energetic filler, said fine particles having, on average, diameters in a range of from about 2 pm to about 10 pm, wherein said meltcast explosive composition is meltpourable at at least one temperature in the range of from about 80°C to about 110°C. |
| 15. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 14, wherein said thermal stabilizer comprises Nmethylnitroaniline. |
| 16. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 15, wherein said melt cast binder comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of 2,4 dinitroanisole, 2,4dinitrophenotole, and 4methoxy2nitrophenol. |
| 17. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 15, wherein said melt cast binder comprises 2,4dinitroanisole. |
| 18. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 17, wherein said inorganic oxidizer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of inorganic perchlorates and inorganic nitrates. |
| 19. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 18, wherein said energetic filler comprises 1, 3,5trinitro1,3,5triazacyclohexane (RDX). |
| 20. | The meltcast explosive composition of claim 19, wherein said inorganic oxidizer comprises ammonium perchlorate. |
| 21. | An explosive device comprising the meltcast explosive composition of any one of claims 120. |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to melt-cast explosives, and in particular to melt-cast explosives suitable for use in mortars, grenades, artillery shells, warheads, and antipersonnel mines.
2. Description of the Related Art Melt-cast explosives based on a 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) melt-cast binder have been used in a wide array of military applications. Among the TNT-based compositions known for making melt-cast explosives, COMP B (also commonly referred to in the art as Composition B) is one of the more widely known and practiced. Generally, COMP B comprises a mixture of TNT, RDX (1,3,5-trinitro- 1,3,5-triaza-cyclohexane), and paraffin wax. Although the precise concentrations of these ingredients may vary somewhat in industry practice, generally COMP B includes about 39.5 wt% TNT, about 59.5 wt% RDX and about 1 wt% wax.
COMP B is typically prepared by initially melting the TNT melt-cast binder, which has a relatively low melting temperature of about 81 °C. RDX particles and wax (optionally pre-coated on the RDX particles) are then stirred into the melted TNT until a slurry or homogeneous dispersion is obtained. The molten slurry can be poured into shells or casings for mortars, grenades, artillery, warheads, mines, and the like by a casting process, then allowed to cool and solidify. The melt pourability of COMP B is characteristic of melt-cast explosives.
As widely acknowledged in the art, however, melt-cast explosives compositions such as COMP B have several drawbacks. One of the most
acknowledged of these drawbacks is the tendency of melt-cast explosives to shrink and crack upon cooling. Separation of the melt-cast explosive from its shell or casing and the formation of cracks within the explosive significantly increases the shock (or impact) sensitivity of the melt-cast explosive. Due to this increase in shock/impact sensitivity, melt-cast explosives made of COMP B and the like have been determined to lack sufficient predictability for some military applications. In particular, such melt-cast explosives are particularly prone to premature detonation when used adjacent to an ordnance motor. Moreover, due to the high thermal sensitivity and toxicity of TNT as a melt-cast binder, safety precautions are often required in practicing melt-cast techniques, thereby adding to manufacturing costs, slowing production rates, and raising worker safety issues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to address a significant need in the art by providing a melt-cast explosive that shares comparable explosive properties to those of COMP B explosives and is melt-pourable and castable under conditions comparable to those of COMP B explosives, but experiences less impact, shock, and thermal sensitivity and avoids the issues of toxicity associated with COMP B.
In accordance with the principles of this invention, the above and other objects are attained by replacing a fundamental and well-accepted component of COMP B, i. e., the trinitrotoluene (TNT) melt-cast binder, with one or more mononitro- substituted arenes or dinitro-substituted arenes, such as dinitroanisole. It has been discovered that mononitro-substituted and dinitro-substitute arenes such as dinitroanisole can be melt cast without presenting the toxicity drawbacks experienced with the use of TNT. Additionally, many mononitro-substituted and dinitro- substituted arenes are lower in costs and more widely available than TNT.
Generally, the use of mononitro-substituted and dinitro-substituted arenes in place of TNT for melt-cast compositions has been disfavored (if not overlooked) in the melt-casting art due to the lower energetic oxygen content of the mononitro- substituted and dinitro-substituted arenes compared to TNT. This drawback has been recognized and overcome by the inventors by the addition of coarse oxidizer particles to the melt-cast composition. As referred to herein, coarse means particles having a
granular appearance. The coarse oxidizer particles compensate for the energy loss experienced by the replacement of TNT with the less-energetic mononitro-substituted and/or dinitro-substituted arene melt-cast binder. Further, relatively large coarse oxidizer particles reduce the shock, impact, and thermal sensitivities. Inorganic oxidizers are preferred.
Additionally, the different melting points of mononitro-substituted and dinitro- substituted arenes from that of TNT have also disfavored the melt-cast binder substitution proposed by the inventors. Melt casting requires heating of the melt-cast binder to a temperature higher than its melting point, so that the binder can be mixed with the energetic filler and cast by melt pouring. However, melt-cast compositions should not be heated close to or above their autoignition temperatures, since the compositions will ignite automatically and generate an exothermic burn or explosion if heated to their autoignition temperatures. Preferably, a relatively wide"safety margin"is present between the melt temperature of the melt-cast binder and the autoignition temperature of the melt-cast composition. TNT has a melting point of about 80.9°C, and in COMP B has an autoignition temperature of 167°C, giving a reasonably wide safety margin between the binder melting temperature and the autoignition temperature. On the other hand, many mononitro-substituted and dinitro- substituted arenes have melting points exceeding that of TNT, and thereby narrowing the safety margin for melt casting. For example, dinitroanisole has a melting point of 94°C.
The inventors have also discovered a way of overcoming this drawback by combining with the melt cast binder a thermal stabilizer selected from the group consisting of alkylnitroanilines and arylnitroanilines. The thermal stabilizer combines with the melt-cast binder to lower the overall melting temperature of the melt-cast composition, preferably into a range of from 80°C to 90°C, while raising the autoignition temperature of the composition to widen the safety margin. The alkylnitroaniline and arylnitroaniline stabilizers provide of the added benefit of scavenging NOX, which is believed by the inventors to be at least partially responsible for causing cracking and decomposition (due to nitric acid formation) experienced in conventional melt-cast compositions.
Additionally, in accordance with the present melt-cast composition the high impact and shock sensitivity commonly associated with melt-cast explosives such as COMP B is mitigated by providing at least a portion of the energetic filler (e. g., RDX) in a fine powder form. It has been discovered by the inventors that the provision of the energetic filler in fine powder form lowers the shock and impact sensitivities of the melt-cast composition.
This invention is also directed to ordnances and munitions in which the melt- cast composition of this invention can be used, including, by way of example, mortars, grenades, artillery shells, warheads, and antipersonnel mines.
These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification and appended claims which, explain the principles of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The melt-cast explosive of this invention includes at least the following: at least one mononitro-substituted and/or dinitro-substituted arene melt-cast binder; at least one N-alkylnitroaniline and/or N-arylnitroanilines thermal stabilizer; coarse oxidizer particles, and an energetic filler (e. g, RDX and/or HMX) present at least in part as a fine powder.
Generally, the melt-cast composition comprises from 25 wt% to 45 wt%, more preferably from 30 wt% to 40 wt%, and more preferably about 33.75 wt% of at least one melt-cast binder. Exemplary melt-cast binders suitable for this invention include mononitro-substituted and dinitro-substituted phenyl alkyl ethers having the following formula:
wherein one or two members selected from Rl, R2, R3, R4, and Rs are nitro (-NO2) groups, the remaining of R, to Rs are the same or different and are preferably selected from-H,-OH,-NH2, NR7Rg, an aryl group, or an-alkyl group (such as methyl), R6 is an alkyl group (preferably a methyl, ethyl, or propyl group), R7 is hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl group, and Rg is hydrogen or an alkyl group.
2,4-dinitroanisole (2,4-dinitrophenyl-methyl-ether) and 2,4-dinitrophenotole (2,4-dinitrophenyl-ethyl-ether) are examples of dinitro-substituted phenyl alkyl ethers suitable for use in the present melt-cast composition, while 4-methoxy-2-nitrophenol is an example of an exemplary mononitro-substituted phenyl alkyl ether.
NO:,N02OH 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) 2,4-dinitrophenotole 4-methoxy-2-nitrophenol DNAN has been found (and 2,4-dinitrophenotole and 4-methoxy-2- nitrophenol are also believed) to exhibit less tendency to shrink and crack than TNT.
The reduced shrinkage and cracking of DNAN is believed to be attributable to the fact that DNAN does not crystallize as easily as TNT during solidification that following melt casting.
Other mononitro-substituted and dinitro-substituted arene melt-cast binders suitable for use with this invention include nitrophenols, such as meta-nitrophenol, para-nitrophenol, and 2-amino-4-nitrophenol; dinitrophenols, such as 2,4- dinitrophenol and 4,6-dinitro-o-cresol; nitrotoluene and dinitrotoluenes, such as 2,4- dinitrotoluene; mononitroanilines, such as ortho-nitroaniline, meta-nitroaniline, para- nitroaniline; and dinitroanilines, such as 2,4-dinitroaniline and 2,6-dinitroaniline. As referred to herein, arenes also include polycyclic benzenoid aromatics such as mononitronaphthalenes and dinitronaphthalenes (e. g., 1,5-dinitronapthalene).
The mononitro-substituted and dinitro-substituted arenes generally have a much lower toxicity than TNT, particularly when the arenes do not contain-OH and/or-NH2 functionalities. Thus, in many instances the use of mononitro-substituted and dinitro-substituted arenes often simplifies handling and reduces the costs associated with manufacturing the melt-cast explosive.
The thermal stabilizer of this invention preferably one or more N-alkyl- nitroanilines and/or N-aryl-nitroanilines having the following formula:
wherein R6 is hydrogen, R7 is an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbons (e. g., straight-chain alkyl, branched alkyl, cyclic alkyl, or aryl group), and at least one of Rl to R5 is a nitro group, the remaining of R, to Rs are the same or different and are preferably selected from-H,-OH,-NH2, NR8R9, an aryl group, or an-alkyl group (such as methyl), R8 is hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl group, and R9 is hydrogen or an alkyl group. Exemplary N-alkyl-nitroaniline stabilizers include the following:
<BR> N-methyl-p-nitroaniline (MNA) N-ethyl-p-nitroaniline Examples of aryl-nitroaniline stabilizers include the following:
4-nitrodiphenylamine 2-nitrodiphenylamine The concentration of the thermal stabilizer is selected in order to widen the "safety margin"at which the melt-cast composition can be melt poured without significant threat of auto-ignition of the composition. The thermal stabilizer generally acts to lower the melting point of the mixture of melt-cast binder and thermal stabilizer towards (but not necessarily to) its eutectic point. By controlling the amount of stabilizer, the mixture of melt-cast binder and stabilizer can be adjusted into a range of 80°C to 110°C that generally characterizes melt-cast materials, or can more preferably be adjusted to 80°C to 90°C, and more preferably about 86°C.
Simultaneously, the thermal stabilizer has been found to raise the auto-ignition (or exotherm) temperature of the melt-cast composition, thereby widening the safety margin between the melting temperature and the auto-ignition temperature of the melt-cast composition. Additionally, the thermal stabilizer has been found to impart the added secondary benefit of functioning as a NOx scavenger. During melt casting, melt-cast binders have been found to generate sufficient amounts of NOX gas, which leads to internal pressure build-up within the explosive and can create cracking during solidification of the melt-cast explosive. Also, NOX is believed responsible for the formation of HNO2 and HN03 acids, which decompose the melt-cast explosive and degrade its energetic properties. The presence of the thermal stabilizer of this invention reduces the amount of NOX present by scavenging, so that drawbacks such as cracking and acid generation are mitigated.
The concentration of thermal stabilizer can be selected by taking into account the amount of melt-cast binder in the overall melt-cast composition, the purity of the melt-cast binder, and the nitrogen content of the melt-cast binder. Generally, the
melt-cast composition can include from about 0.15 wt% to about 1 wt% stabilizer based on the total weight of the melt-cast composition. Less than about 0.15 wt% of the stabilizer will reduce the NOx-scavenging effect of the thermal stabilizer. On the other hand, more than 1 wt% lower the temperature of the melt-cast binder/thermal stabilizer mixture below about 80°C.
Representative inorganic materials that can be used as the coarse oxidizer particles in the present melt-cast explosive composition include perchlorates, such as potassium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, and ammonium perchlorate; and nitrates, such as potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, copper nitrate (Cu2 (OH) 3NO3, and hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN); ammonium dinitramide (ADN); and hydrazinium nitroformate (HNF). Organic oxidizers having excess amounts of oxygen available for oxidizing the melt-cast binder can also be used. An example of a suitable organic oxidizer is CL-20. The coarse particles preferably having particle diameters, on average, on the order of from about 20 ; j. m to about 600pm, more preferably 200 um to 400um, and still more preferably about 400 pm.
Particles having an average diameter of less than about 20pm are Class 1, and therefore highly detonable and sensitive. The coarse oxidizer particles preferably constitute from 10 wt% to 55 wt%, more preferably from 20 wt% to 45 wt%, and still more preferably about 35 wt% of the overall melt-cast composition.
Similar to COMP B, which contains RDX as an energetic filler, the melt-cast explosive composition of this invention also contains at least one energetic filler. In the present melt-cast explosive composition, the energetic filler can be RDX, a nitramine other than RDX, or a combination of RDX and other nitramines.
Representative nitramines that may be used in accordance with this invention include 1, 3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraaza-cycloocatane (HMX), 2,4,6,8, 10, 12-hexanitro- 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo- [5.5.0.05°0p3'1]-dodecane (HNIW), and 4,10-dinitro- 2,6,8,12-tetraoxa-4, 10-diazatetracyclo- [5. 5. 0. 05'03' ]-dodecane (TEX). In addition or as an alternative to the use of nitramines, other energetic materials can be used in the present melt-cast composition, including, by way of example, nitroguanidine (NQ), 1, 3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB), 1, l-diamino-2, 2-dinitro ethane (DADNE), 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine (TNAZ), and 3-nitro-1, 2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO).
The overall weight percentage of the melt-cast explosive composition attributed to the energetic filler is preferably not more than 60 wt%, more preferably in a range of from 20 wt% to 60 wt%, more preferably in a range of from 30 wt% to 40 wt%.
It has been discovered by the inventors that the shock and impact sensitivity of the melt-cast explosive can be reduced by including a substantial portion of the energetic filler in a fine powder form, preferably having particle sizes in a range of from about 2tm to about 10 m, more preferably about 2 J. m. However, an excess amount of fine powder energetic filler in the melt-cast composition can adversely affect the pourability of the composition. Generally, about 18 wt% to about 54 wt% of the composition should be fine powder energetic filler. The remainder of the energetic filler in the melt-cast composition can have larger particle sizes, such as on the order of about 100 um, to ensure that the composition remains melt-pourable.
According to one preferred embodiment, the composition comprises 34 wt% dinitroanisole (DNAN), 0.25 wt% N-methyl-p-nitroaniline (MNA), 30 wt% of 400pm ammonium perchlorate (AP), 5 wt% of 100um RDX, and 30. 75 wt% of 2 pm RDX.
Additional ingredients can also be introduced into the melt-cast composition of this invention. For example, a particularly desirable additional ingredient comprises reactive metals, such as aluminum, magnesium, boron, titanium, zirconium, silicon, and mixtures thereof. Reactive metals are particularly useful in applications in which the melt-cast explosive is submerged or otherwise exposed to large amounts of water.
Preferably, the melt-cast composition of this invention is substantially free of polymeric binders conventionally found in pressable and extrudable energetic materials, since an undue amount of these polymeric binders can lower the energy (especially for non-energetic polymer binders) and reduce the melt pourability (by increasing the viscosity) of the melt-cast explosive.
EXAMPLES The following examples illustrate embodiments which have been made in accordance with the present invention. Also set forth are comparative examples
prepared for comparison purposes. The inventive embodiments are not exhaustive or exclusive, but merely representative of the invention.
Unless otherwise indicated, all parts are by weight.
Examples 1 and 2 were prepared as follows. The dinitroanisole (DNAN) was introduced into a melt kettle and heated to melt the DNAN into a liquid state. The thermal stabilizer N-methyl-p-nitroaniline (MNA) was also added at this time. While stirring, the fine RDX was added at a sufficiently slow rate to facilitate thorough wetting of the RDX fine powder. The coarse RDX was then added by stirring, followed by the ammonium perchlorate inorganic oxidizer, which was also added while stirring. Once homogeneous, stirring was increased for another hour, then poured into an ordnance and allowed to cool at ambient conditions.
Comparative Example A and COMP B were prepared under similar conditions, but without the thermal stabilizer.
TABLE I
Example 1 Example 2 Comparative COMP B Example A DNAN 33. 75 27. 5 28 MNA 0. 5 0. 5 Ammonium 25 12 12 perchlorateI RDX (1. 8 lem) 30.75 30 30 RDX (100 m) 10 30 30 59. 5 TNT 39. 5 Paraffin 1. 0 Cards 155 188 188 201 Energy of 9.2 9.5 9.5 9.5 Detonation MP (°C) 86 91 93 81 Exotherm (°C) 167 167 139 167 Safety Margin 81 76 46 86 The card gap test measures shock sensitivity by loading a sample into a card gap pipe and setting off an explosive primer a predetermined distance from the sample. The space between the primer and the explosive charge is filled with an inert material such as PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate). The distance is expressed in
cards, where 1 card is equal to 0.01 inch (0.0254 cm), such that 100 cards equals 1 inch (2.54 cm). If the sample does not explode at 100 cards, for example, then the explosive is nondetonable at 100 cards. Thus, the lower the card value, the lower the shock sensitivity.
Example 1 exhibited a card gap value of 155, which is almost 20% lower than Comparative Example A (188 cards) and more than 20% lower than COMP B (201 cards).
Additionally, a comparison of Example 2 and Comparative Example A shows that the presence of MNA in the inventive composition lowered the melting temperature and raised the exotherm temperature, while not adversely affecting card gap. Hence, the"safety margin"at which Example 2 can be melt cast is increased by 30°C over that of Comparative Example A.
The foregoing detailed description of the invention has been provided for the purpose of explaining the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The foregoing detailed description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed. Modifications and equivalents will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art and are encompassed within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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