Abstract:
A non-white dry marking projectile having a pigment charge containing tinted titanium dioxide and powdered pigment and process for production thereof is disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/335,238 filed Jun. 16, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a dry marking projectile, and in particular, a projectile having a projectile core and a non-white dry marking coating on an outer surface of the projectile core and process for the production thereof. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Grudge Tactical marketed Blammo Kill-Marker Airsoft BB&#39;s as dry marking Airsoft BB&#39;s composed of a plastic BB surrounded by successive coatings of a powdered pigment, wax glaze, and dry lubricant. White BB&#39;s incorporated titanium dioxide as the pigment charge. Colored BB&#39;s incorporated a colored pigment as the pigment charge, however, these experienced high fallout rates during manufacturing. 
         [0004]    The art presently lacks a non-white dry marking projectile that can be economically and reliably manufactured in large quantities. 
         [0005]    The present disclosure is directed to overcoming these and other deficiencies in the art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A dry marking projectile includes a projectile core; and a non-white dry marking coating on the surface of the projectile core, the coating includes a binder and a pigment charge encapsulated by a wax glaze and dry lubricant, wherein the pigment charge includes, for example, about 75% tinted titanium dioxide and about 25% powdered pigment. 
         [0007]    A dry marking projectile includes a projectile core; a non-white dry marking coating on the surface of the projectile core, the coating includes a pigment charge and binder, wherein the pigment charge includes tinted titanium dioxide and powdered pigment; a protective coating encapsulating the non-white dry marking coating; and a dry powder lubricant adhering to the protective coating. 
         [0008]    A process for making a dry marking projectile includes providing projectile cores; tumbling the projectile cores with a pigment charge and binder, wherein the pigment charge includes tinted titanium dioxide and powdered pigment, to produce projectile cores having a non-white dry marking coating on the surface thereof; tumbling the projectile cores having a non-white dry marking coating with a protective coating, such as a wax glaze, encapsulating the non-white dry marking coating; and tumbling the projectiles having a protective coating with a dry powder lubricant. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    A dry marking coating is applied to Airsoft BB&#39;s or other forms of projectile cores as a visual marker system for both game play and military and law enforcement training purposes. While it is intended for use with Airsoft industry standard equipment, it is equally applicable to other devices suitable for propelling the BB&#39;s and other forms of projectiles used in these devices. BB&#39;s and larger or smaller contact devices may be coated in this manner as a way of transferring pigment to the target, indicating a “hit.” 
         [0010]    The surface of the coated BB is frangible and at least a portion of the coating fragments into intensely colored dust on impact with a target. This allows the projectile to leave a visual mark of its passage for purposes of scoring during game play or other situations which may require markings. The coating may be applied as discrete layers of binder and pigment. The coating can be applied to projectile cores made of plastic, metal, or biodegradable formulation. Preferably, the core is a solid material. The coating color formulation does not depend upon the core base material. 
         [0011]    Preferably the core diameter is from about 5.5 mm to about 6 mm, more preferably from about 5.92 mm to about 5.96 mm. Preferably the projectile diameter is from about 5.8 mm to about 6 mm, more preferably from about 5.96 mm to about 5.99 mm. Preferably, the coating has a thickness of from about 0.01 mm to about 0.04 mm, more preferably from about 0.02 mm to about 0.03 mm. 
         [0012]    A non-white frangible coating is provided on an outer surface of the projectile core. The non-white coating is composed of powdered pigment and tinted titanium dioxide, which become bound to the binder surface, protective coating, and dry lubricant coating. The protective coating is preferably a moisture sealant layer, such as a wax glaze. The dry lubricant preferably includes boron nitride. In a preferred embodiment, the pigment charge includes about 75% tinted titanium dioxide and about 25% powdered pigment. Suitable formulations of pigment charge include from about 99% to about 40% tinted titanium dioxide and from about 1% to about 60% powdered pigment. 
         [0013]    Tinted titanium dioxide suitable for use in the present disclosure is commercially available from TOR Minerals International, Corpus Christi, Tex. The following tinted titanium dioxide colors are preferred, blue/grey, orange, orange/brown and brown. 
         [0014]    The powdered pigment can include any color desired. Suitable powdered pigment colors include Day-Glo T series pigments Auora Pink, Rocket Red, Fire Orange, Blaze Orange, Arc Yellow, Saturn Yellow, Signal Green and Horizon Blue available from the DayGlo Color Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the pigment charge contains powdered pigment and tinted titanium dioxide having substantially the same colors. Optionally the pigment charge can contain a combination of powdered pigment colors and/or tinted titanium dioxide colors depending upon the desired non-white marker color. For example, multiple combinations of tinted titanium dioxide and Day-Glo T series pigments are possible and can create many different end colors. One example includes 75% blue/grey tinted titanium dioxide and 25% Day-Glo T series Horizon Blue pigment which yields an aqua green/blue color BB. 
         [0016]    The binder formulation functions to adhere the pigment charge to the BB during the coating process. Following encapsulation of the coated BB with a sealant layer, such as a wax glaze, the binder enables the powdered pigment to be loosely contained within the protective coating such that when the coating surface is fragmented during impact, colored dust is dispersed leaving a dry marker on the target. 
         [0017]    The present disclosure includes a process for making non-white dry marking projectiles. The powdered pigment charge is preferably premixed prior to use. The coating process includes the following steps. Uncoated projectile cores, such as plastic BB&#39;s, are placed in a concrete style mixer and mixing is started. Dry lubricant, such as boron nitride, is added and the mixture is allowed to tumble for about 5 minutes. A binder charge is added with mixing and allowed to coat evenly. A pigment mixture charge is added with mixing and allowed to coat evenly. The binder and pigment adding steps are repeated until the desired amount of binder and pigment mixture is used. An additional binder charge is added with mixing and allowed to coat evenly. Boron nitride is added and the BB mixture is allowed to tumble for about 5 minutes. A protective coating, such as a wax glaze charge is added with mixing and allowed to coat evenly. Boron nitride is added with mixing and allowed to tumble for about 5 minutes. Another glaze charge is added with mixing and allowed to coat evenly. Boron nitride is added and allowed to tumble for about 5 minutes. 
         [0018]    The process produces a BB having a pigmented surface which is sealed against damage from moisture by the wax glaze protective coating. The colored BB is covered with a thin layer of dry powder lubricant, such as boron nitride, to facilitate handling and use, for example, in Airsoft guns. At least a portion of the dry marking BB surface disperses on impact with a target object leaving the pigment behind as a visual indicator. Typically, the projectile core remains intact upon impact and a portion of the frangible coating disperses and transfers marking to the target. 
       EXAMPLES 
       [0019]    Binder Mix Preparation 
         [0020]    Cornstarch Binder Preparation: 
         [0021]    Mix 110 grams cornstarch with 3000 mL of cold filtered water in a container, heat and stir occasionally to a temperature of about 160° F. Continue heating and stir constantly to avoid lumps until the mixture reaches about 185° F. As the mixture heats up it will start to turn clear. Remove from heat, let it cool down. Then pour the cornstarch solution through a filter to remove lumps. Store at room temperature and use before it degrades. 
         [0022]    Gum Acacia Preparation: 
         [0023]    Slowly add 50 grams of gum acacia to 2 liters of water that has been heated to about 104-105° F. using a Sperry IRT 100 infrared thermometer, while mixing with an air mixer. Mix well to remove any lumps. Store at room temperature. 
         [0024]    Sodium Borate Preparation: 
         [0025]    Add 22.5 grams of BORAX to 3 liters of cold water, mix and store at room temperature. 
         [0026]    Cocoa Butter Base Preparation: 
         [0027]    Add the 300 grams of cocoa butter and 100 grams of stearyl alcohol to a pot and melt. Mix with a spoon. As soon as the solids melt add 375 mL D-Limonene. (DO NOT OVERHEAT AS THE MIXTURE COULD SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST, ALSO USE AN AIR MIXER ONLY). Add 75 mL sodium lauryl sulphate stirring constantly. Add 2250 mL of sodium borate solution. Turn off heat, continue to stir. Store at room temperature. 
         [0028]    Binder Mix: 
         [0029]    To a 1 gallon container add: 
         [0030]    480 mL of Cornstarch Binder preparation. 
         [0031]    480 mL of Gum Acacia preparation. 
         [0032]    240 mL of Glycerin. 
         [0033]    1,200 mL of Cocoa Butter Base preparation. 
         [0034]    100 mL of Sodium Borate preparation. 
         [0035]    Mix in this order, shake well and store at room temperature. 
         [0036]    Wax Base Preparation: 
         [0037]    Using a Beam Scale weight out: 
         [0038]    100 grams of Paraffin Wax. 
         [0039]    100 grams of Bee&#39;s Wax. 
         [0040]    100 grams of Steryl Alcohol. 
         [0041]    Place all three ingredients in an 8 quart Porcelain pot. 
         [0042]    Place the pot on a hot plate. Turn on heat setting 9 and melt slowly, mix ingredients with a spoon as they melt. 
         [0043]    As this is melting measure out: 
         [0044]    500 mL of D-Limonene. 
         [0045]    25 mL of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. 
         [0046]    750 mL of Sodium Borate Water. 
         [0047]    When all the ingredients are melted, turn off the heat. Using an air mixer slowly add the D-Limonene. Then add the Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. Then slowly add the Sodium Borate Water. Now take the pot and pour the Wax Base into a clean 1 gallon jug with the use of a large funnel. Use a spoon to clean wax base out of the pot. Screw on the lid of the jug. 
         [0048]    Wax Glaze Preparation: 
         [0049]    Mix in this order into a clean 1 gallon jug with cap: 
         [0050]    400 mL Wax Base. 
         [0051]    400 mL Sodium Borate Water. 
         [0052]    400 mL Cocoa Butter Base. 
         [0053]    Place the cap on the jug and tighten. Shake well. 
       Comparative Example A 
       [0054]    The powdered pigment charge was premixed prior to use according to the following procedure. Using a beam scale the weight of a 1 gallon container without the lid was measured at 154.7 grams. Into the 1 gallon container 525 grams of Day-Glo Orange pigment was added (525+154.7=679.7 grams total). 37.5 grams of boron nitride was added (679.7+37.5=717.2 grams total). The lid was screwed on the container and the container was shaken. The lid was unscrewed and a handful of uncoated BB&#39;s was added to facilitate mixing. The lid was screwed back on and the container was again shaken. The lid was unscrewed and using a hand sifter, the pigment mixture was poured into the sifter over a large clean mixing bowl to sift out all lumps and BB&#39;s. The sifted pigment was poured into a clean 2 qt. container and one small 10 gram desiccant bag was added to the container. The lid is screwed on and the container was stored. 
         [0055]    The premixed pigment charge was used in a process for making orange dry marking BB&#39;s according to the following coating procedure. To a concrete type mixer 165 lbs. of uncoated BB&#39;s was added and the mixer was started. ¼ cup of boron nitride was added and the BB&#39;s were tumbled for 5 minutes. 100 mL of the Binder Mix preparation was added and allowed to coat evenly. 1 cup of the orange pigment charge was added and allowed to coat evenly. The binder and pigment addition steps were repeated 5 times. 200 mL of the Binder Mix preparation was added and allowed to coat evenly. ¼ cup of boron nitride was added and BB&#39;s were tumbled for 5 minutes. 150 mL of wax glaze was added and allowed to coat evenly. 1/16 cup of boron nitride was added and BB&#39;s were tumbled for 5 minutes. 50 mL of wax glaze was added and allowed to coat evenly. 1/16 cup of boron nitride was added and BB&#39;s were tumbled for 5 minutes. 
         [0056]    The orange coated BB&#39;s were removed from the mixer and produced a fallout rate of unsatisfactory coated BB&#39;s of about 90%. A batch of BB&#39;s is considered unsatisfactory when any one or all of the following occurs: Completed BB&#39;s do not mark or mark poorly. Pigment and/or binder comes off in your hands when handling. Pigment layer is spotty and/or not uniform. Coating dissolves when BB&#39;s are placed in water. 
       Example 1 
       [0057]    The powdered pigment charge was premixed prior to use according to the following procedure to produce a 75/25% tinted titanium dioxide/pigment mixture. Using a beam scale the weight of a 1 gallon container without the lid was measured at 154.7 grams. Into the 1 gallon container 393.75 grams of C-Orange pigment (tinted titanium dioxide pigment from TOR Minerals) was added (154.7+393.75=548.45 grams total). 131.25 grams of Day-Glo Orange pigment was added (548.45+131.25=679.7 grams total). 37.5 grams of boron nitride was added (679.7+37.5=717.2 grams total). The lid was screwed on the container and the container was shaken. The lid was unscrewed and a handful of uncoated BB&#39;s was added to facilitate mixing. The lid was screwed back on and the container was again shaken. The lid was unscrewed and using a hand sifter, the pigment mixture was poured into the sifter over a large clean mixing bowl to sift out all lumps and BB&#39;s. The sifted pigment was poured into a clean 2 qt. container and one small 10 gram desiccant bag was added to the container. The lid is screwed on and the container was stored. 
         [0058]    The premixed pigment charge was used in a process for making orange dry marking BB&#39;s according to the following coating procedure. To a concrete type mixer 165 lbs. of uncoated BB&#39;s was added and the mixer was started. ¼ cup of boron nitride was added and the BB&#39;s were tumbled for 5 minutes. 100 mL of the Binder Mix preparation was added and allowed to coat evenly. 1 cup of the C-orange pigment charge was added and allowed to coat evenly. The binder and pigment addition steps were repeated 5 times. 200 mL of the Binder Mix preparation was added and allowed to coat evenly. ¼ cup of boron nitride was added and BB&#39;s were tumbled for 5 minutes. 150 mL of wax glaze was added and allowed to coat evenly. 1/16 cup of boron nitride was added and BB&#39;s were tumbled for 5 minutes. 50 mL of wax glaze was added and allowed to coat evenly. 1/16 cup of boron nitride was added and BB&#39;s were tumbled for 5 minutes. 
         [0059]    The C-orange coated BB&#39;s were removed from the mixer and produced a fallout rate of unsatisfactory coated BB&#39;s of about 1%. 
         [0060]    Although various embodiments have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.