SHORT DURATION CHEMILUMINESCENT COMPOSITION

1 . A chemiluminescent composition comprising an oxalate composition and an activator composition, wherein:

the oxalate composition comprises an oxalate;

the activator composition comprises at least about 2.5% H 2 O 2 and an activator solvent; and

a H 2 O 2 -decomposition catalyst.

2 . The chemiluminescent composition according to claim 1 wherein the H 2 O 2 decomposition catalyst is selected from the group consisting of manganese dioxide, silver, potassium permanganate, and any combinations thereof.

3 . The chemiluminescent composition according to claim 1 , wherein the oxalate composition further comprises the H 2 O 2 -decomposition catalyst.

4 . The chemiluminescent composition according to claim 1 , wherein the H 2 O 2 decomposition catalyst is supported on a substrate selected from the group consisting of polymer foam, inert inorganic minerals and any combinations thereof.

5 . The chemiluminescent composition according to claim 1 , further comprising a fluorescer.

6 . The chemiluminescent composition according to claim 1 , wherein:

the oxalate composition optionally further comprises an oxalate solvent that dissolves or suspends the oxalate composition; and

the activator solvent is selected from the group consisting of triethyl citrate, triacetin, and any combinations thereof.

7 . The chemiluminescent composition according to claim 6 , wherein the oxalate solvent is selected from the group consisting of benzoate, butyl benzoate, dibutyl phthalate, isoamyl benzoate, and any combinations thereof.

8 . A chemiluminescent system comprising the chemiluminescent composition according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an oxalate container containing the oxalate composition therein; and

an activator container containing the activator composition therein;

wherein the oxalate container and the activator container are separated by one or more frangible barriers such that when broken the oxalate composition and the activator composition will make contact.

9 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 8 , further comprising a separate H 2 O 2 -decomposition catalyst container containing the H 2 O 2 -decomposition catalyst therein, and when the H 2 O 2 -decomposition catalyst container, the oxalate container and/or the activator container are broken, the H 2 O 2 -decomposition catalyst, the oxalate composition and the activator composition will make contact.

10 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 8 , wherein the ingredients of the chemiluminescent composition thereof can contact each other at a first temperature to initiate a peroxyoxalate reaction.

11 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 10 , wherein the first temperature is about −40° C. or higher.

12 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 8 , wherein the chemiluminescent system reaches its peak light within 10 seconds after the ingredients of the chemiluminescent composition thereof contact each other.

13 . An ammunition payload comprising a chemiluminescent system according to claim 8 .

14 . A method for initiating a chemiluminescent system according to claim 8 comprising:

contacting the ingredients of the chemiluminescent composition with each other at a first temperature to initiate the peroxyoxalate reaction.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the first temperature is about −40° C. or higher.

16 . The method according to any of claim 14 , wherein the chemiluminescent system reaches its peak light within 10 seconds after the ingredients of the chemiluminescent composition thereof contact each other.

17 . A chemiluminescent composition comprising an oxalate composition, an activator composition, and a peroxyoxalate catalyst, wherein:

the oxalate composition comprises an oxalate;

the activator composition comprises at least about 2.5% H 2 O 2 and an activator solvent; and

the oxalate composition, the activator composition and the peroxyoxalate catalyst are stored separately from each other.

18 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 17 , wherein the peroxyoxalate catalyst is stored in pure state or dissolved in a solvent.

19 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 17 , wherein the peroxyoxalate catalyst is an organic or inorganic base with a pKb of about 14 or less.

20 . A chemiluminescent system comprising the chemiluminescent composition according to claim 17 , further comprising:

an oxalate container containing the oxalate composition therein;

an activator container containing the activator composition therein; and

a peroxyoxalate catalyst container containing the peroxyoxalate composition therein;

wherein the oxalate container, the activator container, and the peroxyoxalate catalyst container are separated by one or more frangible barriers such that when broken the oxalate composition, the activator composition, and the peroxyoxalate catalyst composition will make contact.

21 . An ammunition payload comprising a chemiluminescent system according to claim 17 .

22 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 1 further comprising a fluorescer.

23 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 22 , wherein the fluorescer is a dye comprising a structure selected from the group consisting of: thioxanthene, benzothioxanthene, xanthene, benzoxanthene, coumarin, napthalimide, phthalocyanine, and cyanine.

24 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 23 wherein the fluorescer is Solvent Yellow 43 or Solvent Yellow 160.

25 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 17 further comprising a fluorescer.

26 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 25 , wherein the fluorescer is a dye comprising a structure selected from the group consisting of: thioxanthene, benzothioxanthene, xanthene, benzoxanthene, coumarin, napthalimide, phthalocyanine, and cyanine.

27 . The chemiluminescent system according to claim 26 wherein the fluorescer is Solvent Yellow 43 or Solvent Yellow 160.