1,3,5‐Trinitroperhydro‐1,3,5‐triazine (RDX)‐Based Sheet Explosive Formulation with a Hybrid Binder System

A plastic‐bonded explosive (PBX) in the form of a sheet was formulated comprising of 1,3,5‐trinitroperhydro‐1,3,5‐triazine (RDX) and an hybrid binder system containing a linear thermoplastic polyurethane and a fluoroelastomer (Viton). The effect of a fluoroelastomer on the explosive as well as mechanical properties and thermal behavior of sheet explosive formulations were investigated and compared with a control formulation containing 90 % of RDX and 10 % of natural rubber (ISNR‐5). The replacement of 10 % natural rubber by a hybrid binder system led to an increase in the velocity of detonation (VOD) of the order of 250–950 m s⁻¹ and better mechanical properties in terms of tensile strength (1.9–2.5 MPa) compared to the control formulation (RDX/ISNR‐5 (90/10)). The compatibility of ingredients and thermal decomposition kinetics of selected sheet explosive formulations were investigated by vacuum stability tests and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results suggested better compatibility of RDX with the hybrid binder system (polyurethane/Viton), which is useful to reduce potential hazards in handling, processing, and storage.     

Analysis of Post Detonation Products of Different Explosive Charges

High explosive charges containing TNT, Comp. B, PBXN-106, TNT/TATB and the aluminium containing charges TNT/AN/Al, Comp. B/Al and a PBX high explosive with polyurethane binder, RDX, AP and Al have been initiated in a containment of 1.5 m³ in argon atmosphere. The gaseous and solid products were analyzed by mass spectrometry and other techniques. From the reaction products, the completeness of the Al reaction under different conditions was evaluated. The heat of detonation was calculated from the heat of formation of the products and the components of the explosive charges. The method described is suitable for studying the reaction behavior of components in composite explosives, especially of less sensitive high explosives.     

Characterization of Granular and Polymer‐Embedded RDX Grades: Floret Tests

In an attempt to further contribute to the characterization of explosive compositions, small scale Floret tests were performed using four RDX grades, differing in product quality. A Floret test provides a measure – by indentation of a copper block – of detonation spreading or the initiability and shock wave divergence and is applied in particular to explosives used in initiation trains. Both as‐received RDX and PBXs (based on the AFX‐757 composition, a hard target penetrator explosive) containing these RDX grades were tested in the Floret test set‐up. It was found that the Floret test method, when applied to granular, as‐received RDX, was not able to discriminate between the overall RDX product qualities on the basis of the resulting volume of the indentation in the copper block. For the Floret test data of the PBX samples, a division into two parts, where one of the RDX lots shows a lower dent volume compared to the other RDX lots tested. Based on the results presented in this paper with granular RDX and a PBX composition and earlier results with a different type of PBX (based on PBXN‐109, an insensitive high explosive used in a wide range of munitions), the Floret test could be developed into a screening test for shock sensitivity and product quality, without the need for complex and large volume casting of specific PBX compositions.     

Highly Thermal Stable TATB‐based Aluminized Explosives Realizing Optimized Balance between Thermal Stability and Detonation Performance

In this work, a series of TATB‐based aluminized explosives were formulated from 1, 3, 5‐triamino‐2, 4, 6‐trinitrobenzene (TATB), aluminum powders and polymeric binders. The thermal stability, heat of detonation, detonation velocity and pressure of the TATB based aluminized (TATB/Al) explosives were systematically investigated by cook‐off, constant temperature calorimeter, electrometric method and manganin piezo resistance gauge, respectively. The selected PBX‐3 (70 wt% TATB/25 wt% Al/5 wt% fluorine resin) achieved optimized balance between thermal stability and detonation performance, with the thermal runaway temperature around 583 K. The thermal ignition of TATB‐based aluminized explosive occurred at the edge of the cylinder according to the experimental and numerical simulations. Moreover, the critical thermal runaway temperature for PBX‐3 was calculated based on the Semenov's thermal explosion theory and the thermal decomposition kinetic parameters of the explosive, which was consistent with the experimental value.     

Detonation Products as a Function of Initiation Strength,ambient gas and binder systems of explosives charges

The way of initiating an insensitive high explosive can influence the start of a detonation reaction remarkably. In order to study the extent of this influence, different boosters and different booster structures for the initiation of explosive mixtures containing TNT and nitroguanidine (NQ) have been used. The experiments have been conducted in a 1.5 m³ containment from which the detonation products could be taken and analyzed. In those cases where we only used a 10 g RDX booster together with a detonation cap no. 8, we had not a complete detonation reaction by initiating cylindrical charges of TNT/NQ and TNT/AN. This means that unreacted TNT was analyzed in the solid residue, mainly consisting of carbon soot. On the other hand, we had a complete detonation using an additional booster of about 18 g detonation sheet, placed on the front side of the cylindrical explosive, having the same diameter as the explosive charge. Another part of the investigations deals with the determination of the influence of different argon pressures on the composition of the detonation gas and the solid residue. Between vacuum and one bar argon a strong change not only of the gas but also of the soot residue was measured. A stronger influence on the products was found using a confinement with glass tubes. The investigation of Al-containing charges exhibited a very different behavior compared with charges without Al. No more influence of vaccum or of different ambient gas pressure could be observed. By investigation of two composite explosive charges (PBX) containing binder systems of different energies and different oxygen balances, a great influence on the reaction of Al was found. The PBX charges with the better O₂-balance containing the energetic GAP-binder reacted nearly completely with the Al, opposite to the charge containing the polyisobutylene (PIB) binder system.     

Low-Sensitivity Explosive Compounds for Low Vulnerability Warheads

Looking for explosives for Low Vulnerability Ammunitions leads to an interest in explosive molecules less sensitive than the usual nitramines (RDX, HMX). If TATB is quite convenient in terms of sensitivity, its performance is too low. The researches described here are related to synthesis and use of NTO (nitrotriazolone), another insensitive molecule. The synthesis by nitration of TO (triazolone) is easy and the two steps from available starting materials have been optimized. A comparison of desensitivation of PBX either by TATB or by NTO have been made. The sensitivity levels were found equivalent while the detonation velocity of the NTO based PBX was slightly higher. Unfortunately in this case, the failure diameter would be larger. The last part relates to an extensive characterization in terms of performance and vulnerability to fast cook off, slow cook off, bullet impact, shock sensitivity and sympathetic detonation of a NTO and HMX based PBX. This PBX, B 2214, was one of the first examples of explosive composition showing no sympathetic detonation, even in 248 mm large diameter.     

EAK基熔铸分子间炸药的能量和撞击感度

通过水下爆炸试验研究了RDX和HMX对EAK基熔铸分子间炸药水下能量的影响。结果表明,RDX和HMX对EAK基混合炸药起到明显的增能作用,但对含铝和非含铝体系有不同的作用效果。爆速和撞击感度测定表明,EAK—RDX混合炸药爆轰的理想化程度和稳定性及撞击感度随RDX含量的增加而增加。从能量和撞击感度两个方面综合考虑,RDX的较佳加入量应为20％～30％。     

破甲战斗部新型装药--聚奥黑炸药

一种新型的破甲战斗部装药-聚奥黑炸药是以HMX/RDX二种单质炸药为主体炸药的压装高聚物粘结炸药,其主要特点是可以通过改变HMX/RDX的组成比例,得到不同爆炸能量的系列化产品;更为突出的是,合理选择HMX/RDX比例,使PBX装药具有与HMX相近的高爆炸能量,而成本费用大幅度降低.经过在破甲战斗部中应用试验表明,聚奥黑炸药的装药密度高、破甲威力大,是一种适合装填各类破甲战斗部的新型装药.     

Modification of W/O Emulsions by Demilitarized Composition B

A series of W/O emulsion explosives containing 30–50 wt‐% of the demilitarized mixture RDX/TNT (Composition B 50/50) was prepared. Detonation velocities and relative explosive strengths of these mixtures were determined and their detonation characteristics were calculated according to the EU standard methods for commercial explosives. Thermal reactivities of the most reactive components of these W/O mixtures were examined by means of differential thermal analysis and outputs were analyzed according to the Kissinger method. The reactivities, expressed as the E_a ⋅ R⁻¹ slopes of the Kissinger relationship, correlate with the squares of the detonation velocities of the corresponding explosive mixtures. It was found that fortification of the W/O emulsions by the demilitarized mixture RDX/TNT allows modification of detonation velocities of the resulting emulsion explosives within relatively broad limits. However, the effect of this admixture on the relative explosive strength is not well defined. Nevertheless, fortification in this sense can give rock‐blasting explosives with a performance on the level of industrial powdered amatols.     

Desensitization of pressed RDX/paraffin and HMX/paraffin compounds by multiple shock waves

Multiple shock initiation of detonation in pressed RDX/paraffin and HMX/paraffin compounds is studied. If the explosive is preshocked by a weak shock wave, the effect of desensitization is observed, which is detectable by two features. First, a weak reaction appears behind the second shock wave. Second, the run to detonation increases by 100% for pressed RDX. Experiments with the samples of pressed RDX show that the run to detonation in preloaded explosive can be estimated from the distance at which the second shock wave overtakes the first weak shock; the run to detonation expected for the second shock wave, from Pop-plot data.Novosibirsk. Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 114–124, March–April, 1995.     

Microstructural Differences between Virgin and Recycled Lots of PBX 9502

PBX 9502 is an insensitive high explosive formulated comprised of 95 wt% TATB and 5 wt% Kel‐F 800^TM binder. Due to the relatively high cost of manufacturing TATB (triaminotrinitrobenzene), methods for reclaiming TATB from PBX 9502 machine cuttings were previously developed. Reclaimed PBX 9502 was mixed with ~ 50% virgin PBX 9502 to produce “recycled” lots of PBX 9502. Several studies have shown significant differences between the mechanical properties of virgin and recycled lots of PBX 9502, and postulated that the differences were related to various aspects of TATB particle size and distribution. The purpose of this study is to show that these differences in mechanical properties are related to differences in the distribution of TATB within the microstructure of PBX 9502. Ultimately, a better understanding of these properties may lead to selected formulation changes for future rebuilds, Lifetime Extension Programs (LEP) and/or candidate replacements to enhance engineering and physics performance.     

FOX-7和RDX基含铝炸药的冲击起爆特性

为研究FOX-7和RDX基含铝炸药的冲击起爆特性,对其进行了冲击波感度试验和冲击起爆试验,结合冲击波在铝隔板中的衰减特性,确定了FOX-7和RDX基含铝炸药的临界隔板值和临界起爆压力,并通过锰铜压阻传感器记录了起爆至稳定爆轰过程压力历程的变化。结果表明,以Φ40mm×50mm的JH-14为主发装药时,FOX-7和RDX基含铝炸药临界隔板值分别为37.51和34.51mm,对应的临界起爆压力为10.91和11.94GPa;起爆压力为11.58GPa时,FOX-7炸药的到爆轰距离为25.49~30.46mm,稳定爆轰后的爆轰压力为27.68GPa,爆轰速度为8 063m/s;起爆压力为14.18GPa时,RDX基含铝炸药的到爆轰距离为17.27~23.53mm,稳定爆轰后的爆轰压力为17.16GPa,爆轰速度为6 261m/s。     

RDX基铝薄膜炸药与铝粉炸药水下爆炸性能比较

为了减少铝粉炸药在生产过程中因铝粉对环境污染,降低铝粉炸药的撞击感度,提高含铝炸药的成型性及力学性能,将RDX用铝薄膜分层包裹得到新型的铝薄膜混合炸药。将铝薄膜混合炸药与铝粉炸药进行水下爆炸实验与爆速实验,得到两种炸药的爆速与压力时程曲线,经过分析计算得到两种炸药的压力峰值、冲量、冲击波能、气泡脉动周期与气泡能。结果表明：铝薄膜炸药药柱的轴向为RDX与铝薄膜独立贯通的结构,有利于降低混合炸药中添加物对基体炸药爆轰波传播的影响,从而使铝薄膜混合炸药的爆速高于铝粉炸药,导致铝薄膜炸药的冲击波损失系数高于铝粉炸药,使铝薄膜混合炸药的总能量、比气泡能与铝粉炸药相当情况下,其比冲击波能却降低了10.16%～10.33%,计算过程说明铝薄膜混合炸药的C-J压力计算公式具有合理性。     

Continuous Wave Laser Irradiation of Explosives

Quantitative measurements of the levels of continuous wave (CW) laser light that can be safely applied to bare explosives during contact operations were obtained at 532 nm, 785 nm, and 1550 nm wavelengths. A thermal camera was used to record the temperature of explosive pressed pellets and single crystals while they were irradiated using a measured laser power and laser spot size. A visible light image of the sample surface was obtained before and after the laser irradiation. Laser irradiation thresholds were obtained for the onset of any visible change to the explosive sample and for the onset of any visible chemical reaction. Deflagration to detonation transitions were not observed using any of these CW laser wavelengths on single crystals or pressed pellets in the unconfined geometry tested. Except for the photochemistry of DAAF, TATB and PBX 9502, all reactions appeared to be thermal using a 532 nm wavelength laser. For a 1550 nm wavelength laser, no photochemistry was evident, but the laser power thresholds for thermal damage in some of the materials were significantly lower than for the 532 nm laser wavelength. No reactions were observed in any of the studied explosives using the available 300 mW laser at 785 nm wavelength. Tables of laser irradiance damage and reaction thresholds are presented for pressed pellets of PBX9501, PBX9502, Composition B, HMX, TATB, RDX, DAAF, PETN, and TNT and single crystals of RDX, HMX, and PETN for each of the laser wavelengths.     

军民两用乳化炸药的制备

为解决战争期间军用炸药短缺的问题,以民爆行业生产的乳化炸药为研究对象,通过添加乙二胺二硝酸盐(EDD)、钝化RDX等高能组分,增加其能量水平;通过高效乳化剂丙烯酰化Span 80及微乳化技术进一步提高乳化炸药的稳定性,形成高能乳化炸药。结果表明,当EDD和钝化RDX的质量分数均为10%时,乳化炸药的装药密度为1.57g/cm3,爆速为6 120m/s,威力(TNT当量)136%,爆热4 910kJ/kg。     

Effect of the Initial Density on the Structure of Detonation Waves in Heterogeneous Explosives

Reaction zones in steady detonation waves in RDX, HMX, TNEB, and ZOX with different initial densities are studied with the use of a VISAR interferometer. The critical initial density which causes the qualitative change in the reaction-zone structure is determined: below the critical density, a chemical spike is registered, whereas above this density, the chemical spike disappears and an increase in pressure is observed. It is shown that the critical density for a given dispersion of high explosives depends on the method of charge pressing and equals 1.73, 1.84, 1.56, and 1.71 g/cm³ for RDX, HMX, TNETB, and ZOX, respectively. It is concluded that the unusual structure of the detonation wave is caused by the reaction of the high explosive directly in the shock-wave front. Key words: high explosives (HE), HE density, structure of detonation waves.     

Reduced Sensitivity RDX Obtained From Bachmann RDX

In recent years much interest has been generated in a quality of reduced sensitivity RDX (RS‐RDX), like I‐RDX^® which, when incorporated in cast cure and even pressable plastic bonded explosives (PBX compositions), can confer reduced shock sensitivity as measured through gap test. At crystal level, lot of work has been done to try to determine which property or properties may explain the behaviour of the corresponding cast PBX composition. But up to now, and despite an international inter‐laboratory comparison (Round Robin) of seven lots of RDX from five different manufacturers conducted from 2003 to 2005, even if some techniques lead to interesting results, there is no dedicated specification to apply to RS‐RDX. This quality (I‐RDX^®) has proved to retain its low sensitivity even after ageing, which does not seem to be the case for standard RDX produced by the Bachmann process (when re‐crystallized under I‐RDX conditions in order to obtain RS‐RDX). It has been shown that the higher sensitivity of RDX produced by the Bachmann process, or the evolution of sensitivity after ageing of RS‐RDX produced from Bachmann RDX may be linked to the presence of octogen (HMX) during the crystallization process. In order to check such hypothesis, low HMX content RDX produced by the Bachmann process has been prepared and evaluated in cast PBX composition (PBX N 109). Results of the characterization of such quality of RDX and its evaluation in cast PBX composition as well as ageing behaviour are presented and discussed; there are indications that removal of HMX from Bachmann RDX may lead to RS‐RDX, which retains its RS character even after ageing.     

Nanothermite/RDX‐Based Miniature Device for Impact Ignition of High Explosives

A miniature rocket device integrating nanothermite and RDX is presented for shock initiation of high explosive application. This Ø 2.5 mm device consists in several assembled and screwed parts: a pyroMEMS chip with a Al/CuO multilayers on it to ignite within less than 100 μs a few milligrams of nanothermite, which reacts violently and ignites within 150 μs a RDX charge compacted in the closed combustion chamber. The gases generated by the RDX combustion rapidly expand, cut and propel a Ø 2.5 mm by 1 mm thick stainless steel flyer in the barrel. After the presentation of the rocket design, fabrication and assembly, by measuring the pressure‐time evolution in the chamber we demonstrate the advantage to ignite the RDX with Al/Bi₂O₃ nanothermite to optimize the pressure impulse. We show that the stainless steel flyer of 40 mg is properly cut and propelled at velocities calculated from 665 to 1083 m s⁻¹ as a function of the RDX extent of compaction and ignition charge. As expected, the average flyer velocity increases with the mass of loaded RDX and flyer's shear thickness. We finally prove that the impact of the flyer can initiate directly in detonation a RDX explosive, which is very promising to remove primary explosives in detonator.     

Investigation of the reaction zone in heterogeneous explosives substances using an electrical conductivity method

A technique for measuring the electrical conductivity profile behind a detonation wave front with a resolution of about 0.1 mm was used to analyze the reaction zone in heterogeneous explosives. TNT-RDX mixtures, RDX with additives of water, NaCl, and a saturated aqueous solution of NaCl, and pure RDX of low density were studied. It was shown that the particle size of the explosive can have a significant effect on the structure of the reaction zone. The most narrow conducting zone (0.22 mm) was observed in fine RDX of density 1.2 g/cm³. __________ Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 109–115, March–April, 2008.     

Where and when are nanodiamonds formed under explosion?

The formation of nano-sized diamonds during the detonation of a TNT/RDX explosive with 50/50 composition was investigated experimentally in situ by means of small-angle X-ray scattering using synchrotron radiation with nanosecond time resolution. No nanodiamonds were observed immediately after the detonation front, as only the nucleation of nanodiamonds takes place at this moment. The increase in small-angle X-ray scattering which was observed during 2 μs was the cause of the dynamic growth of nanodiamonds. The inclusion of a very thin shell around the explosive causes a significant increase in this time, because the kinetic of nanodiamonds growth was changed.

In another set of experiments, the nanodiamonds were artificially introduced into different explosives before explosion. The nanodiamonds were not destroyed in RDX immediately after the detonation front, but burned in an oxidants with some delay. In TNT, the nanodiamonds were not destroyed at all.