Laboratory‐Scale Method for Estimating Explosive Performance from Laser‐Induced Shock Waves

A new laboratory‐scale method for predicting explosive performance (e.g., detonation velocity and pressure) based on milligram quantities of material is demonstrated. This technique is based on schlieren imaging of the shock wave generated in air by the formation of a laser‐induced plasma on the surface of an energetic material residue. The shock wave from each laser ablation event is tracked for more than 100 μs using a high‐speed camera. A suite of conventional energetic materials including DNAN, TNT, HNS, TATB, NTO, PETN, RDX, HMX, and CL‐20 was used to develop calibration curves relating the characteristic shock velocity for each energetic material to several detonation parameters. A strong linear correlation between the laser‐induced shock velocity and the measured performance from full‐scale detonation testing has been observed. The Laser‐induced Air Shock from Energetic Materials (LASEM) method was validated using nitrocellulose, FOX‐7, nano‐RDX, three military formulations, and three novel high‐nitrogen explosives currently under development. This method is a potential screening tool for the development of new energetic materials and formulations prior to larger‐scale detonative testing. The main advantages are the small quantity of material required (a few milligrams or less per laser shot), the ease with which hundreds of measurements per day can be obtained, and the ability to estimate explosive performance without detonating the material (reducing cost and safety requirements).     

Thermal and Sensitivity Study of Dihydroxyl Ammonium 5,5′‐Bistetrazole‐1,1′‐diolate (TKX‐50)‐based Melt Cast Explosive Formulations

Dihydroxyl ammonium 5,5′‐bistetrazole‐1,1′‐diolate (TKX‐50) is a promising energetic material with predicted performance similar to RDX as well as to CL‐20. In the present study, TKX‐50 was evaluated as a possible replacement for RDX in TNT‐based, aluminized as well as non‐aluminized melt cast formulations. Thermal analysis reveals the compatibility of TKX‐50 with benchmark explosives like RDX and TNT in explosive formulations. This paper describes the thermal and sensitivity study of TKX‐50 with RDX and TNT‐based melt cast explosives. The result indicated that TKX‐50 can be effectively used as a RDX replacement in melt cast explosive formulations. TKX‐50/TNT‐based aluminized composition shows more thermal stability than RDX/TNT based composition, which clearly indicated the usefulness of TKX‐50 in melt cast explosive formulations.     

Laser‐induced Deflagration for the Characterization of Energetic Materials

Standard propellant and detonation tests typically performed to characterize the performance of energetic materials require large quantities of material (at least tens of grams) and can be expensive and time‐consuming. This work introduces a method for characterizing the deflagration of energetic materials in a laboratory setting, using only 15–20 mg of energetic material. Temperature, energy release and emission signatures were measured and analyzed for the laser‐induced deflagration of 8 different conventional military explosives. Graphite nanoparticles and micron‐sized aluminum powder were added to the explosive compositions to investigate their effect on the emission signatures. A high‐speed color camera recorded the deflagration events and was utilized as a full‐color pyrometer to calculate the average temperatures and image hotspots; the temperatures maps were compared to those measured by conventional two‐color pyrometry. The laboratory‐scale method presented here can be applied to novel energetic materials under development that may be available only in limited quantities to evaluate their potential as propellants or reduced emission signature explosives prior to scale‐up.     

Preparation,Characterization, Thermal Evaluation and Sensitivities of TKX‐50/GO Composite

TKX‐50/GO composite was prepared and characterized. The results suggested that the morphology of TKX‐50 was improved from tabular crystal to polyhedron after coating with GO. The thermal stability of TKX‐50/GO composite was essentially unchanged. Both impact sensitivity and friction sensitivity of TKX‐50/GO composite was more insensitive than those of TKX‐50.     

Determination of the Initiating Capability of Detonators Containing TKX‐50, MAD‐X1, PETNC,DAAF, RDX,HMX or PETN as a Base Charge,by Underwater Explosion Test

A comprehensive investigation to determine the initiation power of detonators containing as a base charge the novel explosives: dihydroxylammonium 5,5′‐bis(tetrazolate‐1N‐oxide) – TKX‐50, dihydroxylammonium 5,5′‐bis(3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazolate‐1N‐oxide) – MAD‐X1, pentaerythritol tetranitrocarbamate – PETNC and 3,3′‐diamino‐4,4′‐azoxyfurazan – DAAF in comparison with RDX, HMX and PETN was undertaken. In order to estimate the initiation power of the detonators, the underwater initiating capability test was used. The total energy as a sum of the primary shock wave energy and the bubble gas energy was determined for each of these explosives, by measuring the overpressure of the shock waves generated in water. Moreover, the complete synthesis for novel explosives is presented. The thermal behavior of the explosives was investigated using DSC (differential scanning calorimetry). The gas phase absolute molar enthalpies at 298 K and 10⁵ Pa were calculated theoretically using the modified complete basis set method (CBS‐4M; M referring to the use of minimal population localization) with the Gaussian 09 software. Gas phase standard molar enthalpies of formation (ΔH_f°_(g)) at 298 K were computed using the atomization energy method. Standard molar enthalpies of formation (▵H_(s)°) were calculated using ΔH_f°_(g) and the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation by applying Trouton’s rule. The Chapman‐Jouguet (CJ) characteristics based on calculated ▵H_(s)° values were computed using the EXPLO5 V6.01 thermochemical computer code. For the calculations the theoretical maximum densities and densities obtained during the experiments presented in this work were used.     

Covalent and Ionic Insensitive High‐Explosives

Ongoing research into new insensitive energetic materials with low sensitivity toward accidental stimuli, high thermal stability and high performance characteristics is undertaken in many research groups worldwide. In order to obtain promising compounds, which fulfil the sensitivity, stability, and performance requirements, researchers use many different strategies. One of the most promising approaches is the synthesis of novel explosives with tailored physico‐chemical properties. In this review the synthesis and properties of some both covalent (NTO, TEX, FOX‐7, ADNP, DNPPs) and ionic (salts of ANDP and DNPP) insensitive explosives are presented, which are of high interest to this field of research.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Energetic Properties of N‐Rich Salts of the 4,5‐Dicyano‐2H‐1,2,3‐triazole Anion

The synthesis and characterization of the 4,5‐dicyano‐2H‐1,2,3‐triazole anion in its 5‐aminotetrazole, 1,5‐diaminotetrazole, and 1,5‐diamino‐4‐methyl‐tetrazole salts are reported. All compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, as well as elemental analyses. Their thermal decompositions were investigated by TG‐DSC. The densities, combustion heats, and sensitivity properties were tested. Additionally, enthalpies of formation, detonation pressures, detonation velocities, and heats of detonation were calculated. The compounds have potential application in the energetic materials field.     

Research on Perfusion Explosives from SF‐3 Double‐Base Propellants Using Supercritical CO2

Perfusion explosives were prepared using porous SF‐3 propellants, which were synthesized by a supercritical fluid foaming process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the porous SF‐3 propellants. Massive holes were generated after the foaming process. The density of perfusion explosives using foamed SF‐3 propellants exceeds 1.3 g cm⁻³, and the detonation velocities exceed 6000 m s⁻¹. Underwater energy tests and high‐speed photography were carried out to investigate the detonation performance of perfusion explosives. The results showed that perfusion explosives using unfoamed SF‐3 propellants could not be detonated. However, perfusion explosives using their foamed analogs could be detonated herein.     

Energetic Characteristics of HMX‐Based Explosives Containing LiH

The high energy density compound octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine (HMX) and the strong exothermic compound LiH represent an excellent principal explosive and an active fuel, respectively. Herein, the energetic characteristics of HMX‐based explosives are explored by adding LiH as fuel additive. The detonation parameters of HMX‐based explosives containing LiH were tested with free‐field explosion experiments and compared with those of traditional TNT, HMX, and aluminized explosives. The results show that the explosives exhibit higher energy and present preferable explosion effect when LiH is added as an explosive ingredient. The improvement of impulse is more than 32.8 % at 2 m. The shock wave peak overpressure increases by almost 40 % at a distance of 3 m from detonation center specially for the explosive containing both LiH and Al additives. Elemental H and Li are expected to release tremendous energy to effectively improve the explosives instant damage power, but the detonation duration is shorter than that of Al‐containing mixed explosives, which may limit the advantage over Al in the impulse. Li₂CO₃ powder is the solid product of HMX/LiH, which explains the LiH oxidation during the explosion. The exothermic processes in the formation are the reason for the increased energy of HMX/LiH explosives. These results can provide guidance to a potential energetic system formed by HMX and LiH.     

Predicting Maximum Attainable Detonation Velocity of CHNOF and Aluminized Explosives

This paper describes a simple method to predict the detonation velocity of pure and mixed CHNOF explosives as well as aluminized explosives at their maximum nominal density as one of the most important detonation properties. The new correlation uses the contribution of some structural parameters to apply for a wide range of ideal and non‐ideal explosives. Aluminized explosives have non‐ideal behavior and the Chapman Jouguet detonation velocities significantly differ from those expected from existing thermodynamic computer codes for equilibrium and steady state calculations. With the presented method, there is no need to use any assumed detonation products, heat of formation and experimental data. Detonation velocities at maximum nominal density of explosives predicted by this procedure show good agreement with respect to experimental values. They are more reliable compared to the calculated results of well‐known empirical methods and computed outputs using BKWS equation of state for CHNOF and aluminized explosives.     

Studies on Energetic Salts Based on (2,4,6‐Trinitrophenyl)guanidine

(2,4,6‐Trinitrophenyl)guanidine was synthesized and its thermal and energetic properties were investigated. The reaction of (2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl)guanidine with different acids, such as nitric, picric, perchloric, and hydrochloric acid results in protonation of (2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl)guanidine and the formation of the corresponding salts (cation : anion ratio 1 : 1). The reactions are performed at ambient temperature in H₂O or EtOH and produce qualitatively pure products with energetic properties, which are typical of those of secondary explosives. The compounds were characterized using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR and Raman spectroscopy, as well as mass spectrometry. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies were performed and the structures of the four different salts at low temperatures were determined. The thermal stabilities were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The sensitivities were determined using the BAM drophammer and friction tests. The heats of formation were calculated by the atomization method based on CBS‐4M enthalpies. Using these values as well as the X‐ray or pycnometric densities, several detonation parameters such as the detonation pressure, velocity, energy, and temperature were computed using the EXPLO5 code.     

The Microstructure of TATB‐Based Explosive Formulations During Temperature Cycling Using Ultra‐Small‐Angle X‐Ray Scattering

TATB (1,3,5 triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene), an extremely insensitive explosive, is used both in polymer‐bound explosives (PBXs) and as an ultra‐fine pressed powder (UFTATB). Many TATB‐based explosives, including LX‐17, a mixture of TATB and Kel‐F 800 binder, experience an irreversible expansion with temperature cycling known as ratchet growth. Additional voids, with sizes hundreds of nanometers to a few micrometers, account for much of the volume expansion. Measuring these voids is important feedback for hot‐spot theory and for determining the relationship between void size distributions and detonation properties. Also, understanding mechanisms for ratchet growth allows future choice of explosive/binder mixtures to minimize these types of changes, further extending PBX shelf life. This paper presents the void size distributions of LX‐17, UFTATB, and PBXs using commercially available Cytop M, Cytop A, and Hyflon AD60 binders during temperature cycling between −55 and 70 °C. These void size distributions are derived from ultra‐small‐angle X‐ray scattering (USAXS), a technique sensitive to structures from about 2 nm to about 2 μm. Structures with these sizes do not appreciably change in UFTATB. Compared to TATB/Kel‐F 800, Cytop M and Cytop A show relatively small increases in void volume from 0.9 to 1.3% and 0.6 to 1.1%, respectively, while Hyflon fails to prevent irreversible volume expansion (1.2–4.6%). Computational mesoscale models combined with experimental results indicate both high glass transition temperature as well as TATB binder adhesion and wetting are important to minimize ratchet growth.     

Study of Plastic Explosives based on Attractive Cyclic Nitramines Part I. Detonation Characteristics of Explosives with PIB Binder

Four plastic explosives based on energetic nitramines and a non‐energetic binder were prepared and studied. The nitramines were RDX (1,3,5‐trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazine), HMX (1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazine), BCHMX (cis‐1,3,4,6‐tetranitro‐octahydroimidazo‐[4,5‐d]imidazole) and HNIW (ε‐2,4,6,8,10,12‐hexanitro‐2,4,6,8,10,12‐hexaazaisowurtzitane, ε‐CL‐20). The binder was in all cases polyisobutylene (PIB) as in the standard composition C‐4. These powerful plastic explosives were compared to standard PETN‐based commercially available explosives Semtex 1A and Sprängdeg m/46. The detonation velocities were experimentally measured and compared to the ones calculated by the Kamlet–Jacobs method, CHEETAH and EXPLO5 Codes. The experimental detonation velocities as well as the calculated detonation parameters decrease in the following order: HNIW‐PIB>HMX‐PIB≥BCHMX‐PIB>RDX‐PIB>Sprändeg m/46≥Semtex 1A. Urizar coefficients for the various binders were calculated from experimental data.     

The Effect of the Hydrogen Containing Material TiH2 on the Detonation Characteristics of Emulsion Explosives

In order to improve the detonation performance of emulsion explosives, a new type of emulsion explosives with TiH₂ powders is developed. The influences of the amount of sensitizers GMs and energetic additives TiH₂ on explosion characteristics of emulsion explosives are studied to determine the optimum compositions. Underwater explosion and brisance testing experiments show that, compared to traditional GMs sensitized emulsion explosives, the shock wave specific impulse I and total energy E of GMs‐TiH₂ sensitized emulsion explosives are improved significantly, and the effect of TiH₂ powders on improving the explosion power of emulsion explosives is better than that of Ti powders. The brisance of GMs‐TiH₂ emulsion explosives is 23.80 mm compression of lead block, 7.7 mm more than that of the emulsion explosives sensitized by GMs alone. Therefore, the hydrogen containing material TiH₂ could be a promising energetic additive for developing high‐power emulsion explosives.     

Structural Defect Evolution of TATB‐Based Compounds Induced by Processing Operations and Thermal Treatments

2,4,6‐Triamino‐1,3,5‐trinitrobenzene (TATB) compounds are commonly used in high performance explosives because of their thermal stability and high detonation velocities compared to other materials. The insensitivity and mechanical properties are related to the stability of their crystalline structure. Crystallographic structure and structural defects evolution of TATB and TATB‐based compounds were studied by X‐ray diffraction for powders, molding powders, and pressed compounds, using Rietveld refinement. The effects of synthesis conditions, thermal treatments, coating and pressing operations on the structure of TATB compounds were evaluated. The results show that the pressing operation results in anisotropic crystallite size, leading to an increase of the structural defects density. It could be due to the anisotropic mechanical response of the TATB crystal under pressure, possibly plasticity. Finally, it is shown that increasing thermal treatment temperature on TATB powders decreases the structural defects density.     

Changes in Pore Size Distribution upon Thermal Cycling of TATB‐based Explosives Measured by Ultra‐Small Angle X‐Ray Scattering

Hot‐spot models of initiation and detonation show that voids or porosity ranging from nanometer to micrometer in size within highly insensitive energetic materials affect initiability and detonation properties. Thus, the knowledge of the void size distribution, and how it changes with the volume expansion seen with temperature cycling, are important to understanding the properties of the insensitive explosive 1,3,5‐triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene (TATB). In this paper, void size distributions in the 2 nm to 2 μm regime, obtained from small‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements, are presented for LX‐17‐1, PBX‐9502, and ultra‐fine TATB formulations, both as processed and after thermal cycling. Two peaks were observed in the void size distribution: a narrow peak between 7–10 nm and a broad peak between 20 nm and about 1 mm. The first peak was attributed to porosity intrinsic to the TATB crystallites. The larger pores were believed to be intercrystalline, a result of incomplete consolidation during processing and pressing. After thermal cycling, these specimens showed an increase in both the number and size of these larger pores. These results illuminate the nature of the void distributions in these TATB‐based explosives from 2 nm to 2 μm and provide empirical experimental input for computational models of initiation and detonation.     

The Poly‐Rho Test as a Screening Tool for Explosive Performance

A screening test was developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory [1] that can be used to decide if a newly synthesized/formulated explosive might warrant further development. The test consists of firing a rate‐stick composed of 12.7 mm diameter by 12.7 mm high pellets of different densities ordered from lowest to highest, initiated by a detonator at the low‐density end of the stick. This poly‐rho test yields detonation velocities over a range of densities using only the small amount of the explosive typically generated by the synthetic organic chemist at an early stage of the scale‐up process. The amount of material required is far less than that required for the typical rate‐stick series. This paper presents results on poly‐rho tests that were conducted on three explosives commonly used at Los Alamos National Laboratory, namely PBX 9501, PBX 9502 and PETN. The results are compared with empirical detonation‐theory predictions and existing explosive experimental data, with good agreement in all cases.     

Energetic Derivatives of 2‐Nitrimino‐5,6‐dinitro‐benzimidazole

2‐Nitrimino‐5,6‐dinitrobenzimidazole ( 1 ) was synthesized by nitration of 2‐aminobenzimidazole at ambient temperature in good yield. In order to explore new insensitive explosives four energetic nitrogen‐rich 1 : 1 salts such as the guanidinium ( 1a ), aminoguanidinium ( 1b ), triaminoguanidinium ( 1c ) and hydroxylammonium ( 1d ) were synthesized either by facile acid/base or in situ metathesis reaction. In addition 2‐nitrobenzimidazole ( 2 ) was synthesized by the reaction of 2‐aminobenzimidazole using potassium hyperoxide in THF. Different nitration methods were tested to obtain a theoretically 2,4,5,6,7‐pentanitrobenzimidazole but only the already known 4,5,6,7‐tetranitrobenzimidazol‐2‐one ( 3 ) could be isolated. All synthesized compounds were characterized especially by low temperature X‐ray diffraction, CHN elemental analysis and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The heat of formation of all new synthesized compounds was calculated using CBS‐4M electronic enthalpies in combination with the atomization method to calculate their detonation parameters with the EXPLO 5 V5.05 computer code.     

Investigation of Energetic Particle Distribution from High‐Order Detonations of Munitions

Military training with munitions containing explosives will result in the deposition of energetic materials on ranges. These residues contain compounds that may result in human health impacts when off‐range migration occurs. Models exist that predict the spatial and mass distribution of particles, but they have proven to be difficult to apply to detonating munitions. We have conducted a series of tests to determine if modelling results can be directly applied to simple detonation scenarios. We also command detonated several rounds to obtain an initial indication of high‐order detonation particle distributional heterogeneity. The detonation tests indicate that particle distributions will be quite heterogeneous and that the model used did not adequately describe the distribution of detonation residues. This research will need to be expanded to build an empirical database sufficient to enable the refinement of existing models and improve their predictions. Research on low‐order detonations should be conducted as low‐order detonations will result in higher mass deposition than high‐order detonations. Distribution models verified with empirical data may then be incorporated into range management models.     

Preparation and Properties of CL‐20 based Composite by Direct Ink Writing

Direct ink writing (DIW) is a new trend in the micro‐scale charging of energetic materials. In this study, a CL‐20 based composite was prepared using DIW, and its properties were characterized. Results indicated that the particles of the composite are found at the sub‐micron level, and a single layer measures at 2.4 μm. The composite has high density and low impact sensitivity, and its critical detonation size is around 1×0.4 mm. This feature will contribute to the detonation at the micro levelto a certain degree.