Chemical Desensitization of Explosives. Part 1. Effect of Ethyl Centralite on the Properties of an RDX-Based PBX |
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| Authors: | James Padfield Matthew D. Ferran Audrey Lao Linmei |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Centre for Defence Chemistry , Cranfield University , Shrivenham , UK j.padfield@cranfield.ac.uk;3. Centre for Defence Chemistry , Cranfield University , Shrivenham , UK |
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| Abstract: | The effects of the addition of ethyl centralite, a commonly used stabilizer in double-base propellants, on a cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX)-based polymer-bonded explosive (PBX) were investigated. A reduction in sensitivity to impact was observed with increasing ethyl centralite content along with a reduction in explosiveness. Small-scale gap tests also show a reduction in sensitivity to shock initiation. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of impact-stressed samples showed traces of 4-nitro- and 2-nitro-ethyl centralite and N-ethyl-N-nitrosoaniline; these results indicate the possibility that the mechanism of desensitization may, at least partially, be chemical in nature. |
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| Keywords: | chemical desensitization ethyl centralite polymer-bonded explosive RDX |
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