Effect of energy content of the nitraminic plastic bonded explosives on their performance and sensitivity characteristics

Information about the forty nine nitraminic plastic bonded explosives(PBXs)and different nitramines were collected.Fillers of these PBXs are nitramines 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane(RDX)and β-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5-tetrazocane(β-HMX),cis-1,3,4,6-tetranitro-octahydroimidazo-[4,5-d]imidazole(bicyclo-HMX,BCHMX)and e-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane(e-HNIW,CL-20)which are bonded by polyfluoro-elastomers,polydimethyl-siloxane,poly-glycidyl azide,polyisobutylene,polystyrene-butadiene,poly-acrylonitrile-butadiene and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene in addition to a melt cast compositions based on 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene.For thirty two of these PBXs the relationships are specified and analyzed between heats of their combustion and relative explosive strengths;by means of these relationships it might be possible to estimate,which groupings in the macromolecule of binder could be liable to their primary fission in the PBXs initiation.Similarly,for forty two of these explosives,the relationships are described and analyzed between their enthalpies of formation and impact sensitivities;here is especially attention paid to PBXs filled by BCHMX.Specific rate constants from Vacuum Stability Test(VST)of four nitramines and twenty PBXs are introduced into relationships with their enthalpies of formation.Regarding to all the mentioned cases,increasing of energy content of the studied explosives leads to increase of the relative explosive strength or initiation reactivity,respectively.Exception with the opposite trend,the outputs of VST are for BCHMX,where in PBXs are matrices with the esteric plasticizers or the energetic poly-glycidyl azide.Admixture of RDX or HMX,respectively,into the BCHX PBXs gives ternary PBXs whose thermal stability,in the sense of applied VST,is higher comparing to the original binary explosives.

cis-1,3,4,6-Tetranitrooctahydroimidazo-[4,5-d]imidazole(BCHMX)as a part of explosive mixtures

cis-1,3,4,6-Tetranitrooctahydroimidazo-[4,5-d]imidazole(BCHMX) is a relatively available bicyclic nitramine in the present. Due to the high energetic content of its molecule(deformation of valence angles) it has heat of formation higher than β-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane(β-HMX) by nearly three times. As a result, it has heat of explosion and relative explosive strength exceed that of β-HMX including their corresponding PBXs. However, penetration abilities of PBXs based on HMX are higher than those based on BCHMX. The relatively high initiation reactivity of BCHMX could be modified in a wide range by its incorporation in a suitable polymeric matrices. Regarding to the performance, coating of BCHMX crystals by 5 wt% Viton A produces the maximum performance while the mixture of BCHMX with polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS) seems to be the optimum composition for the development of PBX with low sensitivity.

Relative Explosive Strength of Some Explosive Mixtures Containing Urea and/or Peroxides

Several mixtures,based on urea derivatives and some inorganic oxidants,including also alumina,were studied by means of ballistic mortar techniques with TNT as the reference standard.The detonation pressure(P),detonation velocity(D),detonation energy(Q),and volume of gaseous product at standard temperature and pressure(STP),V,were calculated using EXPLO5V6.3 thermochemical code.The performance of the mixtures studied was discussed in relation to their thermal reactivity,determined by means of differential thermal analysis(DTA).It is shown that the presence of hydrogen peroxide in the form of its complex with urea(i.e.as UHP)has a positive influence on the explosive strength of the corresponding mixtures which is linked to the hydroxy-radical formation in the mixtures during their initiation reaction.These radicals might initiate(at least partially)powdered aluminum into oxidation in the CJ plane of the detonation wave.Mixtures containing UHP and magnesium are dangerous because of potential auto-ignition.