skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Gun-launched impact initiation of the composite explosive PBXN-103

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.50583· OSTI ID:561779
;  [1]
  1. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, Silver Spring, Maryland 20903-5640 (United States)

A well-instrumented variation of the Susan test has been developed for simultaneously quantifying the extent and rate of deformation, the time for onset of reaction, and the magnitude of reaction occurring from the impact of energetic materials onto a flat plate. Unconfined, 40 mm diameter samples are mounted onto a 50.8 mm diameter aft body for launching from a powder gun. The mass of the aluminum aft body extends the time for sample deformation at a uniform strain rate, without crushing the sample against the target plate as can occur with the steel aft body in the Susan test. Initial experiments were conducted on the composite explosive PBXN-103, consisting of ammonium perchlorate and aluminum in an energetic binder. There was no reaction at an impact velocity of 46 m/s, mild reactions at 67 and 78 m/s, and deflagrations at {approximately}95m/s. Times to reaction from 220 to 1400 {mu}s were based on the high-speed photographs of an air blast wave, which appeared prior to luminous reaction. Reactions occurred as a result of PBXN-103 deformation, not from pinching the explosive between the projectile and target. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

OSTI ID:
561779
Report Number(s):
CONF-950846-; ISSN 0094-243X; TRN: 9716M0076
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 370, Issue 1; Conference: American Physical Society biennial conference on shock compression of condensed matter, Seattle, WA (United States), 13-18 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: May 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English