Flowing afterglow spectroscopy: an ultrasensitive probe into solid-phase decomposition kinetics. [TATB and NQ]

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5617253

Taylor, G W; Andrews, Jr, G H

The thermal-decomposition kinetics of high explosives are important to manufacturers and these dangerous materials from the standpoint of processing and storage. Low-temperature kinetics (20 to 200/sup 0/C) are difficult to obtain. Either extremely sensitive analytical techniques must be employed or very large amounts of material must be tested by less sensitive methods. The latter technique has the disadvantage that when sensitive explosives or propellants are so tested, catastrophic reaction can result in the destruction of expensive equipment, and the time involved in testing may be extremely long. The flowing-afterglow method, proposed here, utilizes small explosive samples and an ultra-sensitive analytical approach. The paper describes the technique in detail and summarizes our recent efforts to elucidate the low-temperature kinetics of trinitrotriaminobenzene (TATB) and nitroguanidine (NQ).

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5617253
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-79-3257; CONF-7905125-1
• Resource Relation: Conference: 5. symposium on chemical problems connected with the stability of explosives, Bostod, Sweden, May 1979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
PYROLYSIS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
KINETICS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
SAFETY
SPECTROSCOPY
STABILITY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
EXPLOSIVES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
450100* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Chemical Explosions & Explosives