Response of PETN detonators to elevated temperatures
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
In the present study, commercially available detonators with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) were subjected to elevated temperatures. The detonators were thermally ignited over a range of heating rates to measure ignition delay time and assess detonator violence. The violence of the detonator was quantified by measuring the velocity of the detonator closure disc (or “flyer”). The maximum flyer velocity of a thermally ignited detonator was comparable in magnitude to that obtained by initiating a room temperature pristine detonator with an exploding bridge wire (under the same confinement); however, the high flyer velocity was not an indication of deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) in the thermally ignited detonator. The detonator responded more violently than a thermally ignited detonator when initiated at 95% of the ignition delay time. Furthermore, inoperability thresholds were also measured by varying the detonator temperature and the threshold was found to be sensitive at detonator temperatures below the melting point of PETN.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
- OSTI ID:
- 1670178
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1777043
- Report Number(s):
- SAND--2020-5325J; 686249
- Journal Information:
- Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, Journal Name: Proceedings of the Combustion Institute Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 38; ISSN 1540-7489
- Publisher:
- ElsevierCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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