Impact, thermal, and shock sensitivity of molten TNT and of asphalt-contaminated molten TNT
- Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Pittsburgh Research Center
- Army Defense Ammunition Center and School, Savanna, IL (United States)
The research reported here was part of an effort to evaluate the safety of a process to recover TNT from MK-9 depth bombs by the autoclave meltout process. In this process the depth bombs are heated to 121 C so that the TNT will melt and run into a vat. Unfortunately, asphalt lining the inside surface of the bomb also melts and flows out with the TNT. Testing was conducted on molten TNT and molten TNT contaminated with 2 pct asphalt at 90, 100, 110, 120, 125, and 130 C. In the liquid drop test apparatus with a 2-kg weight, the molten TNT yielded a 50 pct probability of initiation at a drop height of 6.5 cm at 110 C, decreasing to 4.5 cm at 130 C. Asphalt-contaminated TNT was somewhat less impact-sensitive than pure TNT at temperatures of 110 to 125 C, but became more sensitive at 130 C. There is a 50 pct probability of initiation at a drop height of 7.8 cm at 110 C, decreasing to 3.3 cm at 130 C. In the card gap test, the molten TNT detonated at high velocity for a gap of 0.25 inches at 90 to 125 C and detonated at high velocity for a gap of 0.5 inches at 130 C. For gaps of 0.5 to 3 inches at 90 to 125 C and 0.75 inches to 3 inches at 130 C, the TNT did not detonate at high velocity but produced a violent explosion that caused significant damage to the test fixture. The thermal analysis test results showed that when asphalt is present in TNT, it greatly accelerates the exothermic decomposition of TNT, starting at temperatures near 200 C. It appears that at relatively low shock stimulus levels, the molten TNT may be undergoing a low velocity detonation, wherein the shock wave traveling through the gap test pipe cavitates the molten TNT, greatly increasing its sensitivity. These results are crucial for assuring continued safety in recovering TNT from munitions through the autoclave meltout process.
- OSTI ID:
- 398401
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960262-; TRN: IM9649%%609
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 22. annual conference on explosives and blasting technique, Orlando, FL (United States), 4-8 Feb 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the twenty-second annual conference on explosives and blasting technique. Volume 1; PB: 319 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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