Electrostatic sensitivity of secondary high explosives
An Electrostatic Sensitivity Test System designed at Pantex was used to evaluate the secondary high explosives PETN, HMX, RDX, HNS I, HNS II and TATB. The purpose of this study was to establish test conditions for a standard electrostatic sensitivity test and measure baseline data of a few secondary explosives. Although secondary explosives are often considered quite insensitive to an electrostatic discharge, PETN, HMX, and RDX were initiated. Several external elements to the high explosive were found to have an influence on sensitivity. Initiation appeared to be dependent on the nature of the discharge current curve. Those elements recognized as having a significant effect on the results were held constant in this study. These included: distance between discharge plates; sample moisture content; material density; and system resistance, capacitance and inductance. However, no attempt was made in this study to determine the extent to which the high explosive response to electrostatic discharge is affected by these factors since such correlation is not necessary to determine relative sensitivities.
- Research Organization:
- Mason and Hanger-Silas Mason Co., Inc., Amarillo, TX (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5375739
- Report Number(s):
- MHSMP-80-28
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Friction and impact sensitivities of explosives: A comparative study. [HMX, CP, barium styphnate, RX26BB, RX26BH, PYX, BTF]
Prompt detonation of secondary explosives by laser
Related Subjects
450100* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Chemical Explosions & Explosives
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
DATA
DETONATIONS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTROSTATICS
ESTERS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXPLOSIVES
INFORMATION
MOISTURE
NITRATES
NITRIC ACID ESTERS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETN
SENSITIVITY
TATB
TESTING