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Title: Characterization of energetic materials at temperatures approaching cookoff

Abstract

The authors conducted experiments that monitored the response of heated, confined energetic materials in both fixed-volume and fixed-load configurations. They studied a variety of HMX-based materials, looking at the effects of particle size and binders. The {beta}-{delta} phase transition near 170 C led to a more reactive state. Materials that underwent complete transition in the fixed-load experiments (allowed to expand fully to accommodate the 5% volume increase) cooked off faster than those in the fixed-volume configuration.

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
548624
Report Number(s):
SAND-97-2663C; CONF-9710108-
ON: DE98001178; BR: 4050GB010; TRN: AHC29724%%25
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Conference: 1997 Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force (JANNAF) CS/propulsion systems hazards subcommittee meeting, West Palm Beach, FL (United States), 27-31 Oct 1997; Other Information: PBD: [1997]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; DETONATION LIMITS; HEATING; PARTICLE SIZE; BINDERS; THERMAL DEGRADATION; EXPERIMENTAL DATA

Citation Formats

Renlund, A.M., Miller, J.C., Trott, W.M., Erickson, K.L., and Hobbs, M.L.. Characterization of energetic materials at temperatures approaching cookoff. United States: N. p., 1997. Web. doi:10.2172/548624.
Renlund, A.M., Miller, J.C., Trott, W.M., Erickson, K.L., & Hobbs, M.L.. Characterization of energetic materials at temperatures approaching cookoff. United States. doi:10.2172/548624.
Renlund, A.M., Miller, J.C., Trott, W.M., Erickson, K.L., and Hobbs, M.L.. Sat . "Characterization of energetic materials at temperatures approaching cookoff". United States. doi:10.2172/548624. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/548624.
@article{osti_548624,
title = {Characterization of energetic materials at temperatures approaching cookoff},
author = {Renlund, A.M. and Miller, J.C. and Trott, W.M. and Erickson, K.L. and Hobbs, M.L.},
abstractNote = {The authors conducted experiments that monitored the response of heated, confined energetic materials in both fixed-volume and fixed-load configurations. They studied a variety of HMX-based materials, looking at the effects of particle size and binders. The {beta}-{delta} phase transition near 170 C led to a more reactive state. Materials that underwent complete transition in the fixed-load experiments (allowed to expand fully to accommodate the 5% volume increase) cooked off faster than those in the fixed-volume configuration.},
doi = {10.2172/548624},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}

Technical Report:

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  • The effect of vents on the fast cookoff of energetic materials is studied through experimental modifications to the confinement vessel of the Radiant Heat Fast Cookoff Apparatus. Two venting schemes were investigated: 1) machined grooves at the EM-cover plate interface; 2) radial distribution of holes in PEEK confiner. EM materials of PBXN-109 and PBX 9502 were tested. Challenges with the experimental apparatus and EM materials were identified such that studying the effect of vents as an independent parameter was not realized. The experimental methods, data and post-test observations are presented and discussed.
  • Chemical processes occurring in shock-compressed and detonating high explosives have been studied using fast time-resolved emission spectroscopy and a two-stage gas-gun. The spectral characteristics of emission from shock-compressed nitromethane, tetranitromethane and single crystals of pentaerythritol tetranitrate are typically very broad and structureless, likely representing thermal emission. Assuming the thermal emission from a gray-body, the emission intensity can be correlated to the temperature changes in shock-compressed and detonating high explosives. The authors report Chapman-Jouguet temperatures of 3,800 K for nitromethane, 2,950 K for tetranitromethane, and 4,100 K for pentaerythritol tetranitrate. In this paper the authors also compare the data with themore » chemical equilibrium models.« less
  • Military test and training ranges generate scrap materials from targets and ordnance debris. These materials are routinely removed from the range for recycling; however, energetic material residues in this range scrap has presented a significant safety hazard to operations personnel and damaged recycling equipment. The Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) sought proof of concept evaluations for monitoring technologies to identify energetic residues among range scrap. Sandia National Laboratories teamed with Nomadics, Inc. to evaluate the Nomadics FIDO vapor sensor for application to this problem. Laboratory tests were completed that determined the vapor-sensing threshold to be 10 to 20more » ppt for TNT and 150 to 200 ppt for DNT. Field tests with the FIDO demonstrated the proof of concept that energetic material residues can be identified with vapor sensing in enclosed scrap bins. Items such as low order detonation debris, demolition block granules, and unused 81-mm mortars were detected quickly and with minimum effort. Conceptual designs for field-screening scrap for energetic material residues include handheld vapor sensing systems, batch scrap sensing systems, continuous conveyor sensing systems and a hot gas decontamination verification system.« less
  • High-temperature, pressure-shear plate impact experiments were conducted to investigate the rate-controlling mechanisms of the plastic response of high-purity aluminum at high strain rates (10{sup 6} s{sup -1}) and at temperatures approaching melt. Since the melting temperature of aluminum is pressure dependent, and a typical pressure-shear plate impact experiment subjects the sample to large pressures (2 GPa-7 GPa), a pressure-release type experiment was used to reduce the pressure in order to measure the shearing resistance at temperatures up to 95% of the current melting temperature. The measured shearing resistance was remarkably large (50 MPa at a shear strain of 2.5) formore » temperatures this near melt. Numerical simulations conducted using a version of the Nemat-Nasser/Isaacs constitutive equation, modified to model the mechanism of geometric softening, appear to capture adequately the hardening/softening behavior observed experimentally.« less
  • Characterization of the damage state of a thermally degraded energetic material (EM) is a critical first step in understanding and predicting cookoff behavior. Unfortunately, the chemical and mechanical responses of heated EMs are closely coupled, especially if the EM is confined. The authors have examined several EMs in small-scale experiments (typically 200 mg) heated in both constant-volume and constant-load configurations. Fixtures were designed to minimize free volume and to contain gas pressures to several thousand psi. The authors measured mechanical forces or displacements that correlated to thermal expansion, phase transitions, material creep and gas pressurization as functions of temperature andmore » soak time. In addition to these real-time measurements, samples were recovered for postmortem examination, usually with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and chemical analysis. The authors present results on EMs (HMX and TATB), with binders (e.g., PBX 9501, PBX 9502, LX-14) and propellants (Al/AP/HTPB).« less