Preliminary development and characterization of a TATB/HMX plastic-bonded explosive

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5674287

Hornig, H C; McGuire, R R

Three new explosives were devised, prepared, and partially characterized in an attempt to find a favorable compromise between the extreme safety but modest detonation performance of TATB and the modest safety but excellent detonation performance of HMX. The three new formulations were all TATB/HMX/Binder - 45/48.5/6.5 vol % with Viton A and Kraton-1650 used as binders, and with two granulations of HMX, Class E, and LX-04 grade. In safety tests with frictional impact such as Susan and bullet tests, the new explosives resemble TATB-based explosive with high threshold and low reactivity. In high-temperature tests, the threshold temperature is similar to that for HMX-based explosive; but the reactions are mild, resembling TATB-based explosive. When the explosive is heated and confined under pressure, these reactions result in a gas rupture of the pressure vessel. Initiation to detonation from the strong short shock of a thin flyer plate resembles HMX-based explosive; but in the small-scale gap test, the materials behave similarly to Composition B. The effect of the smaller particle size of Class E HMX was barely discernible in some tests and undetected in others. Cylinder test energy and the equation of state is similar to that of Composition B, and calculations indicate that energy is linear with HMX concentration. Most safety properties are non-linear, and these materials are substantially safer than Composition B under accident-type stimuli tested to date. The family offers an unusual opportunity for tailoring or trading off properties because, in reference to HMX concentration, energy is linear, hazard properties seem to be on the less sensitive or TATB side of linear, and strong shock initiation seems to be on the more sensitive or HMX side of linear.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5674287
• Report Number(s): UCID-18534
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SAFETY
TATB
DETONATIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
SENSITIVITY
STABILITY
TABLES
THERMAL TESTING
DATA
DATA FORMS
EXPLOSIVES
INFORMATION
MATERIALS TESTING
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUMERICAL DATA
TESTING
450100* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Chemical Explosions & Explosives