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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Burn rates of explosives at high pressures. [PETN, HMX, PBX-9404, PBX-9501 and PBX-9502]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5865080

The burn rates of PETN, HMX, PBX-9404, PBX-9501, and PBX-9502 in inert gases have been determined as a function of pressure to 340 MPa by a closed bomb technique. The burn rates were fit to the de St.-Robert equation R = aP/sup n/. An abrupt transition to a higher rate of pressure increase generated by the burning sample occurs as the initial inert gas pressure is raised. In the porous beds of PETN and HMX, the rate change may be due to a transition from conductive to convective burning, an intermediate step in the deflagration-to-detonation transition. The rate change is probably due to a sample deconsolidation in the PBX-9404 and PBX-9501 sticks. It is also found that there is a minimum pressure below which deflagration cannot be sustained. 11 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Monsanto Research Corp., Miamisburg, OH (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00053
OSTI ID:
5865080
Report Number(s):
MLM-3239(OP); CONF-8503100-7; ON: DE85010806
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English