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U.S. Department of Energy
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Electrostatic sensitivity testing of explosives at Los Alamos

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5966858
An electrostatic sensitivity test for determining the handling hazards associated with both new and established explosives has been developed at Los Alamos and is now in routine use. The apparatus is a moving electrode device similar to that described by Kusler and Brown. The energy stored in selected capacitors of a capacitor bank is discharged through the sample of explosive. A unique system of confining the samples with lead foil allows one to measure various degrees of sample response to changes in the electrostatic stimulus. Varying the foil thickness provides information about both the ''sensitiveness'' and the ''explosiveness'' of the sample. The lead-foil-confinement technique eliminates the subjective description of the response of a secondary explosive to a marginal stimulus as is common in many explosives tests on secondaries. Variables studied included: particle size, sample weight, electrode material, series resistance, temperature, voltage, sample volume, and degree of confinement. 6 refs., 2 figs., 6 tabs.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
5966858
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-89-431; CONF-890811-15; ON: DE89007742
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English