Investigation of Ambient and High Temperature Aging of PETN by Laser Induced Fluorescence and Ultraviolet Absorption Spectroscopies

Technical Report · Fri Jun 23 04:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6081411· OSTI ID:6081411

Dosser, Larry R. ^[1]; Seliskar, Carl J. ^[2]

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1. EG&G Mound Applied Technologies, Miamisburg, OH (United States)
2. Univ. of Cincinnati, OH (United States)

The chemical aging of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) has been and continues to be an important problem in producing and maintaining high energy compounds and components. The work done to date has identified several key concerns in evaluating the chemical and physical aging processes of PETN. These include the manner in which a particular type of PETN is prepared, the sample preparation procedure insofar as it can influence the adsorbed species on the solid PETN, and the methods of measurement and their influence on the quantitative determination on the gaseous decomposition products. In the work reported here, two noninvasive spectroscopic methods of measurement were chosen: laser induced fluorescence, which was used to monitor NO₂, and ultraviolet spectroscopy, which was used to monitor NO. A unique sample vessel design permitted both measurements to be made on the sample, and these two species could readily be measured in the presence of one another. Adsorbed NO₂, and its subsequent reaction to yield NO, was detected. Three types of PETN samples were aged at elevated temperatures, and varying amounts of NO and NO₂ were detected, depending on the sample and the method of preparation. The results indicate that an in situ experiment is necessary to further investigate PETN aging.

• Research Organization: EG&G Mound Applied Technologies, Miamisburg, OH (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-88DP43495
• OSTI ID: 6081411
• Report Number(s): MLM--3590; ON: DE89013740
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450100* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Chemical Explosions & Explosives
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ESTERS
EXPLOSIVES
FLUORESCENCE
LUMINESCENCE
MEASURING METHODS
NITRATES
NITRIC ACID ESTERS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETN
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SPECTRA
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA