ODTX Measurements and Simulations on Ultra Fine TATB and PBX-9502

Conference · Fri Jul 06 04:00:00 EDT 2007

OSTI ID:920851

Koerner, J; Maienschein, J; Burnham, A; Wemhoff, A

We measure the time to explosion of 12.7 mm diameter spheres of ultra fine TATB and PBX-9502 (95 wt% TATB, 5 wt% Kel-F 800) at 85.0, 92.5, and 98.0 percent of theoretical maximum density (TMD) in confined and unconfined configurations and at several elevated temperatures with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) One Dimensional Time to Explosion (ODTX) apparatus. Time to explosion data provide insight into the relative ease of thermal ignition and allow for the calibration of kinetic parameters. The measurements show that PBX-9502 is more thermally stable than ultra fine TATB, that unconfined samples are slightly more thermally stable than confined ones, and that lower density samples are more thermally stable than higher density ones. 'Go/no go' data at the lowest temperatures yield an experimental measurement of the critical temperature, which is the temperature at which an explosive can be heated indefinitely without undergoing self-heating and concomitant rapid and violent decomposition. Critical temperatures ranges for 12.7 mm diameter spheres of 98% TMD ultra fine TATB and PBX-9502 are 213-230 C and 234-239 C, respectively. Experimental data are modeled with ALE3D and kinetic parameters are determined. These kinetic parameters, when coupled with thermal property data, provide good prediction of the time to explosion.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 920851
• Report Number(s): UCRL-CONF-232590
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
CALIBRATION
CRITICAL TEMPERATURE
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIVES
FORECASTING
IGNITION
KEL-F
KINETICS
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY
TATB
THERMAL ANALYSIS