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Title: The effect of hardness on polymer-bonded pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) explosive impact sensitivity

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0073867 · OSTI ID:1844164
ORCiD logo [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
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Handling sensitivity is an important property to assess when working with explosive samples and can be measured using a variety of tests, including drop-weight impact sensitivity. There exists a longstanding interest in the explosives community on the importance of measurable chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of explosives in impact sensitivity. However, most recent work in this area has explored chemical attributes rather than physical and mechanical properties of explosives. In this study, we measure hardness of explosive samples of pentaerythritol tetranitrate and Sylgard binder (XTX) during the curing process. The samples have been characterized for particle morphology through scanning electron microscopy and handling sensitivity through drop-weight impact testing. The relative importance of states of cure, methods of curing, morphology, and age of material are discussed. The data indicate that although there is a notable difference in morphology and mechanical properties for the samples as the polymer-bonded mixtures cure, the resulting changes to mechanical properties have a minimal effect on the sensitivity of the XTX.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001
OSTI ID:
1844164
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-21-29423
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 131; ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Deformation
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Impact testing
Malleability
Materials
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Scanning electron microscopy
Shock sensitivity