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Title: Integrated Data Collection Analysis (IDCA) Program - AN and Bullseye Smokeless Powder

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1297659· OSTI ID:1297659
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [6]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Indian Head, MD (United States)
  3. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  4. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Redstone Arsenal, AL (United States)
  5. Applied Research Associates, Tyndall Air Force Base, FL (United States)
  6. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

The Integrated Data Collection Analysis (IDCA) program is conducting a proficiency study for Small- Scale Safety and Thermal (SSST) testing of homemade explosives (HMEs). Described here are the results for impact, friction, electrostatic discharge, and differential scanning calorimetry analysis of ammonium nitrate (AN) mixed with Bullseye® smokeless powder (Gunpowder). The participants found the AN/Gunpowder to: 1) have a range of sensitivity to impact, comparable to or less than RDX, 2) be fairly insensitive to friction as measured by BAM and ABL, 3) have a range for ESD, from insensitive to more sensitive than PETN, and 4) have thermal sensitivity about the same as PETN and Gunpowder. This effort, funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is putting the issues of safe handling of these materials in perspective with standard military explosives. The study is adding SSST testing results for a broad suite of different HMEs to the literature. Ultimately the study has the potential to suggest new guidelines and methods and possibly establish the SSST testing accuracies needed when developing safe handling practices for HMEs. Each participating testing laboratory uses identical test materials and preparation methods. Note, however, the test procedures differ among the laboratories. The testing performers involved are Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, (NSWC IHD), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RXQL). These tests are conducted as a proficiency study in order to establish some consistency in test protocols, procedures, and experiments and to compare results when these testing variables cannot be made consistent. Keywords: Small-scale safety testing, proficiency test, impact-, friction-, spark discharge-, thermal testing, round-robin test, safety testing protocols, HME, RDX, potassium perchlorate, potassium chlorate, sodium chlorate, sugar, dodecane, PETN, carbon, ammonium nitrate, Gunpowder, Bullseye® smokeless powder.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1297659
Report Number(s):
LLNL-TR-641024
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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