Synthesis, formulation and performance evaluation of reduced sensitivity explosives
Abstract
Making high explosives that possess insensitivity on par with TATB-based plastic bonded explosives (PBXs), while outperforming them, has proven to be a difficult challenge. Many molecules that have challenged TATB have fallen short in either small-scale sensitivity (impact, friction), thermal stability, or possess a shock sensitivity that is either too high or too low. Recently, an alternative approach to single-molecule-based PBXs has been blending and/or co-crystallizing explosive molecules to address shortcomings of individual components. With this approach in mind, characterization of formulations of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (DADNE or FOX-7) or 3,3'-diamino-4,4'-azoxyfurazan (DAAF) with 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-one (NTO) were investigated. Two mono-molecular explosives and mixtures with binders were also evaluated, 5,7-diamino-4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan (CL-14) and 1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (M-RDX or mononitroso-RDX) A new method for the production of M-RDX was discovered. The previous procedure was improved by economizing to a one-pot method involving two high yielding steps. The overall yield for this reaction was 80% with minimal RDX contamination. Half-scale (12.7 mm inner diameter) copper cylinder expansion testing was used to investigate the detonation performance of DAAF/NTO, FOX-7/NTO and CL-14 formulations. Small scale sensitivity tests were also performed on CL-14, M-RDX and NTO based formulations.
- Publication:
-
Shock Compression of Condensed Matter - 2017
- Pub Date:
- July 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.5044877
- Bibcode:
- 2018AIPC.1979j0005B