Influence of Different In-Process and Building Materials with Varying Hardness on Impact Sensitivity of the Matchhead Composition

Abstract

The objective of this research work is to study the influence of different in-process contact materials (steel, aluminium and brass) and building contact materials (concrete and wood), and its hardness on the impact sensitivity of matchhead composition. The BAM fall hammer was used for measurement of impact sensitivity. The result demonstrated that the in-process and building contact materials, and its hardness imparted variation to the sensitivity between 3.33J and 15.892J. The least LIE was found at 3.33J for the steel at 115 HRB and 117 HRB; 3.72J for aluminium at 53 HRB; 4.7J for brass at 82 HRB; 12.16J for concrete at 35 RHN, and 13.14J for wood at 16 HRB. The limited impact energy was lowest when there was contact between steel and steel as in-process material and contact between concrete and concrete as building contact material. The impact sensitivity was higher for material with higher hardness for all building and in-process contact materials. Brass and wood is suggested to be used as process and building materials in order to reduce the risk of explosions due to impact sensitivity.