Mesoscopic Approach to Energetic Material Sensitivity

Abstract

ABSTRACT A background of some of the earliest mesoscopic phenomena observed in energetic material initiation is described together with newer results, an understanding of which provides a mesoscopic approach to energetic material sensitivity. Mesoscopic phenomena and observations include the formation of “initiation sites” at the atomic and molecular levels, and their propagation to form submicron “reaction sites,” which expand and coalesce to produce micron-scale “hot spots.” A physiochemical atomistic understanding for the observed phenomena is outlined and described.