The microstructures of some amatols

Abstract

AbstractFusion‐cast amatols contained ammonium nitrate grains included in TNT crystals. Some TNT crystals were prisms elongated on [c] and approximately perpendicular to the wall of the mould. Ammonium nitrate grains were mono‐ or poly‐crystalline and some showed evidence of aggregation prior to incorporation with fused TNT; aggregation during fusion casting was rarely indicated. Segregation of the grains by pressure from growing TNT prisms was seen in a few castings unusually poor in ammonium nitrate.At least some proportion of added wax appeared as segregations in TNT. Added aluminium grains were found in or between TNT crystals. Parallel layers of ammonium nitrate and TNT occurred in parts of test‐pieces of pressed amatol.Completely fused mixtures of TNT with eutectic proportions of ammonium, calcium and sodium nitrates, were simple or multiple emulsions; the structures of these emulsions became ‘frozen’ when the melt solidified.