RDX Powder Research Articles

Compatibility study of trans-1,4,5,8-tetranitro-1,4,5,8-tetraazadecalin (TNAD) with some energetic components and inert materials

The compatibility of trans-1,4,5,8-tetranitro-1,4,5,8-tetraazadecalin (TNAD) with some energetic components and inert materials of solid propellants was studied by using the pressure DSC method where, cyclotetramethylenetetranitroamine (HMX), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), 1,4-dinitropiperazine (DNP), 1.25/1-NC/NG mixture, lead 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-onate (NTO–Pb), aluminum powder (Al, particle size = 13.6 μm) and N-nitrodihydroxyethylaminedinitrate (DINA) were used as energetic components and polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyoxytetramethylene- co-oxyethylene (PET), addition product of hexamethylene diisocyanate and water (N-100), 2-nitrodianiline (2-NDPA), 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-diphenyl urea (C 2), carbon black (C.B.), aluminum oxide (Al 2O 3), cupric 2,4-dihydroxy-benzoate (β-Cu), cupric adipate (AD-Cu) and lead phthalate (φ-Pb) were used as inert materials. It was concluded that the binary systems of TNAD with NTO–Pb, RDX, PET and Al powder are compatible, and systems of TNAD with DINA and HMX are slightly sensitive, and with 2-NDPA, φ-Pb, β-Cu, AD-Cu and Al 2O 3 are sensitive, and with PEG, N-100, C 2 and C.B. are incompatible. The impact and friction sensitivity data of the TNAD and TNAD in combination with the other energetic materials under present study was also obtained, and there was no consequential affiliation between sensitivity and compatibility.

The Flow Characteristics of High Explosives

AbstractA comparative study of flow properties of the explosive compound RDX is presented. The results were used to identify desirable free‐flowing characteristics in the powders. Various static and free‐flowing tests were conducted on the explosive powders. The results suggest that flow properties of the RDX powders tested were not influenced by particle size and surface roughness. However density, moisture content and cohesive strength between the particles had some effect on the flow properties. An increase in moisture content and cohesive strength of the particles reduced the flow rate. Whereas an increase in bluk density of the powders increased the flow rate.

High pressure combustion characteristics of RDX based propellants

The characteristics of RDX (cyclotrimethylene trinitramine) based propellant combustion over a wide range of pressure (5–430 MPa or 49–4250 atm) were studied experimentally. The data obtained from a strand burner and a closed bomb system show the influence of RDX concentration, particle size, the addition of NGD (nitroguanidine) and different binders used on the burning rate characteristics. It was found that the use of very fine RDX powder (2–3 μm) and the addition of a small concentration of NGD help to eliminate the pressure exponent shifts. The thermal analysis of the RDX based propellants with a Perkin-Elmer Corp. Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Model DSC-2C, and SEM examinations of quenched propellant samples were conducted to study high pressure combustion mechanism of the nitramine propellants. The results revealed that the pressure exponent shifts of the RDX based propellants are related to the difference of decomposition of RDX and its binders, physical structure variation, burning surface change and chemical activation variation of N 2 O with pressure.

Impact Sensitivity of γ‐Irradiated HMX

AbstractImpact of thin layers of HMX at room temperature and near liquid nitrogen temperature were performed. Polycrystalline powders of HMX irradiated with 7.5 megarad in evacuated tubes at liquid nitrogen temperature showed significant enhanced sensitivity. With 10‐megarad irradiations of HMX in evacuated tubes at liquid nitrogen temperature frequent spontaneous explosions in HMX have occurred. ESR measurements on impacted HMX and RDX powders at room temperature and near liquid nitrogen temperature at energies of less than 1 kg · m have not produced detectable mechanically generated free radicals. A significant increase in sensitivity of vacuum irradiated HMX was observed but efforts to correlate this with the dominant frozen‐in NO2 γ‐radical concentration were unsuccessful. It is suggested that the NO2 radical is a chain terminating radical in explosive systems.