RADIATION-ENHANCED SURFACE ACTIVITY OF GAMMA HMX,
Abstract
The surface activity of one-micron particle size gamma-octahydro-1,3, 5,7-tetranitro-s-tetrazine (gamma -HMX) is enhanced by cobalt-60 gamma irradiation. Surface activity was measured by a radiometric determination of adsorption of carbon-14 labeled stearyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (STAB) from solution. At doses ranging from 5 to 60 Mrads, the enhanced surface activity is shown to be related to dose and the evolution of composite gaseous products derived from bulk as well as surface molecules. Although a one-Mrad irradiation of gamma-HMX in vacuo produces no change in surface activity, such as irradiation of gamma-HMX in contact with water vapor results in an enhancement of surface activity that is comparable to the effect of a 15-Mrad dose. Exposure of gamma-HMX to NO2 and NO increases surface activity by 28% and 42%, respectively; irradiation of these samples with one Mrad gives no additional enhancement. The increased rate of thermal decomposition is not specific to radiation-enhanced surface activity promoted by water vapors but is found to be a function of gamma-ray interaction with bulk molecules as well. However, the increased rates of thermal decomposition of unirradiated samples of gamma-HMX exposed to NO and NO2 are attributed solely to thermally unstable reaction products of NO-HMX and NO2-HMX surface adducts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0627846
Entities
People
- Andrew F. Smetana
- Jerome Haberman
- Thomas C. Castorina
Organizations
- Picatinny Arsenal