Differential Thermal Analysis of Primary Explosives a Modified Technique

Abstract

The usefulness of DTA (differential thermal analysis) in the study of primary explosives has been diminished by the tendency of samples to detonate in the course of the analysis. The report describes modifications made to the remote cell used in conjunction with a du Pont 900 DTA, and which minimize the probability of detonation. Using lead azide to evaluate the technique, it is shown that complete curves of the exothermic decomposition PbN6 to Pb + 3N2 are obtained reproducibly. The endotherm in the curve corresponding to the fusion of the lead product serves as confirmation of the reaction, and it is employed as an internal temperature calibration. Illustrations are given to show extensions of the system to other initiating explosives of military interest, i.e., lead styphnate, mercury fulminate, and potassium dinitro benzfuroxan (KDNBF). (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0714205

Entities

People

  • A. C. Forsyth
  • F. G. May
  • R. J. Graybush

Organizations

  • Picatinny Arsenal

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter IED

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Calibration
  • Chemical Kinetics
  • Differential Thermal Analysis
  • Electron Spin Resonance
  • Explosives
  • Heat Energy
  • Kinetics
  • Lead Azides
  • Materials
  • Melting
  • Oxides
  • Phase Transformations
  • Potassium
  • Resonance
  • Spin Resonance
  • Thermal Analysis
  • Transition Temperature

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Systems Analysis and Design