Development of a Miniature All-Secondary-Explosive, Low-Voltage, Electric Detonator
Abstract
An operationally reliable miniature version of an all-secondary- explosive, low-voltage electric detonator has been developed and produced in test quantities. This safe detonator is based on the design which earlier was proven feasible. The detonator consists essentially of a donor explosive combustion chamber, an impactor disc, an airgap, and an acceptor explosive column which provides for proper coupling of the following three critical processes: (1) Hot-wire initiation of a self-sustaining deflagration in a donor secondary explosive. (2) Release and acceleration of a metal impactor disc by confined product gases of the deflagration in the donor secondary explosive. (3) Shock initiation-to-detonation of an acceptor secondary explosive upon impact by the accelerated impactor disc. It was found that the third process was mechanically separable from the first two. By separating it, detonator size can be reduced so that the first and second processes can be fitted to the FMU-1X fuze rotor while the third process can become part of the booster. The design parameters which control the critical process are discussed. A static fix of the assembly to make the detonator safe in a fast cook-off situation was demonstrated. Sensitivity to electromagnetic radiation loading is discussed. Prototype detonators furnished under this program were function tested by the Armament Laboratory. The results of these tests are included.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0912508
Entities
People
- E. A. Day
- G. E. Seay
- P. B. Ritter
Organizations
- Utility Systems Science and Software (United States)