DDT Behavior of Tetryl and Picric Acid,
Abstract
The deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) behavior of coarse tetryl (470 micron), fine tetryl (20 micron) and picric acid (67 micron) has been studied over a range of densities. Although all tetryl charges below 85% theoretical maximum density (TMD) exhibited a transition, their behavior differed from that found in earlier studies on RDX and RDX/wax in two ways: (1) the decomposition products formed shortly after ignition had such a high electrical resistance that ionization probes frequently failed to respond to them and (2) the onset of accelerated burning was located nearer the onset of detonation than the ignition region. However picric acid, a thermal decomposition product of tetryl, exhibited transition behavior comparable to that of the earlier studies. The particular sample used seemed to be near failure in our apparatus, i.e. the convective flame front failed to propagate the length of the charge, and although the predetonation column length was comparable to that of tetryl, the relative time to detonation was longer by a factor of five or more.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 21, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA028025
Entities
People
- A. R. Clairmont Jr.
- Donna Price
- J. O. Erkman
- R. R. Bernecker
Organizations
- Naval Ordnance Laboratory