Structure/Property Correlations in Primary Explosives.
Abstract
The long range objective of the present combined experimental and theoretical program is to develop a relationship between chemical structure and primary explosive behavior as a research tool for assessing the potential of primary explosives. The ability to undergo a rapid deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) was the explosive behavior chosen to identify and rank primary explosives. DDT studies of two potential isomeric cast primaries, 1-methyl-5-nitrotetrazole (1-MNT) and 2-methyl-5-nitrotetrazole (2-MNT), were undertaken as the first step towards achieving this objective. Isomeric cast explosives are most convenient for isolating the effects of chemical structure in primaries because isomers have different molecular structures but essentially the same physical properties; because inhomogeneities leading to increased sensitivity are minimized by the casting process; and because the mechanism of DDT is more fully understood in cast explosives than in porous explosives. The experimental observation that DDT occurs more readily in cast 2-MNT than in cast 1-MNT clearly demonstrates the influence of chemical structure on primary explosive behavior. The threshold voltages for ignition by a hot bridgewire were found to be 110 volts for cast 2-MNT and 375 volts for cast 1-MNT. Critical times and distances for DDT in cast 2-MNT of 8 microsec and 2-3 mm, respectively, were determined by performing experiments on changes of different lengths.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 15, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA028503
Entities
People
- Craig M. Tarver
- Michael Cowperthwaite
- Thomas C. Goodale
Organizations
- SRI International