HMX, RDX, PETN, and TNT Revisited for Single Crystal and Vacuum Drop Weight Sensitivity.

Abstract

HMX, RDX, PETN, and TNT were tested for impact sensitivity in a drop weight apparatus. The most common drop test found in literature was the impact by drop weight onto multiple crystals of explosive set on sandpaper. We tested on sandpaper and then conducted additional tests on bare metal, with multiple and single crystals and at ambient and in vacuum conditions. HMX and RDX were most extensively examined during the additional test to obtain baseline sensitivity controls for programs contemplated for either sensitizing or desensitizing the explosives. We found sandpaper tests to be too severe compared to bare tool tests which gave us a better explosion point sensitivity spread. Single crystals and vacuum tests consumed too much time without being more definitive. However, these tests did show that the absence of air to form hot spots had little effect on the compound's sensitivity. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1979
Accession Number
ADA069122

Entities

People

  • James E. Cole

Organizations

  • Ballistic Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter IED
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aeronautical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Crystals
  • Engineering
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Friction
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Transfer
  • Hot Spots
  • Literature
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Military Research
  • Petn
  • Single Crystals

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Rocket Propulsion.