Mixed High Explosives for Insensitive Booster Compositions
Abstract
Three series of candidate insensitive booster compositions based on RDX (Grade A)/Elvax 210, and incorporating various amounts of PETN, DATB and TATB (ranging from 5 to 35%) have been prepared and characterized for impact sensitiveness (Rotter F of 1), shock sensitivity (SSGT) and cookoff behaviour (SSCB). The RDX/PETN/Elvax 210 compositions are generally more impact sensitive than RDX, have shock sensitivities between those of tetryl and PBXW-7 Type II, and give less violent cookoff responses than RDX/Elvax 210 (95:5) at the slow heating rate but more violent responses at the fast heating rate. All the RDX/ DATB/Elvax 210 and RDX/TATB/Elvax 210 compositions had acceptable impact sensitiveness, but most were extremely shock insensitive. Use of finer particle size RDX led to increase in both the impact sensitiveness and shock sensitivity of RDX/TATB/Elvax 210 (75:20:5) composition. The compositions generally gave less violent reactions than RDX/Elvax 210(95:5) at both fast and slow heating rates. The RDX/TATB/Elvax 210 (65:30:5) composition was the best of those examined, giving mild explosions or deflagrations in most tests; however, further reduction of cookoff violence is still required to give an acceptable insensitive booster composition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA268773
Entities
People
- C. N. Louey
- I. J. Dagley
- L. Montelli
- R. P. Parker
Organizations
- Defence Science and Technology Group