New Explosive Materials and Pyrotechnic Formulations with Improved Safety and Sensitivity Properties

Abstract

At the Department of Energy (DOE) and Sandia National Laboratories, a major effort has existed to develop new pyrotechnic formulations and explosive materials that have improved safety and sensitivity properties during use and handling. The driving force for these development efforts has been enhanced personnel safety plus improved safety/ sensitivity properties of these materials and their applications in regards to nuclear weapon safety issues. These efforts have produced a series of pyrotechnic and explosive materials that can replace traditional primary explosives such as lead styphnate and lead azide. This development has resulted in new pyrotechnic formulations and explosive materials that are insensitive to initiation by electrostatic discharge from a human body. Other safety properties have also been improved. The electrostatic insensitive pyrotechnics are a family of titanium subhydride (TiHx, X greater than 0.65)/potassium perchlorate (KC1O4) formulations. These titanium subhydride/potassium perchlorate pyrotechnics also have high temperature stability, high impact and friction insensitivity. The new explosive materials are inorganic coordination compounds based upon 5- substituted tetrazolato pentaammine cobalt (III) perchlorates. Substituents in the tetrazole ring that have proven deflagration-to- detonation (DDT) properties include the cyano (-CN), nitro (- NO2) and chloro (-C1) groups. Their explosive properties include human body electrostatic insensitivity and high temperature stability along with friction and impact properties similar to RDX and HMX. The properties and uses of these materials has resulted in proven, mature technologies for the Department of Energy, Department of Defense as well as commercial, private sector applications.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA514103

Entities

People

  • John W. Fronabarger
  • Thomas M. Massis
  • William B. Sanborn

Organizations

  • Sandia National Laboratories

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bulk Materials
  • Energetic Materials
  • Explosives
  • High Pressure
  • High Temperature
  • Hot Wire
  • Human Body
  • Hydrogen
  • Ignition
  • Lead Azides
  • Low Temperature
  • Materials
  • Mixtures
  • Perchlorates
  • Potassium
  • Sensitivity
  • Thyroid Therapy Drugs

Readers

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Rocket Propulsion.