Surface Analysis of Beta-HMX
Abstract
HMX is an important ingredient in many military and commercial propellants and explosives. Various size classes are available from the vendor and microscopical observations of Class A HMX (a large size) in cross polarized light showed that many of the large HMX crystals had a nonuniform, dark amorphous coating as well as small particles adhering to the surface of the larger size HMX. The small particles most likely were HMX fines. The nature of the amorphous coating was unknown. Subsequent crushing of large HMX particles made any detection of the coating impossible on the fracture particles. Those particles which escaped fracture retained both fine particles and coating. The coating and fine particles found on the surface of large HMX crystals have now been identified. Infrared analysis showed that the fine crystals adhering to the surface of large HMX was RDX enriched HMX. Transmission electron microscope analysis placed the particle size of these fines in the .05 to .2 micron range. The amorphous coating was identified as a long chain aliphatic ester-oil. Examination of the shipping bags used for HMX showed a long chain aliphatic ester and was identified as beeswax.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 02, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADP004445
Entities
People
- A. A. Wickham
- J. A. Kohlbeck
- R. E. Stevens