Hazard Analysis of Explosives by Accelerating Rate Calorimetry

Abstract

This work aims at one important aspect of hazard analysis: compatibility testing of explosives with other materials. We discuss preliminary testing of the Accelerating Rate Calorimeter (ARC) for use in determining compatibility of a widely used military plastic bonded explosive (PBX), PBXN- 106, with a material of known incompatibility. A series of tests was done to determine: that the ARC can maintain a typical polyurethane/RDX based PBX in an adiabatic environment; precision of repeat runs; effect of sample size; effect of testing the PBX in contact with an alkaline material. Relative precision for onset of exotherm for six runs was +/-1.24%. Over the mass range tested, 100-400mg, effect of sample size was small (6% change in exotherm onset). Testing the PBX in contact with an alkaline substrate significantly reduced the onset of temperature of exotherm onset.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADP005388

Entities

People

  • Jack L. Johnston
  • Maria P. Flores

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Calorimeters
  • Calorimetry
  • Chemical Industry
  • Chemical Reaction Properties
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Heat Energy
  • Heating
  • Insensitive Explosives
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Plastic Bonded Explosives
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Pressure Transducers
  • Sodium Hydroxide
  • Weapons

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Combustion Dynamics and Shock Wave Physics.
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.