A General Model for the Shock Initiation of Explosives

Abstract

A general model for the shock initiation of explosive reaction in chemical explosives is proposed. The model is based on the concepts of: (1) the kinetics of decomposition in which ions and free radicals produced by the shock wave shear forces initiate chain reactions that contribute to and accelerate the decomposition produced by the thermally activated molecules; (2) the formation of statistically random reaction sites whose number in a specific explosive is a direct function of the shock pressure as the shock transits the explosive; and (3) a critical‐ energy‐fluence requirement for initiation. This model appears to apply to explosive reaction in gases, liquids, and solids.

High-Speed Laser-Launched Flyer Impacts Studied with Ultrafast Photography and Velocimetry

“…The ability of an impactor to initiate explosives depends both on shock pressure and shock duration. A P 2 t = constant relation is most commonly used to describe explosives initiation thresholds [45,46], so, for example, the shock pressure must be increased by four if the duration is reduced by two. As we have shown in Fig.…”

Kinetics and mechanisms of thermal decomposition of nitroaromatic explosives

“…There is a rough pattern of increasing Ea and A from MATE to TATB, which is consistent with the decrease in impact sensitivity along this series (Table 1). However, the Arrhenius factors of TNB are clearly out of line because the initiation process (C-NO 2 homolysis) is different from equation (14).…”

“…These cyclized products are equivalent to equation (12) for nitrotoluene. Two gas phase rate constant measurements are available (References 53,84) for equation (14) giving k -108 exp(-38500/RT) sec" 1 and k = 1011 exp(-41800/RT) sec" 1 . Figure 3 shows a plot of these three rate constants.…”

“…However, in addition to the potential for cyclization reactions, equation (14), MATB also loses NO from the radical cation produced by CID (Reference 126).…”

“…This effect is difficult to judge kinetically, but it could be accommodated in theories of how mechanical energy converts into chemical processes (References [14][15][16][17][18][19].…”