Fuel-oxidizer mixtures: a lab and field study

Characterization and Testing of Unstable Oxidizers: Ammonium Chlorate and Nitrite

“…We have previously examined a number of fuel/oxidizer mixtures attempting to detonate them on the 5 kg scale, using a C4 booster initiator and holding the powders in 4” by 24” (101.6×609.6 mm) clear tubes so that results could be recorded by high‐speed photography [28]. Such tests were expensive in terms of time and materials; thus, we are now attempting to observe explosive behavior using the much smaller ” (12.7 mm) clear cellulose rate sticks described above.…”

“…Because we had observed the doping effect of KClO 3 on the 4” diameter scale [28] and because we thought it possible metathesis might result in the formation of ammonium chlorate, several mixtures of ammonium nitrate/potassium chlorate were prepared, analyzed by DSC, and tested in the ” rate sticks. Although the mixture resulted in exothermic reaction at lower temperatures than with either salt alone, the total heat released never reached 3000 J/g (Figure 13, Table 4), and no detonations were observed at the ” scale.…”

“…We had previously observed in the 4" diameter tests, that a formulation which "almost detonated" could be made to detonate if spiked with 3 wt% RDX or 4 wt% KClO 3 [28]. Therefore, we attempted this method with the AN/ sugar mixture in the 1 = 2 " diameter rate sticks and found that it was necessary to add 20 wt% RDX to the stoichiometric AN/sugar formulation to achieve detonation.…”

Developing A Novel Small‐Scale Test to Predict Large‐Scale Explosivity

“…Performance of non-detonating samples was evaluated by how far the shock front traveled before failure. The long run distance of AN/sugar suggested that a larger charge might detonate; and, indeed, in 4" diameter rate sticks, detonation of AN/sugar has been observed [14]. Figure 15 suggests that DSC coupled with 1 = 2 " rate stick detonation testing may be a definitive tool for hazard evaluations.…”

“…It had been observed in the previous 4" test series that a small amount (3 wt%) of added RDX could facilitate detonation of "reluctant" formulations, e. g. potassium nitrate/ sugar. 14 This method was applied to the 1 = 2 " diameter tests. Although the shock wave traveled further through the rate stick before it failed, a few percent RDX was insufficient to cause detonation.…”