Influence of Titanium Powder on Detonation Characteristics and Thermal Stability of RDX‐Based Composite Explosive

Abstract

Titanium, reserved abundantly in the earth, is a kind of metal with high energy density. In this study, RDX‐based titanium powder composite explosive is advocated by adding titanium powder into the RDX explosive as a dual additive. There are several stages in the energy release of composite explosives, and the initial chemical energy used for the detonation velocity tends to decline with the growth of the content of titanium powder. In the experiments, the maximum energy density Eρ of composite explosives is obtained with 20 % titanium powder through underwater explosion experiments, and it is increased by 15.33 % at 0.8 m and 19.31 % at 1.2 m compared with the RDX explosive, respectively, where more power would be obtained in limited space. At the same time, the thermodynamic parameters and kinetic parameters of TG‐DSC curves of composite explosives are studied, and it is determined that titanium powder is an insensitive agent to endow the composite explosives with good thermal stability. What's more, the results of this study may also support the mechanics of the safety performance of high energy explosives. Thus, titanium powder can be used as a potential energetic additive that plays a dual role in improving detonation characteristics and thermal stability of RDX‐based composite explosive.