Interaction of Aluminum with Detonation Products

Abstract

A method of electrical conductivity and an analysis of recovered explosion products are used to study interaction of aluminum with detonation products of condensed high explosives. The electrical conductivity of HMX/Al and RDX/Al mixtures is inhomogeneous; a region with the maximum electrical conductivity is adjacent to the detonation front, whereas the electrical conductivity decreases with distance from the front. If the wave is incident onto a wall, the electrical resistance of the composite high explosive increases, which indicates that the high-conducting zone disappears. The electrical conductivity, resistance of the conducting zone, and the time of resistance growth are found as functions of the particle size of the additive. The results obtained confirm the reaction of the metal additive with detonation products in a microsecond range of time. An analysis of condensed explosion products shows that the reaction of aluminum with detonation products proceeds on the particle surface. The amount of reacted aluminum and the oxide-layer thickness are estimated.

Mitigation of TNT and Destex explosion effects using water mist

“…Des- tex is a TNT based aluminized composite explosive. Aluminized explosives are classified as having nonideal behavior [16,20]. In such materials, the metal additive reacts with the detonation products expanding behind the detonation zone [16,20].…”

“…Aluminized explosives are classified as having nonideal behavior [16,20]. In such materials, the metal additive reacts with the detonation products expanding behind the detonation zone [16,20]. This causes an increase in temperatures and pressures associated with the blast, and as a result, the addition of aluminum powder has traditionally been used in military applications.…”

Fireball and shock wave dynamics in the detonation of aluminized novel munitions

“…The effect of the aluminum content in condensed high explosives (HEs) has been studied in some detail [14,[18][19][20][21][22][23]. However, the precise influence of aluminum on shock dynamics is not completely understood.…”

“…Studies show that its influence is limited to short time scales, preferably in the presence of oxygen, if it is to support propagation of the shock front due to the liberation of chemical energy during the reaction [21]. Gilev and Anisichkin [23] used electrical conductivity measurements during an explosion to suggest that the reaction of aluminum with detonation products occurs within a microsecond time span immediately upon detonation. Analyzing the solid residue after a detonation in an explosion chamber, they concluded that a thin oxide layer quickly formed around the aluminum particles effectively inhibits a further reaction of bulk aluminum with other species, resulting in the majority of the aluminum additive acting as inert non-participants in the detonation.…”

Blast Mitigation Using Water Mist: Test Series II

“…Aluminized composite explosives are classified as having nonideal behavior [11,20]. In such materials, the metal additive reacts with the detonation products expanding behind the detonation zone [11,20].…”