Radiation-Induced Decomposition of PETN and TATB under Extreme Conditions

Abstract

We conducted a series of experiments investigating decomposition of secondary explosives PETN and TATB at varying static pressures and temperatures using synchrotron radiation. As seen in our earlier work, the decomposition rate of TATB at ambient temperature slows systematically with increasing pressure up to at least 26 GPa but varies little with pressure in PETN at ambient temperature up to 15.7 GPa, yielding important information pertaining to the activation complex volume in both cases. We also investigated the radiation-induced decomposition rate as a function of temperature at ambient pressure and 26 GPa for TATB up to 403 K, observing that the decomposition rate increases with increasing temperature as expected. The activation energy for the TATB reaction at ambient temperature was experimentally determined to be 16 +/- 3 kJ/mol.

High‐Pressure Characterization of Melt‐Castable Biisoxazole Energetics: 3,3′‐Biisoxazole‐5,5′‐bis‐(Methylene) Dinitrate and 3,3′‐Biisoxazole‐4,4′,5,5′‐Tetrakis‐(Methylene Nitrate)

“…The diffraction features of BITN remained intense and sharp to near 16 GPa, after which both peak broadening and loss of intensity were observed. The loss of intensity can be correlated to thinning of the sample and is consistent with previous observations [17]. Upon decompression, BIDN and BITN were found to have diffraction patterns comparable to those observed at ambient conditions, indicating complete recovery of the material (Figure 2c and 2d).…”

High‐Pressure Characterization of High‐Performance Insensitive Energetic Materials: Dihydroxylammonium 5,5’‐Bis(3‐Nitro‐1,2,4‐Triazolate‐1N‐Oxide) (MAD‐X1)

“…The diffraction features in MAD-X1 maintained strong intensity throughout the experiment with minimal peak broadening occurring above 16 GPa. This trend is consistent with degradation of the hydrostatic performance of the He pressure media, and loss of intensity can be correlated to thinning of the sample [14]. Shifting of the peaks with pressure is consistent with deformation of the crystal lattice at elevated pressure, with the peak arising from the (11-4) plane shifting most significantly.…”

The High‐Pressure Characterization of Melt‐Castable Energetic Materials: 3,3′‐Bis‐Oxadiazole‐5,5′‐Bis‐Methylene Dinitrate

“…The diffraction features in BODN maintained strong intensity throughout the experiment with minimal peak broadening occurring above 11 GPa. This trend is consistent with a gradual stress-induced amorphization, and loss of intensity can be correlated to thinning of the sample [19]. Shifting of the peaks with pressure is consistent with deformation of the crystal lattice at elevated pressure, with the peak arising from the (101) plane shifting most significantly.…”