Storage Life of an Aluminised HE Composition .

Abstract

Most high explosive compositions are organic in nature and they tend to undergo slow decomposition during storage under different environmental conditions. The decomposition degrade the molecular stability of the explosive, thereby resulting in reduced performance and service life. The knowledge of decomposition behaviour of the explosive mass determines the storage life of the composition. Hence, change in the chemical stability , sensitivity , mechanical strength and performance are of utmost importance in the prediction of storage life of explosive/munition systems. This paper presents the results on the rate of gas evolution, change in sensitivity, and thermal stability and weight loss of high explosive compositions, viz., Dentex and 1NT when exposed to elevated temperature. Based on the collected data, a tentative storage life for the aluminised (Dentex) composition has been computed to be 15 years. The data has been compared with 1NT , a standard explosive for assessing the storage life.The degradation phenomena of the compositions are determined with the help of several tests, including vacuum stability test (for measurement of volume of gas evolved), differential thermal analysis (DTA) (for knowing change it:a decomposition temperature) and gravimetric analysis and international heat test (for loss in weight and performanc(' "valuation). In addition, theoretical calculations are also used for determination of decomposition and thereby assessment of the life of an explosive. Activation energies are also. used to predict long-term storage life. The test assumptions are mostly based on Arrhenius type reaction rate equation I.

Study on Friction Sensitivity of Passive and Active Binder based Composite Solid Propellants and Correlation with Burning Rate

“…In the field of modern warfare, the acceptability of the weapon system to the health, safety, and environment is of prime importance even than the energy density 11,12 . The hazard evaluation process of a new energetic material, modified propellant formulations or, manufacturing conditions must be qualified with the friction sensitivity measurement [13][14][15] .…”