Studies on Advanced RDX/TATB Based Low Vulnerable Sheet Explosives with HTPB Binder

Abstract

Hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) based sheet explosives incorporating insensitive 1,3,5‐triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene (TATB) as a part replacement of cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) have been prepared during this work. The effect of incorporation of TATB on physical, thermal, and sensitivity behavior as well as initiation by small and high caliber shaped charges has been determined. Composition containing 85% dioctyl phthalate (DOP) coated RDX and 15% HTPB binder was taken as control. The incorporation of 10–20% TATB at the cost of RDX led to a remarkable increase in density (1.43→1.49 g cm−3) and tensile strength (10→15 kg cm−2) compared to the control composition RDX/HTPB(85/15). RDX/TATB/HTPB based compositions were found less vulnerable to shock stimuli. Shock sensitivity was found to be of the order of 20.0–29.2 GPa as against 18.0 GPa for control composition whereas their energetics in terms of velocity of detonation (VOD) were altered marginally. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) studies brought out that compositions undergo major decomposition in the temperature region of 170–240 °C.

Experimental Studies on Advanced Sheet Explosive Formulations Based on 2,4,6,8,10,12-Hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) and Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB), and Comparison with a RDX-based System

“…HTPB is a preferred choice due to its clean curing reactions, stable urethane linkages formed by isocyanate curing, and superior fuel content. The application of HTPB can be extended to sheet explosives [7].…”

“…In view of the above and our continued research and development work in the area of sheet explosives [3,4,7], we report here studies on the incorporation of CL-20 in sheet explosive formulations. The sensitivity, performance and thermolysis data obtained for the CL-20 based sheet explosive formulations are compared with RDX based sheet explosive under similar experimental conditions.…”

Studies on Sheet Explosive Formulation Based on Octahydro-1,3,5,7-Tetranitro-1,3,5,7-Tetrazocine and Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene

“…HTPB based sheet explosive formulations have also been reported 13,14 . Thermal characterisation and analysis of energetic materials and their formulations are important not only for understanding the kinetics of their thermal decomposition, but also for assessing the effect of their exothermic decomposition on the potential hazards in their handling, processing, and storage 15,16 .…”

“…Thermal characterisation of PBX containing RDX or HMX with HTPB-binder has been reported by different authors [17][18][19][20][21] . The performance, sensitivity and thermal analysis data obtained from HMX-based sheet explosive formulation have been compared in this paper with the existing conventional RDX-based sheet explosive formulation 13,14 .…”

Experimental Studies on a High Energy Sheet Explosive Based on RDX and Bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) Formal/Acetal (BDNPF/A)

“…Joseph et al [12] have reported hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) binder based sheet explosive compositions with an average VOD of 7200 m/s. A CL-20 based sheet explosive has also been reported with a VOD of 7680 m/s [13].…”