The Behavior of Explosives at Very High Temperatures

Abstract

This report describes a new technique which has been used to investigate the behavior of high explosives in a hitherto unexplored range of temperatures. The work is part of a continuing effort to 'elucidate the chemical basis of the sensitivity of explo~ives. The results described herein, while not conclusive, strongly indicate that the chemical kinetic considerations may be of greater importance than any other factor in determinling the basic sensi ti vi ty of high explosives. Support for this research was granted under Task No. RUU03EOl7/212-l/WFp08-l0-004, Desensitization of Explosives.

Electrical and Thermal Considerations in the Design of Electroexplosive Devices

“…On the other hand, if the magnitudes are ignored, the relationships predicted by such calculations have been verified by any number of experiments (Ref. [3][4][5][6]. In Reference 4, it was pointed out that such solutions indicated that the inverse of the threshold temperature should vary with the logarithm of the reaction nucleus dimension.…”

“…It would be appropriate, with these units, to express energy in microjoules, but the erg has been used so frequently to express energy input to EEDs that it will also be used herein. Since 10 ergs = 1 [j = 1 w-Lsec, the energy (E) in ergs stored in a capacitor of (C) [Lf capacitance, charged to (V) volts becomes E = 5CV 2 (5) and the energy of a pulse becomes E = lOfPdt (6) whe re E = energy in ergs P = power in watts t = time in microseconds For bridgewires, a convenient unit of volume is the cylindrical mil, which is defined as the volume enclosed in a cylinder 1 mil in diameter and 1 mil long. A rather accurate estimate of the heat capacity of a bridge (C p) can be made by multiplying the bridge volume in mils by its volumetric specific heat in ergs per cylindrical mil.…”

The Thermal Sensitivity of Explosives and Propellants

“…A rapid method of heating minute, heavily confined explosive samples has recently been described (1).…”

“…CONFIDENTIAL NOLTR 61-97 II. M(PERIMENTAL The experiments described in this report were performed by the methods outlined In reference (1).…”

“…'?ne relationship between this critical temper-ature and impact sensitivity has been discussed before (1).…”