The behaviour of explosives at very high temperatures

Abstract

Recent work has indicated that the impact sensitivities of organic high explosives are related in a simple mamner to the velocities of thcir thermal decomposition reactions at very high temperatures, 300-1OOO'C. It has been possible, by means of a riew experimental technique, to measure the time delay to explosion for a series of explosives in this hitherto unexplored range of temperature and reaction rate.This has been accomplished by loading the explosive into fine hypodermic needle tubing which can then be heated, essentially instantaceously, by a capacitor discharge. The temperature and explosive event are recorded by monitoring the resistance of the tube. The measured delay times are related to the impact sensitivities of high explosives, as sensitive materials are found to explode mere rapidly at a gken high temperature than less sensitive ones.Detailed studies of the mechanisms by which explosions are initiated by mechanical blows indicated that a wide variety of the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of an explosive determine the absolute value of its impact sensitivity.

Kinetics and mechanisms of thermal decomposition of nitroaromatic explosives

“…The first step of equation (26) is suggested by UV photolysis of 2-NT which produces a short-lived kt 0 2 …”

“…In addition to equation (18), NO(g) can be formed by thermal decomposition of HONO, which forms when *NO 2 and Ho adventitiously encounter one another. Most nitroaromatic compounds are abundant sources of *H (Reference 61).…”

A second appraisal of methods for estimating self-reaction hazards- final report

“…Results are provided in reference [15] Adiabatic Storage Test [20] Testing of a sample can take days or weeks if the preselected starting temperature is too low. This situation is difficult to avoid especially if the substance b^ing examined has not been studied before.…”

On the Formation and On the Surface of Inorganic Lead, Barium and Antimony Based Gunshot Residues: A Thermodynamic Approach

“…In order to provide a fairly complete review of these initiation mechanisms we have to reconsider the work of Afanas' ev and Bobolev [14] and Kholevo [15] who, in 1946, remarked that the inconsistency of the physical mechanisms of non-thermal initiation, where the heating mechanism due to impact that would develop in a rapid inelastic deformation of the energetic material, is emphasized as promising from theoretical and experimental point of view. Taking this into account, in the first stage of the impact, thanks to the deformation of single particles and the friction between them, their edges melt forming a viscoplastic biphasic system with The following Figure 1, present in 11, do not require any remark.…”