Predicting the shock sensitivity of cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine

• Published in: Journal of thermal analysis and calorimetry Vol. 102; no. 2; pp. 557 - 562
• Main Authors: Bellitto, Victor J., Melnik, Mikhail I., Sorensen, Daniel N., Chang, Joseph C.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2010; Springer
• Subjects: Analysis; Analytical Chemistry; Applied sciences; Atomic force microscopy; Calorimetry; Chemical industry and chemicals; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Crystal structure; Differential scanning calorimetry; Exact sciences and technology; Explosives; HMX; Industrial chemicals; Inorganic Chemistry; Measurement Science and Instrumentation; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Powders, propellants, explosives; RDX; Surface defects; Surface roughness; Thermal properties; Statistical; AFM; HMX; DSC; RDX; Surface; Nitramines; Differential scanning calorimetry; Atomic force microscopy; Impurity; Prediction; Roughness; Surface structure; Hexogen; Morphology; Surface properties; Explosives; Hex; Thermal analysis; Impact sensitivity
• ISSN: 1388-6150; 1572-8943
• DOI: 10.1007/s10973-010-0978-3

We studied the surface and thermal properties of seven different varieties of cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (RDX) crystalline explosives from five manufacturers using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The specific varieties of the RDX studied were acquired from the previous Reduced Sensitivity RDX Round Robin program. They were chosen because intensive characterization of the materials already existed including shock sensitivity and cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine (HMX) impurity levels. AFM scans revealed a diversity of surface defects. To quantify the surface defects on the crystalline surface of the RDX particles, surface roughness measurements were acquired. Statistical analysis was undertaken to correlate the observed surface, HMX impurity levels, and DSC thermal curve properties with the known shock sensitivities of the material. It was determined that a statistically significant relationship exists between surface roughness and the shock sensitivity of the material while no relationship was observed between the DSC thermal properties and either surface roughness or shock sensitivity. The HMX content greatly affected the thermal properties of RDX but was uncorrelated with the shock sensitivity.