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High Speed Imaging of TATB‐ and HMX‐Based Energetic Material Decomposition in Molten Salts
Author(s) -
Pantoya Michelle L.,
Shaw Benjamin D.,
Megas Elizabeth A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.56
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1521-4087
pISSN - 0721-3115
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-4087(200001)25:1<19::aid-prep19>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - tatb , eutectic system , molten salt , chemistry , decomposition , energetic material , thermal decomposition , explosive material , salt (chemistry) , materials science , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , detonation , alloy
Immersion of energetic materials into high‐temperature molten‐salt baths, where the energetic materials decompose, is being considered as a method for their safe destruction. In the present research, behaviors of the high explosives LX‐17 (92.5 wt% 1,3,5‐triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene (TATB), 7.5 wt% KeI‐F 800 plastic binder) and LX‐04 (85 wt% octahydro‐,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine (HMX), 15 wt% Viton A plastic hbinder) were studied when these materials were immersed into molten salt baths. Pressed cylindrical samples initially 6.35 mm in diameter and length were immersed in molten salt baths, and data were taken photographically. Sample decomposition behaviors were observed for varied salt temperatures in a molten LiCl‐NaCl‐KC1 eutectic and then separately in a molten Li 2 CO 3 ‐Na 2 CO 3 ‐K 2 CO 3 eutectic. Bath temperatures ranged from 650 to 750°C. General combustion behaviors such as bubble formation characteristics, gas evolution, and sample lifetimes were observed. Results indicated that sample lifetimes decreased as bath temperatures increased, and that the carbonate eutectic increased initial decomposition rates and decreased sample lifetimes relative to the chloride eutectic.