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The Mechanical Properties of Minimally Processed RDX
Author(s) -
Taw Matthew R.,
Bahr David F.
Publication year - 2017
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/prep.201600143
Subject(s) - materials science , nanoindentation , composite material , plasticity , deformation (meteorology) , dislocation , elastic modulus , explosive material , modulus , crystal (programming language) , chemistry , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
We report for the first time the mechanical properties of RDX crystals in a conventionally processed, sub‐millimeter form that have had no additional mechanical processing. Nanoindentation of RDX powders was used to measure the elastic modulus (19.1±1.9 GPa), hardness (0.741±0.098 GPa), and yield point (onset of plastic deformation) on the as‐grown faces of seven different RDX crystals, selected to provide random orientations. Properties within each crystal showed narrow distributions, while the range of properties across all crystals is indicative of testing a variety of orientations. The elastic modulus and hardness are within the range of other published reports on bulk and mechanically polished RDX. The distribution in yield point behavior, with the onset of plasticity occurring between 0.1 and 0.7 GPa, indicates that powders of RDX likely contain a significant number of dislocation sources in the as‐processed condition, suggesting that deformation sources are prevalent in the energetic component of plastic bonded explosives prior to incorporating into pressed forms.