Study of Advanced Plastic Bonded Explosives

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Oman Army, M.Sc. Candidate.

2 Egyptian Armed Forces.

Abstract

Abstract: Thermochemical Properties of selected types of PBXs, based on mixtures of explosives, either classical or advanced, (RDX, HMX, PETN, CL-20 or Bicyclo-HMX) and either inert or energetic binder (HTPB or GAP), were evaluated by EXPLO5 program. PBX based on CL-20 gave the higher performance when compared with those based on RDX, HMX, PETN or Bicyclo-HMX and the compositions based on GAP have higher performance than those based on HTPB. According to the results of thermochemical calculations, PBXs samples, based on RDX and Bicyclo-HMX as energetic fillers and PU binders based on either HTPB or GAP, were selected and successfully prepared by casting technique. PBX formulations based on RDX and Bicyclo-HMX showed ignition temperature less than of pure RDX and pure Bicyclo-HMX. Furthermore, the activation energy needed for PBXs initiation decreased in presence of PU binders when compared with that of pure RDX and pure Bicyclo-HMX. The measured sensitivity characteristics proved that PBX formulation based on PU/HTPB has lower sensitivity to mechanical stimulus (impact, friction) than that of pure Bicyclo-HMX and pure RDX. The heat of combustion for PBX formulations based on PU/HTPB was higher than that based on PU/GAP. The brisance value for PBX based on PU/GAP was higher than that based on HTPB.

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