PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THIN SHEETS OF ENERGETIC MATERIALS BASED ON POLYISOPRENE

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 British University in Egypt (BUE).

2 Egyptian Armed Forces.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Thin sheets of highly energetic materials based on polyisoprene (PI) as high
elastomeric material and cyclo-trimethylene trinitamine (RDX) as high brisant
explosive were prepared by rolling of the prepared beads of the RDX coated by PI.
These beads were prepared by employing the slurry technique and the sheet
explosives were cured in oven at 60oC for two days. The measured explosive
properties of the prepared sheets were discussed and compared with that based on
RDX and polyisobutylene (PIB).
The sensitivity to impact and friction of the prepared formulation containing 86% RDX
were markedly decreased when compared with that of pure RDX, but the ignition
point was close to that of pure RDX.
The measured detonation velocity of the prepared formulation (8100 m/s) was slightly
less than that of pure RDX. The prepared sheet explosive, after curing, behaves as
an elastomer with very good stress-strain values.

Keywords