Critical detonation diameters of highly dispersed energetic substances

Abstract

The relationship between the critical detonation diameters of energetic substances and their specific surface area was revealed from the results of studying the detonation ability of a series of energetic substances [pentaerythritol tetranitrate (TEN), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX), 2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethylnitramine (tetryl), benzotrifuroxan (BTF), hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20), dinitrodifurazanylfuroxan (DNTF), dinitrodifurazanylfurazan (NTF), 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7)]. A mathematical expression for this relationship was suggested. The critical detonation diameters of highly dispersed (micrometer particles) energetic substances were determined by experiments and calculations. These diameters are in the range 0.06–0.8 mm, which makes these substances suitable for use in aerospace engineering, priming systems, detonation manifolds, and explosion logic devices.