In the present paper, 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) has been evaluated as a melt cast explosive in comparison to the widely used 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). The detonation failure diameter of a bare DNAN charge is greater than 100 mm and about 44 mm with 1.5 mm steel confinement. Comparative studies of two sets of formulations were carried out. The first set comprised formulations containing 60% of NTO, FOX-7, HMX or RDX and 40% of DNAN or TNT. The second set comprised formulations containing 30% of NTO, FOX-7, TATB or RDX and 70% of DNAN or TNT. The studies were mainly concentrated on characterization of the formulations, which included determination of the sensitivity parameters and the velocity of detonation (VOD). The study confirmed that DNAN and DNAN-based formulations are relatively insensitive compared to TNT and the analogous TNT-based formulations respectively. The rate of the detonation reaction of DNAN is enhanced in the presence of the high energy ingredients RDX, HMX, FOX-7 and NTO to varying degrees. The VODs of the FOX-7/TNT and RDX/TNT formulations match closely with the proportions of FOX-7 and RDX under study. The VOD and shock sensitivity of the FOX-7/DNAN formulations decrease rapidly compared to the RDX/DNAN formulations, with increases in the proportion of FOX-7 or RDX. The combinations of NTO with TNT, and NTO with DNAN, are more shock insensitive than TNT or DNAN alone. NTO-based compositions are more insensitive than FOX-7-based compositions.
The key driving force in modern explosive research is the development of low vulnerable high explosive (LOVEX) compositions for future applications in insensitive munitions (IMs). The increasing demand for LOVEX has led to exhaustive studies on low vulnerable explosives as a replacement for conventional cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX) in 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) melt cast high explosive formulations. In the present study, 1,1-diamino-2,2dinitroethene (FOX-7) has been evaluated as a possible RDX replacement in TNT based, non-aluminized as well as aluminized, melt cast formulation. FOX-7 based melt cast formulations were characterized for their sensitivity to mechanical/shock stimuli, velocity of detonation (VOD), blast parameters and thermal decomposition behavior. These characteristics are compared with the corresponding RDX based compositions as reference standard. The studies show that with little sacrifice on performance parameters, FOX-7 based, non-aluminized and aluminized, melt cast formulations are found to be less vulnerable, compared with the corresponding RDX based formulations.
Aluminized 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) based, melt-cast, high explosive compositions are widely used in warheads. These compositions offer a blast effect over a larger period due to the secondary combustion of aluminum. During recent times tungsten based explosives have been reported for lethality at close range to avoid collateral damage in low intensity conflicts (LIC) and find application in shaped charges to enhance their penetration capability. This paper reports findings on tungsten-based, melt-cast, explosive formulations. The compositions were prepared by substituting aluminum with tungsten in the reference aluminized, high explosive formulation. The compositions were characterized for their sensitivity to mechanical/shock stimuli, velocity of detonation (VOD) and blast performance. The study reveals that the impact sensitivity remains comparable on incorporating 10% tungsten at the cost of aluminum whereas an increase in tungsten content to 20% leads to an increase in impact sensitivity. However friction sensitivity and shock sensitivity remained more or less unchanged. The velocity of detonation (VOD) of tungsten-loaded, aluminized formulations is found to be comparable to the standard aluminized formulation. The peak over pressure of tungsten-based formulations is lower than the reference, aluminized composition at close range but is almost unchanged at long range. The impulse of tungsten-based formulations is also lower than the reference, aluminized composition. The reduction in impulse at close range is substantial on replacing 10% aluminum with inert tungsten.
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