Characteristics of Explosive Substances for Application in Ammunition

This project was established to provide for the testing and evaluation of new explosives synthesized in this Laboratory or on contract. During the past two years, the following materials were characterized: dinitrobenzfuroxan (DNBF), cesium DNBF, potassium DNBF, rubidium DNBF, mercuric DNBF, silver DNBF, lead DNBF; copper chlorotetrazole; stannous methylene bis (nitroso hydroxylamine) (i.e., stannous MEDNA), cupric MEDNA, lead MEDNA, mercury MEDNA, calcium MEDNA, cadmium MEDNA, barium MEDNA, and thallium MEDNA; lead nitrate-bis basic-4,6-dinitro-ortho-cresylate monohydrate; tris (ethylenediamine) chromic perchlorate; cyclotrimethylene-trinitrosamine (R salt); 2,4,6 trinitrotolyl 3 methylnitriamine; cuprous thiocyanate, cuprous thiocyanate (29.1%) + potassium chlorate (70.9%); silver thiocyanate, silver thiocyantate (39.8%) + potassium chlorate (60.2%); lead thiocyanate, lead thiocyanate (53.5%) + potassium chlorate (46.5%); and silver cyanamide. As a comparison, several specification grade military explosives were retested. These were: mercury fulminate; normal lead styphnate; lead azide; diazodinitrophenol; PETN; tetracene; Cyclonite; Haleite; TNT; Composition A-3; and tetryl. Some effort has also been devoted to the improvement of small-scale laboratory tests. The evaluation tests considered standard at this Arsenal for characterizing initiating type explosives left much to be desired. A need existed for a means of measuring properties such as the ignition time, burning time, linear length of the flame, ignition temperature, and shock wave impulse. This study is being continued to develop better techniques for measuring the properties of initiating materials, under Project TA3-5101, in an effort to obtain ideal explosives for optimum explosive trains. To determine the above physical properties, two new instruments were developed, a squib tester, and an ignition temperature apparatus.