A Method to Evaluate the Burning Behavior of Secondary Explosives - Composition B

It is demonstrated in this work that the closed bomb can be used to detect changes in the burning properties of Composition B that are caused by small modifications to its composition. It is shown that, upon ignition, Composition B first burns on the surface as do standard gun propellants. It then undergoes a transition during which the initial physical configuration breaks up into fragments. This produces an increased surface area whose creation rate is determined by the particular additive coated on the Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) particles. There are additives, such as estane, which can slow the surface area creation rate more effectively than does the standard wax used in Composition B. The closed bomb can provide the explosive formulator with a powerful laboratory tool which will allow him to monitor the results of his efforts to reduce the deflagration hazards of explosives. Also, with additional work, this tool can help unravel the deflagration mechanisms associated with energetic materials.