REACTIONS OF TATB-BASED EXPLOSIVE WITH MOLTEN-METAL

The reactions of combustion products (CO, H2O) from the insensitive hi gh explosive LX-17 (92.5 wt% 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TAT E), 7.5 wt% Kel-F 800 binder) with molten metal (75 a% Nd, 25 a% Fe) w ere studied, to determine their contribution to the energy release rat e of deflagrating LX-17. Kinetic data taken with gas mixtures of CO an d H2O, and larger-scale tests with LX-17, showed that the reactions we re slow and incomplete and that there was no significant contribution to the energy release rate. From the tests with LX-17, the effective f lame temperature and burn velocity were dependent on confinement of ga s products. LX-17 preheated to 500 K - 510 K showed effective flame te mperatures of 1100 K - 1400 K and burn rates of 0.08-0.11 mm/s, depend ing on the extent of gas confinement by the molten metal.