SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS OF TRINITROTOLUENE WATER EMULSIONS

In the disposal of explosives, preparation of the dismantled material is necessary before subjecting it to a breakdown process. Knowledge of the material properties and determination of safety-related parameter s are major prerequirements when designing a disposal facility and inc reasing handling safety. When TNT is treated using emulsion processing , a desensitization of the TNT melt via the aqueous phase is obtained, in addition to increasing the surface area of the TNT phase. During t he entire process ot TNT treatment, the system is exposed to a wide ra nge of different stresses as a result of the mechanical energy applied . This study presents the results of an investigation on the sensitivi ty of pure TNT melts and TNT/water emulsions at different concentratio ns on exposure to the applied impact or shock energies. It is found th at the impact sensitivity of a TNT/water emulsion is lower by a factor of 4 when the TNT concentration has been reduced from 50 wt % to 30 w t %. On exposure to stress from a detonation shock wave, a desensitiza tion of the system due to the aqueous phase is also found, so that the safety of the TNT treatment process can be increased by using a TNT/w ater emulsion when applying mechanical breakdown methods.