Optical pyrometry studies of initiation of detonation in liquid explosives

Optical pyrometry is used to study initiation and propagation of detonation in homogeneous liquid explosives (LHE) bis-(2-fluoro-2, 2-dinitroethylform al) and isopropyl nitrate. The brightness temperature profiles are measured at various intensities of the incident shock wave. The observations show t hat LHE decomposition progresses monotonically (particularly at low shock p ressures) in time, and the intensity of the initial stage of detonation ons et depends on the initial shock amplitude. Therefore selection of the insta nt when the violent chemical reaction starts and, hence, of the adiabatic e xplosion delay is somewhat arbitrary. The results are interpreted using the contemporary concepts of the detonation theory.