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DOE OSTI · 1856146

Thermally-Driven Changes to Porosity in TATB-Based High Explosives

Armstrong, Christopher L.·Mang, Joseph T.
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Abstract

Ultra-small- and small-angle neutron scattering techniques were employed to quantify thermally driven changes to the microstructure of the TATB-based composite high explosive, PBX 9502. Samples of PBX 9502 were studied in-situ at temperatures ranging from 25 to 220 °C and after re-equilibration at ambient temperature. Significant changes to the void size and morphology within the PBX 9502 microstructure were observed upon heating and are consistent with the known increase in the shock sensitivity of thermally-treated PBX 9502. More extensive microstructural changes were found after the thermally treated samples were re-equilibrated at ambient temperature. Utilizing a model of ramified porosity, the size and the volume and surface dimensions of voids in the PBX 9502 microstructure were quantified as a function of temperature. The temperature dependence of the void radius of gyration is well correlated with the known increase in the shock sensitivity of PBX 9502 with increasing temperature, providing a microstructural origin for the increased shock sensitivity of PBX 9502 at elevated temperatures.

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45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSEHigh-TemperatureNeutron ScatteringPBX 9502Void Structure

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Armstrong, Christopher L., Mang, Joseph T.. 2021-05-21. Thermally-Driven Changes to Porosity in TATB-Based High Explosives. https://doi.org/10.1002/prep.202100022

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