US3778319A - High-energy plastic-bonded explosive - Google Patents

High-energy plastic-bonded explosive Download PDF

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Publication number
US3778319A
US3778319A US00327898A US3778319DA US3778319A US 3778319 A US3778319 A US 3778319A US 00327898 A US00327898 A US 00327898A US 3778319D A US3778319D A US 3778319DA US 3778319 A US3778319 A US 3778319A
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percent
pbx
plastic
bonded
explosive
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US00327898A
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T Benziger
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US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
    • C06B45/00—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product
    • C06B45/04—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product comprising solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix not used for explosives where the matrix consists essentially of nitrated carbohydrates or a low molecular organic explosive
    • C06B45/06—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product comprising solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix not used for explosives where the matrix consists essentially of nitrated carbohydrates or a low molecular organic explosive the solid solution or matrix containing an organic component
    • C06B45/10—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product comprising solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix not used for explosives where the matrix consists essentially of nitrated carbohydrates or a low molecular organic explosive the solid solution or matrix containing an organic component the organic component containing a resin
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
    • C06B45/00—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product
    • C06B45/04—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product comprising solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix not used for explosives where the matrix consists essentially of nitrated carbohydrates or a low molecular organic explosive
    • C06B45/06—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product comprising solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix not used for explosives where the matrix consists essentially of nitrated carbohydrates or a low molecular organic explosive the solid solution or matrix containing an organic component
    • C06B45/10—Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product comprising solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix not used for explosives where the matrix consists essentially of nitrated carbohydrates or a low molecular organic explosive the solid solution or matrix containing an organic component the organic component containing a resin
    • C06B45/105—The resin being a polymer bearing energetic groups or containing a soluble organic explosive

Definitions

  • Plastic-bonded explosives represent a class of explosives which can be made into pressings from which can be fabricated--usually by machining-desired shapes. These explosives are pressed from so-called molding powders which are typically prepared by the slurry technique. Powdered explosive and water are mixed in a kettle equipped with a condenser and agitator. A lacquer composed of the plastic (together with a plasticizer, if necessary) dissolved in a suitable solvent is added to the slurry. The solvent is removed by distillation, causing the plastic phase to precipitate out on the explosive. The plasticexplosive agglomerates into beads as the stirring and solvent removal continues. Finally, water is removed from the beads by filtration and drying; the resultant product is the molding powder. The powder is then pressed into shape by either compression molding with steel dies or hydrostatic or isostatic pressing under vacuum. The pressing may readily be machined into a desired shape for actual use.
  • PBX-9404 A well-known and useful high-energy, plastic-bonded explosive is known as PBX-9404 and has the formulation 94 wt. percent HMX, 3 wt. percent NC (containing 12 wt. percent nitrogen), and 3 wt. percent CEF. Difiiculties associated with PBX-9404 are that its handling safety is not as good as desired and it lacks suflicient thermal stability for use in certain high-temperature environment.
  • HMX is an explosive having the chemical name 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazacyclooctane also designated as cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine;
  • Estane is a trade name for a thermoplastic, polyurethane elastorner generally prepared from long chain diols and toluene diisocyanate and manufactured by the B. F.
  • DNPAF is a eutectic mixture of the formal and acetal of 2,2-dinitropropanol
  • NC is nitrocellulose
  • CEF is tris-(fi-chloroethyl) phosphate
  • DPA is diphenylamine
  • PBX means plastic-bonded explosive.
  • a plastice-bonded explosive containing 95 wt. percent HMX and having Estane as the plastic bonding agent, and DNPAF as the plasticizer has an explosive energy comparable to that of PBX-9404 but possesses greater temperature stability and significantly better handling safety.
  • composition wt. percent HMX, 2.5 wt. percent Estane, and 2.5 wt. percent DNPAF.
  • the explosive of this invention is designated as PBX- 9501.
  • PBX-9501 may readily be prepared in pilot plant quantities using the following slurry process.
  • a lacquer of Estane and DNPAF is prepared by soaking 397 g. of Estane 5703, F-l in 4.7 l. of 1,2-dichlorethane for a 12- hour period, adding 443 g. of DNPAF, and then heating and agitating the solution.
  • the DNPAF weight is increased by a factor of 0.115 over 2.5 wt. percent to correct for loss of impurities and water solubility.
  • An HMX slurry is prepared by mixing 23.25 lb. of coarse HMX and 10.00 1b. of fine HMX in 20 gal. of water. The slurry is then heated to 60 C. and 600 ml.
  • toluene is added.
  • the toluene is used to control the particle size. It acts as a transient plasticizer and maintains a suflicient tack in the binder during the forming stage to allow the production of particles of the desired size.
  • the lacquer at 50 C. is added to the slurry and the resulting dispersion is heated to 85 C.
  • the dispersion is cooled to 50 C. and filtered and the resulting powder is dried at 60 C. in a forced draft oven. This results in 35 1b. of powdered PBX-9501.
  • the powder is then pressed into desired shape at 20,000 p.s.i. and C. With thr intensifications, over 99% of theoretical density is obtained.
  • Table I shows a comparison of the properties of PBX- 9501 and PBX-9404.
  • the handling safety of PBX-9501 is indicated by the skid test data of Table II. In the skid test, samples are skidded onto sandpaper targets at a 45 angle from the heights indicated.
  • N indicates no detonation and E indicates detonation.
  • the H of 26 ft. and overpressure of about 0.7 p.s.i. are exceptional for a high-energy plastic-bonded explosive. Other materials in this energy class are markedly more sensitive and hazardous.
  • PBX-8404 has an H of 4 ft. and an over-pressure of 8 p.s.i.
  • Table III compares the decomposition rates for the binders of PBX- 9501 and PBX-9404, respectively, at the temperatures indicated.
  • the compound DPA is added to the PBX-9404 to retard the decomposition of the nitro compounds contained therein.
  • the PBX-9501 binder does not degrade autocatalytically as does that for PBX-9404 and degrades at a much lower rate.
  • thane elastomer prepared by reacting long chain diols with TABLE HI'TESTIMATED TIME FOR 3% DECOMPOSITION toluene diisocyanate, and 2.5 wt. percent of a eutectic NC/OEF mixture of the formal and acetal of 2,2-dinitropropanol. 0.
  • Estane/DNPAF DPA 15 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS A I 3,296,041 1/1967 Wright 149--92 X Nam-D1 and vacuum stability results given in Table 8150 3,447,980 6/ 1969 Voight 14992 X grei fixilogfgiete the greater thermal stability 0!

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)

Abstract

A HIGH-ENERGY, PLASTIC-BONDED EXPLOSIVE OF THE NOMINAL COMPOSITION 95 WT. PERCENT HMX, 2.5 WT. PERCENT ESTANE, AND 2.5 WT. PERCENT DNPAF HAVING IMPROVED TEMPERATURE STABILITY AND SIGNILICANTLY BETTER HANDLING SAFETY THAN STANDARD PLASTIC-BONDED EMPLOSIVES.

Description

United States Patent iii-s2 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A high energy, plastic-bonded'explosive of the nominal composition 95 'WtJpercentEHMX, 2.5 wt. percent Estane, and; 2.5 percent DNPAF having improved temperatur stability and significantly better handling safety than standard plastic-bonded explosives.
BACKGROUND OF'THE INVENTION The invention described herein was made in the course of, or under, a contract with the US. Atomic Energy Commission. It relates to high explosives and more particularly to high-energy, plastic-bonded explosives.
Plastic-bonded explosives represent a class of explosives which can be made into pressings from which can be fabricated--usually by machining-desired shapes. These explosives are pressed from so-called molding powders which are typically prepared by the slurry technique. Powdered explosive and water are mixed in a kettle equipped with a condenser and agitator. A lacquer composed of the plastic (together with a plasticizer, if necessary) dissolved in a suitable solvent is added to the slurry. The solvent is removed by distillation, causing the plastic phase to precipitate out on the explosive. The plasticexplosive agglomerates into beads as the stirring and solvent removal continues. Finally, water is removed from the beads by filtration and drying; the resultant product is the molding powder. The powder is then pressed into shape by either compression molding with steel dies or hydrostatic or isostatic pressing under vacuum. The pressing may readily be machined into a desired shape for actual use.
A well-known and useful high-energy, plastic-bonded explosive is known as PBX-9404 and has the formulation 94 wt. percent HMX, 3 wt. percent NC (containing 12 wt. percent nitrogen), and 3 wt. percent CEF. Difiiculties associated with PBX-9404 are that its handling safety is not as good as desired and it lacks suflicient thermal stability for use in certain high-temperature environment.
DEFINITION OF TERMS As used within this application, HMX is an explosive having the chemical name 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazacyclooctane also designated as cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine; Estane is a trade name for a thermoplastic, polyurethane elastorner generally prepared from long chain diols and toluene diisocyanate and manufactured by the B. F. Goodrich Co.; DNPAF is a eutectic mixture of the formal and acetal of 2,2-dinitropropanol; NC is nitrocellulose; CEF is tris-(fi-chloroethyl) phosphate; DPA is diphenylamine; and PBX means plastic-bonded explosive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A plastice-bonded explosive containing 95 wt. percent HMX and having Estane as the plastic bonding agent, and DNPAF as the plasticizer has an explosive energy comparable to that of PBX-9404 but possesses greater temperature stability and significantly better handling safety.
Optimum characteristics are exhibited by the composition wt. percent HMX, 2.5 wt. percent Estane, and 2.5 wt. percent DNPAF.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The explosive of this invention is designated as PBX- 9501.
PBX-9501 may readily be prepared in pilot plant quantities using the following slurry process. A lacquer of Estane and DNPAF is prepared by soaking 397 g. of Estane 5703, F-l in 4.7 l. of 1,2-dichlorethane for a 12- hour period, adding 443 g. of DNPAF, and then heating and agitating the solution. The DNPAF weight is increased by a factor of 0.115 over 2.5 wt. percent to correct for loss of impurities and water solubility. An HMX slurry is prepared by mixing 23.25 lb. of coarse HMX and 10.00 1b. of fine HMX in 20 gal. of water. The slurry is then heated to 60 C. and 600 ml. of toluene is added. The toluene is used to control the particle size. It acts as a transient plasticizer and maintains a suflicient tack in the binder during the forming stage to allow the production of particles of the desired size. After toluene addition, the lacquer at 50 C. is added to the slurry and the resulting dispersion is heated to 85 C. The dispersion is cooled to 50 C. and filtered and the resulting powder is dried at 60 C. in a forced draft oven. This results in 35 1b. of powdered PBX-9501. The powder is then pressed into desired shape at 20,000 p.s.i. and C. With thr intensifications, over 99% of theoretical density is obtained.
Table I shows a comparison of the properties of PBX- 9501 and PBX-9404. The handling safety of PBX-9501 is indicated by the skid test data of Table II. In the skid test, samples are skidded onto sandpaper targets at a 45 angle from the heights indicated. As used in Table II, N indicates no detonation and E indicates detonation. The H of 26 ft. and overpressure of about 0.7 p.s.i. are exceptional for a high-energy plastic-bonded explosive. Other materials in this energy class are markedly more sensitive and hazardous. For example, PBX-8404 has an H of 4 ft. and an over-pressure of 8 p.s.i. Table III compares the decomposition rates for the binders of PBX- 9501 and PBX-9404, respectively, at the temperatures indicated. The compound DPA is added to the PBX-9404 to retard the decomposition of the nitro compounds contained therein. The PBX-9501 binder does not degrade autocatalytically as does that for PBX-9404 and degrades at a much lower rate.
TABLE I.PROPERTIES Composition (wt. percent):
HMX 95 94 Estane 2. 6 DNPAF 2. 5 N 3 CEF. 3 Theoretical density (gJcmfi) 1. 855 1. S66 Typical density (glean!) 1. 843 1. 844 Cylinder-test comparison at 5 1pm.. 0. 995 1. 000 Cylinder-test comparison at 19 mm 1. 022 1. 000 Plate-dent comparison ol) 1. 011 1. 000 D comparison (Poi) 1. 008 1. 000 Detonation velocity (m./s.) 8, 826 8, 782 Vacuum stability (ml./g.- G./48 l1.) 0. 8 3. 5 DTA exotherm C.) 240 180 Impact sensitivity (cm., 12/12B 44/80 42/47 Small-Scale gap (inch of brass) 0. 060 0. 097 Minimum priming (mg. Exte 67 24 x) Spark sensitivity (joules, 3-mil Pb foil) TABLE IL-SKID-TEST RESULTS-45 SANDPAPER TARGETS PBX-9501 (0.5 wt. percent calcium stearate) PBX-9501 Drop Drop he! ht height (ft. Results (ft.) Result 84 V. E E M E .v 32 E E N E N 32 N E E E E 2.26 N E .53. N N l6 N N N N 50? height 25 it. overpressure-0.7 p.s.1. (avg.) 507 hei hi'ft'.Vifsiif fifififj but a bliE'Sj11dg6d to be of same magnitude as with calcium stearated version.
thane elastomer prepared by reacting long chain diols with TABLE HI'TESTIMATED TIME FOR 3% DECOMPOSITION toluene diisocyanate, and 2.5 wt. percent of a eutectic NC/OEF mixture of the formal and acetal of 2,2-dinitropropanol. 0. Estane/DNPAF DPA 15 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS A I 3,296,041 1/1967 Wright 149--92 X Nam-D1 and vacuum stability results given in Table 8150 3,447,980 6/ 1969 Voight 14992 X grei fixilogfgiete the greater thermal stability 0! PBX-9501 as compared 20 3,507,722 4/1970 Hamrick X Wha Claim is! STEPHEN I. LECHERT, JR., Primary Examiner 1. A high-energy, plastic-bonded explosive of the nominal composition 95 wt. percent 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7- US, Cl. X.R.
tetrazacylooctane, 2.5 wt. percent thermoplastic, polyure- 5 14919, 88
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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4284442A (en) * 1978-03-13 1981-08-18 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Castable TNT compositions containing a broad spectrum preformed thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer additive
US4555277A (en) * 1985-01-29 1985-11-26 The United States Of America As Represented By The Unites States Department Of Energy Extrusion cast explosive
US5009728A (en) * 1990-01-12 1991-04-23 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Castable, insensitive energetic compositions
US5256220A (en) * 1979-12-03 1993-10-26 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Liquid monopropellants
US20040221934A1 (en) * 1999-06-09 2004-11-11 Royal Ordnance Plc. Desensitisation of energetic materials

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4284442A (en) * 1978-03-13 1981-08-18 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Castable TNT compositions containing a broad spectrum preformed thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer additive
US5256220A (en) * 1979-12-03 1993-10-26 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Liquid monopropellants
US4555277A (en) * 1985-01-29 1985-11-26 The United States Of America As Represented By The Unites States Department Of Energy Extrusion cast explosive
US5009728A (en) * 1990-01-12 1991-04-23 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Castable, insensitive energetic compositions
US20040221934A1 (en) * 1999-06-09 2004-11-11 Royal Ordnance Plc. Desensitisation of energetic materials
US20110108171A1 (en) * 1999-06-09 2011-05-12 Bae Systems Land Systems (Munitions & Ordnance) Limited Desensitisation of energetic materials

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