Improved Insensitive Hytemp/DOA Bonded HMX and RDX Mixtures by Paste Process

Technology Symposium
Improved Insensitive Hytemp/DOA Bonded

HMX and RDX Mixtures by Paste Process
Karl P. Rudolf
NDIA
2003 Insensitive Munitions and Energetic Materials

March 10 - 13, 2003
Orlando, FL, USA
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
Setting of Effort
German DoD on miniaturized electric detonator and insensitive boosters

required pressable insensitive high explosives
Ø at two initiation shock levels for NoGo (BICT-SSGT)
– 26 kbar (TL 1376-0800)
– 42,2 kbar (STANAG 4170)
Ø type V reaction at
– Bullet Impact Test 12,7 mm mild core
– Fast Cook Off Test
Intention: Use of an European made PBX W11 and PBX N9
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
Technology-symposium-10-03-03 2
03/26/2003
Setting of Effort (cont.)
Ø Inspection analyses show not sufficient shock insensitivity

Ø Additional treatment of this PBXN9 in our high shear mixer show
improvement of insensitivity close to the threshold of TL 1376-0800
Conclusion:
Ø Install own capabilities to develop and produce small batches of
insensitive pressable high explosives
Ø Develop process capable to use standard RDX and HMX crystals type B
– Reduce required specific pressure for pressing
– Use of the Hytemp 4454/DOA binder system
– Use of in-house DRAIS vertical finger and J+K high shear mixer
– Paste process using organic solvents only for additional treatment of the
HE crystals during mixing
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
HE Crystals
HMX / RDX Type B
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Comparison
Slurry Process Paste Process
Hytemp
DOA
Solvent
Vacuum
HE-Crystals
Water
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Work Performed, First Step
Definition of a solvent (mixture) capable

Ø Smoothing HE type B crystal surfaces
Ø achieving a fully transparent lacquer of Hytemp/DOA
Ø having proper evacuation rates to separate HMX and RDX crystals
and keep them separated during coating of the crystals
Different solvents tested
Ø a proper candidate is a mix of Ethylacetate/Acetone
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Work Performed, First Step (cont.)

Reduction of specific pressing pressures
– Coarse grain: HMX or RDX class 3
– Fine grain: “45 µm” crystals allow additional
reduction of specific pressure
compared to “15 µm” crystals
to achieve t.m.d. of more than 98 %
Result:
Required specific pressures, fine grain “45 µm”, vacuum < 1 mbar; l/d ration up to 2
diameter kbar
22 mm 0,85
50 mm 0,70
105 mm 0,55
Note: Some values valid for harmonic trimodal mixtures, thus significant
weight reduction of pressing tools possible symposium report shows
values for non harmonic bimodal mixtures
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Work Performed, First Step (cont.)

Example of results from WIWEB/BWB STANAG 4170 Analyses
Versuch/Test DXP 1380, Charge 1 DXP 1380, Charge 2
Vakuumstabilität 0,05 ml/2,5 g 0,08m1/2,5 g
Schlagempfindlichkeit 7,5 Joule schlagempfindlich 7,5 Joule schlagempfindlich
Reibempfindlichkeit 160 N reibempfindlich 240 N reibempfindlich
thermische Empfindlichkeit # d=2 mm, D, wenig empfindlich
Stoßwellenempfindlichkeit R 38,80 kbar (10 mm WS), kR 30,40 kbar (13 R 42,20 kbar (9 mm WS), kR 35,70 kbar (11
mm WS) mm WS)
Cook-Off-Verhalten Typ 5 (Abbrand) unempfindlich Typ 5 (Abbrand) unempfindlich
Beschuss mit 12,7 mm Munition Typ 5 (Abbrand) unempfindlich Typ 5 (Abbrand) unempfindlich
Verpuffungstemperatur 279°C 278°C
Entzündlichkeit leicht entzündlich leicht entzündlich
elektrostat. Empfindlichkeit unempfindlich unempfindlich
Detonationsgeschwindigkeit - 8453 m/s - 8402 m/s
Gurneykonstante 2,38 mm/ps 2,34 mm/ps
E-Modul (aus Druckversuchen) 41,53 MPa (20°C); 116,80 MPa (-40°C) 22,41 MPa (20°C); 83,13 MPa (-40°C)
long. Schallgeschwindigkeit 2165 m/s (20°C); 2512 m/s (-30°C) 2121 m/s (20°C); 2493 m/s (-30°C)
vs
spez. Wärmekapazität 0,90 0,90
cp [Joule/(g*K)]
thermische Längenausdehnung im Mittel 6*10"5 °C1 im Mittel 6,5*10- °C"
Wärmeleitfähigkeit 0,47 W/m*K (bei Raumtemperatur) 0,47 W/m*K (bei Raumtemperatur)
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Qualified Pressable Insensitive High Explosives of Diehl;

Qualification in accordance with STANAG 4170 and TL 1376-0800
Status: 11.2001
1)
Type DXP 1380/1 DXP 1380/2 DXP 1340 DXP 2380 DXP 2340
HMX 92 92 96 - -
Composition RDX - - - 92 96
% Al - - - - -
Bindersystem 8 8 4 8 4
Density ρ (g/cm3) 1,74 1,76 1,8 1,68 1,7
Det. Velocity. Vo (m/s) 8450 8400 8600 8200 8350
Sensitivity GAP (K bar) 39/31 42/36 22/20 33/28 28/24
go/no go
Status qualified 2)
qualified 2)
WIWEB Doc.-No. 410/25830/01 410/25860/01 410/25861/0 410/25818/01

1
1)
differs from DXP 1380/1 by grain size distribution
2)
fulfills at present only TL 1376-0800 standard requirements
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Work Performed , First Step
Results:
Ø HMX and RDX mixtures with 8 % binder meet criteria of TL 1376-0800
Ø HMX mixtures show reduced SSGT shock sensitivity compared to RDX
Conclusion:
Additional reduction of porosities required to improve insensitivity
Ø HMX: remove crystals with high risk of increased internal porosities
Ø RDX: as above and use of improved HE crystals type A
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Work Performed , Second Step
Ø Remove high risk crystals

1.) maximum grain sizes 630 µm
2.) maximum grain sizes 500 µm
Results:
Ø no additional improvements of RDX / 8 % binder
Ø HMX 4 % binder meet all criteria of TL 1376-0800 at densities 1,81 - 1,82
g/cm3 (WIWEB-BWB results)
Ø HMX / 8 % binder meets “less sensitive” status of STANAG 4170
(WIWEB-BWB results)
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Work Performed , Second Step (cont.)
Improved RDX Crystals Type A

– iRDX / 8 % binder failed Fast Cook Off, no significant improvement of shock
insensitivity
– Fast Cook Off passed after addition of 5 % (+) HMX
– Coarse grain iRDX with milled fine grain iRDX show no improvement
– No different of SSGT results at 8 % or 6 % binder system
Insensitive RDX analyses are planned
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Work Performed , Second Step -- Results:

Ø Further improvements on Hytemp / DOA bonded RDX and HMX by solvents
process led to following results:
HMX / HMX / RDX / iRDX /
4% binder 8% binder 4% binder 4% binder
GAPtest 32,9 / 26 45,2 / 42,2 32,9 / 28 32,9 / 30,4

(kbar)
FCO Type V Type V Type V Failed
t.m.d * Slurry process
min 98%
Failure of iRDX / 8% binder was not expected due to improve crystallization.

A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Paste Process
Advantages
Ø Use of type B crystals sufficient

Ø Significantly reduced sensitivities
Ø Significantly reduced specific pressures
Ø Complete recycling of solvents possible
Ø Quick improvement rework of mixtures possible
Ø Use of existing high shear or other composite propellant mixers
possible thus avoiding additional buildings and equipment
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Shaped Charge
Ø Shaped Charge 80mm

Ø DXP 1340/2, 0,9 kbar, 1,81 g/cm3
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Disadvantages
Ø Agglomeration of coated crystals more difficult to control

Ø Agglomerates tend to stick together during transportation and
storage
possible cure: dusting with Aerosil
Ø Standard primers e.g. K1, binder 14 to achieve sufficient wall
adhesion fail
cure: use WENKO Antirutschbeschichtung, qualification planned at
WIWEB-BWB
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Bomblet M77 Impact into 155 mm IHE
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Conclusions
Ø Today's HMX crystals Type B are sufficient for acceptable

insensitive HE mixtures
Improvement of HMX crystals will result in additional insensitivity
against shock stimuli
Ø Shock insensitivity improvement is expected to be achieved by use
of Insensitive RDX crystals only
Ø In both cases an additional reduction of binder system seems to be
possible to achieve sufficient insensitive pressable mixtures by
Paste Process using organic solvents
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to my coworkers Mr. H. Hofmann and J. Licha for

the cooperation of Mr. Roland Wild, WIWEB-BWB and the
contribution of Mr. Richard Wild, Diehl
A Company of
Diehl VA Systeme
03/26/2003

Improved Insensitive Hytemp/DOA Bonded HMX and RDX Mixtures by Paste Process

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Technology Symposium

Improved Insensitive Hytemp/DOA Bonded

2003 Insensitive Munitions and Energetic Materials

Orlando, FL, USA

German DoD on miniaturized electric detonator and insensitive boosters

Setting of Effort (cont.)

Ø Inspection analyses show not sufficient shock insensitivity

HMX / RDX Type B

Work Performed, First Step

Definition of a solvent (mixture) capable

Work Performed, First Step (cont.)

Work Performed, First Step (cont.)

Vakuumstabilität 0,05 ml/2,5 g 0,08m1/2,5 g

Schlagempfindlichkeit 7,5 Joule schlagempfindlich 7,5 Joule schlagempfindlich

Reibempfindlichkeit 160 N reibempfindlich 240 N reibempfindlich

thermische Empfindlichkeit # d=2 mm, D, wenig empfindlich

Verpuffungstemperatur 279°C 278°C

Entzündlichkeit leicht entzündlich leicht entzündlich

elektrostat. Empfindlichkeit unempfindlich unempfindlich

Detonationsgeschwindigkeit - 8453 m/s - 8402 m/s

Gurneykonstante 2,38 mm/ps 2,34 mm/ps

Qualified Pressable Insensitive High Explosives of Diehl;

WIWEB Doc.-No. 410/25830/01 410/25860/01 410/25861/0 410/25818/01

Work Performed , First Step

Work Performed , Second Step

Ø Remove high risk crystals

Work Performed , Second Step (cont.)

Improved RDX Crystals Type A

Work Performed , Second Step -- Results:

GAPtest 32,9 / 26 45,2 / 42,2 32,9 / 28 32,9 / 30,4

t.m.d * Slurry process

Failure of iRDX / 8% binder was not expected due to improve crystallization.

Ø Use of type B crystals sufficient

Ø Shaped Charge 80mm

Ø Agglomeration of coated crystals more difficult to control

Bomblet M77 Impact into 155 mm IHE

Ø Today's HMX crystals Type B are sufficient for acceptable

Many thanks to my coworkers Mr. H. Hofmann and J. Licha for

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