Molecular Composition, Structure, and Sensitivity of Explosives

Abstract

AbstractHigh explosives, blasting agents, propellants, and pyrotechnics are all metastable relative to reaction products and are termed energetic materials. They are thermodynamically unstable but the kinetics of decomposition at ambient conditions are sufficiently slow that they can be handled safely under controlled conditions. The ease with which an energetic material can be caused to undergo a violent reaction or detonation is called its sensitivity. Sensitivity tests for energetic materials are aimed at defining the response of the material to a specific situation, usually prompt shock initiation or a delayed reaction in an accident. The observed response is always due to a combination of the physical state and the molecular structure of the material. Modeling of any initiation process must consider both factors. The physical state of the material determines how and where the energy is deposited in the material. The molecular structure in the solid state determines the mechanism of decomposition of the material and the rate of energy release. Slower inherent reaction chemistry leads to longer reaction zones in detonation and inherently safer materials. Slower chemistry also requires hot spots involved in initiation to be hotter and to survive for longer periods of time. High thermal conductivity also leads to quenching of small hot spots and makes a material more difficult to initiate. Early endothermic decomposition chemistry also delays initiation by delaying heat release to support hot spot growth. The growth to violent reaction or detonation also depends on the nature of the early reaction products. If chemical intermediates are produced that drive further accelerating autocatalytic decomposition the initiation will grow rapidly to a violent reaction.