Castable explosives

Refs 1) B.A. Stott, Castable Explosive Compositions based on Dinitropropylacrylate and HMX , NOTS TP 4387 (1967) 2) W. Selig,... 

Heat Resistant, Castable Explosive For Fragmentation Type Warheads , NOTS TP 3612, NAVWEPS 8597 (1964) 39) H.L. Herman,... 

Heat Resistant Explosive Compositions Capable of Withstanding 500°F and Higher , NWC TP-4461 (1967) 44) Ibid, Castable Explosive... 

Plastic explosives contain one or more of the explosives listed above, moulded in an inert, flexible binder. Because powders do not readily hold a shape and TNT is the only common melt-castable explosive, most of the explosive powders (RDX, HMX, PETN, 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB)) are plasticized to make a mouldable material, for example, C-4, Semtex H, PE4, sheet explosive. A variety of plasticizers are added, but the maximum level is usually 10-15% because most plasticizers are inert and would degrade explosive output. Plastic explosives were originally developed for convenient use in military demolitions but have since been widely used in terrorist bombs. For detection techniques that rely on vapour signatures, such as canine olfaction, it is worth considering that the plasticizer is much more volatile than the explosive component. 

The reaction of aziridines and azetidine heterocycles with dinitrogen pentoxide in chlorinated solvents yields 1,2-nitramine nitrates and 1,3-nitramine nitrates respectively. In most cases yields are good to excellent, but, reactions are not as general as with the oxygen heterocycles the outcome of reactions is heavily dependent on the nature of the substituent on the exocyclic nitrogen. Some of the products from these reactions find use as melt-castable explosives i.e. Tris-X (46) and energetic plasticizers e.g. Bu-NENA (48) the latter is a component of some LOVA (low vulnerability ammunition) propellant formulations. 

Tritolital. Accdg to Ref 28, p 351 Ref 31, p 263, it is a castable explosive used during WWII by Italians and Germans for loading underwater weapons, such as torpedoes, depth charges sea mines. It consisted of TNT 60, RDX 20 ... 

No No Secondary high explosive, Main charge-castable explosive ... 

Carbon oxychloride, 22 Carbonic dichloride, 22 Carbonyl chloride, 22, 49, 75, 101, 184 5-Carboxy-l,3-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, 6 Cast booster, 245, 248 Cast explosive, 4-5 Castable explosive, 56, 113 CDNTA, 4, 32, 58, 86, 109, 124, 169, 197. See also 3,5-dinitro-1.2.4-triazole copper salt CE, 4-5,32,58-59,86, 111, 124,173. See also Cast explosive... 

Poudreries Reunies de Belgique, Rept LC No 186, October 1958 (Preparation of certain castable explosives based on TNT)... 

PBXs have replaced melt-castable explosives in almost all nuclear weapons. The PBX formulations that have been used include PBX-9010, PBX-9011, PBX-9404, PBX-9501, LX-04, LX-07, LX-09, LX-10, LX-11 and insensitive PBXs used for this purpose are PBX-9502 and LX-17. 

Baratol 76% Ba(N03)2 + 24% TNT Low VOD castable explosive used in early explosive lenses... 

A comparison of their properties with PATO reveals that the thermal stability of these derivatives is not as good as that of the parent compound, that is, PATO. Some experimental and predicted properties of the nitro derivative of PATO-I [Structure (2.25)] reported by the Chinese are density 1.92 gem"3, m.p. ca 103 °C, calc. VOD 8590ms"1 and Pc] 34.5 GPa. This compound has also been synthesized [70] in HEMRL, Pune, India and the properties are similar to those reported by the Chinese investigators. Indian scientists determined its impact sensitivity also which is h50% = 28 cm. Further work is needed to evaluate its suitability for practical applications as this explosive possesses high density, respectable performance (comparable to RDX) and low m.p. and may prove to be a melt-castable explosive similar to TNT and TNAZ. The nitro derivative of PATO-II is shown in Structure (2.26). Similarly, a new explosive called l,3-bis(l,2,4-triazolo-3-amino)-... 

The low m.p. indicates its suitability as a melt-castable explosive using steam processing. However, its thermal stability (by DSC and chemiluminescence) is only marginally acceptable suggesbng that this family of explosives is unlikely to be used for munitions. 

Watt, D.S., and Cliff, M.W. (2000) Evaluation of TNAZ-a high performance melt-castable explosive. Australian Aeronautical and Maritime Research Laboratory (AAMRL) Report No. DSTO-TR-IOOO, July. 

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