Extrudable explosives

Extruded explosive compositions contain a polymer which binds the explosive crystals together. The polymer acts as an adhesive and helps the explosive composition to retain its shape after extrusion. 

XTX-8003 (eXTrudable explosive). Los Alamos National Scientific Laboratory (LASL) designation for an extrudable expl contg PETN (80 wt% 69.9 vol %) coated with a low-temp vulcanizing silicone resin, Sylgard 182 (20 wt % 30.1 vol %) atomic compn Ci. 8<>H3.64N , 0103 3 jSi0.27 white putty curable to rubbery solid d, TMD 1.556g/cc, nominal 1.50-1.53g/cc mp 129-135°. XTX-8003 is used in special applications that require expls with small detonation failure diameters... 

A different extrudable explosive is available from NAX that is packaged in plastic mastic tubes (each containing 0.5 kg of explosive) to fit a standard caulking gun. This explosive is called DEMEX-400 and contains RDX and nonsetting plasticizer. 

USATHAMA) completed a trial burn of explosive, contaminated soil in a rotary kiln (Noland, 1984). Soil contaminated from red and pink water lagoons was successfully burned. A transportable rotary kiln yrstem was set up. The technology by Therm-All, Inc., had been used in industry for destruction of solid wastes. The normal screw feed system was not used, due to fear of a soil explosion during the extruded plug feed process. Therefore, the soil was placed in combustible buckets and individually fed by a ram into the incinerator. The feed rate was 300 to 400 Ib/hr and the operational temperature was 1200° to 1600°F in the kiln and 1600° to 2000°F in the secondary chamber. 

J.H. Veltman, Development of Explosives-Nipolite-Type Explosives Development of a Caseless Bomb and an Extrudable Nipolit-Type Explosive , PATR 1855 (1951) 4) S.S. Stivela,... 

Ignition of a dry mixture of the 3 powdered materials being mixed in a screw extruder led to a minor explosion, then a major dust explosion. 

Spot coverage detectors are normally mounted as close as possible to the point of potential ignition. Examples are the extruder/cutter in a high explosives machining operation or the compression point in a shell loading machine. Spot detectors assure the fastest possible detection time by physically being mounted the closest to the point of ignition. 

Extrusion may be considered a form of casting under pressure. In applications where cylindrical charges are required, some plastic bonded explosives can be extruded into the desired shape and then placed or pressed into the ammunition housing. Conventional extrusion tools are employed for this process... 

Extruders are devices for loading by extrusion (qv) metals, plastics, expls and pyrotechnic compositions. For example, expls such as some Amatols, Explosive D, Compositions A C, etc which cannot be cast-loaded can be loaded by pressing them thru a steel tube by means of a worm screw working inside. 

Materials which are usually extruded include some soft metals (lead, dn, copper, brass, aluminum, magnesium and various alloys) rubber, soaps, ceramics, foods, plastics, Dynamites, Explosives (like Amatol... 

Viscous heating of explosive rapidly extruded between the impacting surfaces or grains. 

The explosive may also be extruded in the form of a long rod which is then cut into pieces of the required length on a table covered with a copper or brass sheet. The pieces are then put into paper cartridge cases which should be made of paraffined paper. 

In Germany a machine of the Niepmann type has been adapted for cartridging dynamite [7]. A schematic view of its operation is shown in Fig. 179. The explosive supplied through funnel (/) is pushed out through worm (2) into conduits (4) and (5), from which it is ejected by pistons (5). The empty paper cases are fed by conveyer ( ) into slots on the rotating table (7). When the cases reach position (8), a charge of plastic material, extruded from the orifice (6), is slipped into them. Further rotation severs the rods of dynamite while the cases, already filled, are passed to... 

The tubes are extruded from the hot material, under high pressure (200-700 kg/cm2) using hydraulic presses, with the cylinders heated with hot water to a temperature of 90°C. Since the pressing operation is rather dangerous and sometimes leads to explosion, the cylinders are usually fairly small and hold at most 10-25 kg of paste. As a safety precaution the press should be separated by a wall from the conveyor... 

DuPont s Extruded 7-506 Cord (Ref 7, p9) DuPont s Flexible Cord Explosive. See Detaflex... 

Silvestro deals with a Dynamite known as Tooth Paste Explosive. It consists of RDX 84, di (2-ethylhexyI) sebacate 6, polyi so butylene 1 SAE 10W motor oil. 10%. Accdg to A.L. Forchielli, it can be extruded in a width of 1/4 inch and adhere to horizontal metal surface to form a ribbon up to one inch wide and 50 or more inches long. When such a ribbon is initiated by the Corps of Engineers Special Blasting Cap, the result tug detonation cuts the metal into two pieces... 

Most military explosives are solid compounds which are manufactured in granular form, with bulk densities of less than 1 g cm-3. These granular compounds are then mixed with other explosive or inert additives to give explosive compositions with densities between 1.5 and 1.7 g cm 3. The explosive compositions are then cast, pressed or extruded into their final form. 

Property Summary Acrylics recommended for general-purpose applications, especially for optical decorative, and outdoor use. In sheet stock, cast acrylic has greater strength and transparency extruded acrylic costs less (especially in thin members), and has better formability. Polycarbonates for maximum strength, as in explosion shields. Butyrates for excellent impact resistance, and deep formability. Vinyls for maximum formability and printability. Acetates and vinyls for flexible glazing and guards. Medium-impact styrene and rigid vinyls for lowest-cost molded transparent parts. 

Amatol, developed by the British during the first World War, is made by mixing granulated ammonium nitrate with melted trinitrotoluene, and pouring or extruding the mixture into the shells where it solidifies. The booster cavity is afterwards drilled out from the casting. The explosive can be cut with a hand saw. It is insensitive to friction and is less sensitive to initiation and more sensitive to impact than trinitrotoluene. It is hygroscopic, and in the presence of moisture attacks copper, brass, and bronze. 

Method (1) is relatively inflexible and more costly. Plant-mixed and extruded slurries have to be thin and often somewhat more sensitive than desired. Otherwise they are not easily pumped thru the hose and into the borehole. Furthermore, they require relatively high water content. The more sensitive, incompletely thickened slurry has to be transported over public highways, a practice previously forbidden as far as bulk explosives were concerned. Additional thickeners are added during actual loading into the borehole in order to permit easy loading but still give the required viscosity to prevent segregation and loss into the formation once the slurry is in place in the borehole... 

Toothpaste" Explosives. Expls which can be extruded from a tube or caulking gun much in the manner of toothpaste... 

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