Warheads filling

Nitro-l,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) [Structure (2.49)] or oxynitrotriazole (ONTA)has been reported as another IHE coupled with better performance [152-157]. Almost all aspects of NTO-synthesis, structural aspects, chemical and explosive properties including thermal behavior have been investigated [158-161]. NTO exists in two polymorphic forms, that is, -form and P-form. It has been established that a-NTO is the stable and dominating form whereas P-NTO is only found in the product on recrystallization of NTO from a methanol or ethanol/methylene chloride mixture [162]. French researchers have recently reported its evaluation as an explosive for warhead filling without a binder and also as a PBX [155]. Further, synthesis of NTO is easy consisting of only two steps (Scheme 2.9) and uses inexpensive starting materials. 

These properties of FOX-7 and FOX-12 suggest that they are very promising candidates for IM and are likely replacement of RDX as warhead fillings. These explosives are also potential candidates for low-vulnerability ammunition (LOVA) propellants. It has been reported that FOX-12-based propellants are highly resistant to shaped charge attack. 

Supply Projections. Additional supphes are expected to be necessary to meet the projected production shortfall. A significant contribution is likely to come from uranium production centers such as Eastern Europe and Asia, which are not included in the capabihty projections (27). The remaining shortfall between fresh production and reactor requirements is expected to be filled by several alternative sources, including excess inventory drawdown. These shortfalls could also be met by the utili2ation of low cost resources that could become available as a result of technical developments or pohcy changes, production from either low or higher cost resources not identified in production capabihty projections, recycled material such as spent fuel, and low enriched uranium converted from the high enriched uranium (HEU) found in warheads (28). 

There are approx as many more which deal in small arms or metal parts or serve as storage depots, but they are outside the scope of this article. There are also several AAPs which load warheads but do not manuf the fills they are not discussed in any detail in this article because their relatively minor wastewater problems are well typified by those facilities which are discussed... 

Most current expl fills are blends of TNT with other ingredients, and are melt-cast loaded into bombs and warheads. Typically, several thousand pounds of the flaked blend are charged to a stirred melt kettle and heated to just above the melting point of TNT. It forms a mobile slurry when molten, and is poured mto the empty bomb or shell cases, where it solidifies. Additional ingredients such as Al may be added in the melt kettle, depending on the particular formulation being poured and the particular munition product... 

Trinitrotoluene DNT Tetryl Primer materials < s Nitrocellulose j Nitroglycerin 1 j NC-based propellants j Ball Powder j 0> > o PL. -o ra 55 Acid manufacture J Filling of warheads Mfg of extruded rocket grains j Mfg of cast rocket grains... 

For military purposes high explosives are used as filling for shell, bombs and warheads of rockets. The basic requirements for such explosives are the following ... 

If the booster is not used, the warhead may be primed by filling the cavity in the top with plastic explosive, into which is embedded and fastened a blasting cap or a primacord knot. 

Powell, J.G. Fragmentation Characterization profile for Chemical Filled Munltlons-M23 Land Mine, 115MM Rocket Warheads and 8-lnch Projectiles, Naval Surface Weapons Center, April 1983. 

Table 3.1 Various processing techniques for filling of warheads.

They were used as fillings for bombs and torpedo warheads in the Second World War. 

TNN, which is actually a mixture of 3 isomers (as described above), is a yellowish to light yellowish solid with a melting point ranging from 190 to 215 Celsius (depending on purity). The solid is very stable, and can be melted and alloyed with many other secondary explosives to form thermally stable explosives compositions with a high resistance to shock, friction, heat, and percussion. TNN is freely soluble in chloroform, ether, and carbon disulfide, and is moderately soluble in alcohol, but insoluble in water. TNN is not used in military explosives to an amount that would warrant extreme importance for its existence however, TNN is rather inexpensive to make, and is readily available during times of war. It can be used for filling shells, bombs, and warheads, and has satisfactory power. ... 

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