Recent advances in the study of the initiation of energetic materials using the characteristics of their thermal decomposition Part II. Using simple differential thermal analysis

Simple Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), with evaluation of its output by the Kissinger method, was used in the case of emulsion explosives and, as an advanced application, for several plastic bonded explosives (PBXs). In both of these kinds of explosive the square of their detonation velocities, D², is used as their performance characteristic. A relationship between the slope of the Kissinger equation, E_aT^-1, and the D² values makes it possible to formulate a possible mechanism for the initiation of emulsion explosives. Regarding PBXs, it would seem possible to postulate a change in the detonation chemistry of plastic bonded nitramines, depending on the pressure and temperature in the zone of the detonation wave, particularly in the case of CL-20 fillers. Binders with aromatic building units in their macromolecular structure seem to be less-favoured in terms of their thermal reactivity and performance than the final PBXs. These findings document the advantages of the above-mentioned application of simple DTA.