PBXN-109 med RS-RDX : aldringsstudier II : prøver aldret ved 70 grader C i 21 uker

Abstract

Questions have been asked about the stability of Reduced Sensitivity RDX (RS-RDX) with regard to reversion of shock sensitivity during the lifecycle of a PBX. To study if there are changes in product properties of PBXN-109 due to ageing of RS-RDX, test specimens of PBXN-109 have been subjected to accelerated ageing at 70o C for 21 weeks. A time period that corresponds to a service life of more than 20 years at 25o C. Aged PBXN-109 from two different crystal charges of RS-RDX quality has been tested with regard to shock sensitivity in Intermediate Scale Gap test and critical diameter for comparison with the properties of virgin material. The used RDX has been produced and delivered by Dyno Nobel. The results with regard to shock sensitivity of aged PBXN-109 show for one of the charges no changes, and for the other only a slight increase. For both critical diameter and Shore A hardness a slight increase is observed. Obtained properties and changes in shock sensitivity and critical diameter exclude reversion of the sensitivity of RS-RDX crystals in PBXN-109 due to ageing.