Shock Initiation of UF-TATB at 250°C

The shock initiation properties of pure ultrafine grade triaminotrinitrobenzene (UF‐TATB) pressed to an initial density of 1.80 g/cm3 and fired at ambient temperature and 250°C are reported. Embedded manganin pressure gauges are used to measure the pressure histories during the buildup to detonation at several input pressures. The ambient temperature results confirm previous run distance to detonation versus shock pressure results. UF‐TATB at 250°C is shown to be much more shock sensitive than it is at ambient temperature. At high impact pressures, the shock sensitivity of UF‐TATB at 250°C approaches that of HMX‐based explosives under ambient conditions. Ignition and Growth reactive flow models are developed for UF‐TATB at both temperatures to allow predictions to be made for other scenarios.