Effects of Component Interactions on the Aqueous Solubilities and Dissolution Rates of the Explosive Formulations Octol, Composition B, and LX-14

Abstract

The effects of component interactions on aqueous solubilities and dissolution rates were determined for the explosive formulations octol, composition B, and LX-14 and for mixtures of three separate explosive compounds that make up these formulations. Experiments were performed over the temperature range of (10−30)°C at a constant mixing rate of 2.5 revolutions per second (rps), and data were measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography with UV detection. Formulation results are compared to results of nonbound mixtures of individual explosive compounds and to results of explosive compounds studied separately. The solubilities determined for the formulations and the various mixtures were comparable to the solubilities of the explosive compounds studied independently. The dissolution rates of the explosive compounds in various nonbound mixtures were also comparable to the rates determined independently. However, the dissolution rates for explosive compounds in the formulations were generally lower than those determined independently. Correlation expressions are proposed to describe the initial dissolution rates of explosive compounds in the formulations as a function of temperature and solid surface area. Previous solubility correlations are refined by inclusion of the single-component data from this study.