Effect of Aluminum Particle Size on the Performance of Aluminized Explosives

Abstract

Abstract To characterize the effect of the particle size on the combustion time of aluminum (Al) in aluminized explosives, a series of cylinder tests was performed with RDX and Al compositions (median size of 2, 10, and 47 μm). Similar compositions were also prepared with RDX and lithium fluoride (LiF). The expanding velocities of the cylinders were measured using photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV). The results show that the Al reaction delay is less than 3 μs, and the majority of the Al reaction is less than 25 μs. Among the RDX/Al formulas with 0 %, 15 %, and 30 % weight percent of Al, the formula with 15 % Al has the best metal acceleration ability. The effects of the particle size on the cylinder test are surprisingly negligible over the range of 2–47 μm, which implies that the Al particle combustion in the detonation product does not obey the classical d 1 law. Finally, a novel Al combustion model in the detonation product was proposed based on the experimental result and theoretical analysis. The model suggests that the Al particle breakup plays an important role in the post‐detonation combustion of Al.