Anaerobic Autocatalytic Decomposition/Dissociation Mechanism of TNT Based on Initiation Mode and Physical Aspects
This paper addresses the decomposition and/or dissociation (d/d) of cast TNT, generally confined in some manner, but under anaerobic (no access to oxygen) conditions such as under nitrogen, underwater, and underground, or in vacuum. Modes of initiation include hypergolic chemical agents such as metal alkyls, interhalogens, and amines. Testing was conducted in glass flasks and metal cans wherein the TNT catalytic decomposition/dissociation (d/d) precluded access to air, except to the d/d products liberated, and in heavy steel pipes or wood boxes underwater or underground, such that essentially isothermal conditions prevailed underwater for the heavy steel pipes and essentially adiabatic conditions prevailed underwater in the heavy wood boxes as well as in the underground testing. Initial testing involved use of a very high temperature pyrotechnic torch (4000K to 5000K calculated) wherein the d/d was initially overpowered by pyrolysis, but mostly by hypergolic initiation of the d/d using the reactive amine ethylene diamine (EDA). Previous laboratory testing using interhalogens is included which, in the case of chlorine trifluoride (CTF), can result in simple solvation of the TNT in the CTF, but occasionally cause direct detonation upon contact. Because of TNTs unique d/d mechanisms, due mainly to its very fuel-rich stopichiometry compared to other secondary molecular high explosives such as RDX, it does not readily transition to detonation or even deflagration such as RDX under similar stimuli. This work is underway in order to elucidate d/d mechanisms that will be useful in developing effective methodologies for the neutralization of TNT in mines and UXO.
chemical explosive neutralization heterogeneous hypergolic reactions TNT autocatalysis land mines explosive dissociation explosive decomposition.
Allen J. TULIS
Energetic Materials Pioneers, Inc., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, USA
国际会议
西安
英文
251-258
2007-10-23（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）