| Abstract |
A laboratory scale study on the effects of smalll percentages of the anticracking explosive additive, 2,2',4,4',6,6' hexanitrostilbene (HNS), on the physical characteristics (i.e., cracking, density, exudation, crystal pattern, and dimensional growth) of small billets of TNT and TNT-based explosive compositions was conducted by subjecting them to an extended JAN temperature cycle of 6 to 21 months. An evaluation of the Swedish Bofors processing technique for the incorporation of HNS was included. The immediate improvement in the handling qualities of the billets was not significantly reflected in an improvement in long-term irreversible growth; in fact, growth resulted in crumbling with time. The Bofors two-stage method and the minimum of 30 minutes required to achieve maximum solubility at 100 deg. C of the HNS in TNT resulted in increasing processing time by a considerable factor. The close temperature control, 83 deg. to 86 deg. C, on remelt also is a disadvantage in a production process. (Author) |
