Aldringsstudier-IV - PBXN med RS-RDX aldret i 12 mnd ved 60 grader

Abstract

Dry RS-RDX (Reduced Sensitivity) crystals produced by Dyno Nobel have been stored at 60o C for 12 months before used in PBXN-109. Two different RS-RDX class 1 and one class 5 charges were used to produce two PBXN-109 batches with the purpose to test if shock sensitivity does depend on crystal age. PBXN-109 containing RS-RDX aged at 60o C for 12 months gave in Intermediate Scale Gap test an increase in sensitivity of 2-3 cards for the first charge. For the second one no change in shock sensitivity was observed compared to PBXN-109 made from virgin RDX. For PBXN-109 containing aged RS-RDX average critical diameter was slightly smaller than for PBXN-109 containing virgin RS-RDX. However, the changes in critical diameter were much smaller than the internal variation within a series of 5 shots. Observed changes in shock sensitivity and critical diameter of PBXN-109 containing aged RS-RDX are small. The observed variation in properties of PBXN-109 have other explanations than that RS-RDX crystals change properties due to ageing. The size of changes are within the accuracy of used test methods.