Initiation properties of nanocrystalline rdx-based explosive compositions

The relationship between crystal size and sensitivity to shock and impact stimuli was experimentally evaluated for the high explosive RDX. Uncoated and coated RDX specimens with crystal sizes ranging from ca. 4 microns down to ca. 200 nm were investigated. The test data shows that decreasing crystal size is an effective means of reducing sensitivity. The data also suggests that there are shock and impact sensitivity minima with crystal size. The 500 nm RDX-based specimens were the least sensitive while further decreasing the crystal size to 200 nm resulted in a markedly elevated sensitivity. Nanocrystalline grades of RDX were prepared by rapid expansion of supercritical solutions as well as by a novel spray drying-based method.