Analyzing the Effects of Electromagnetic Exposure on Energetic Compositions

Abstract

Energetic materials such as explosives, pyrotechnics, propellants, and thermites have been extensively studied for over a century and as technologies become more advanced, so do the techniques used to understand these materials. Currently, there are research plans for advancing detection methods in finding explosive materials using high frequency techniques (80 MHz to 4.2 GHz). A thorough understanding of the response of energetic materials when exposed to these frequencies must be realized before effective detection systems can be advanced. An electromagnetic exposure chamber was developed at Texas Tech University to expose energetic samples to various frequencies and power levels. After exposure, the physical and chemical changes that occur resulting from localized heating are examined. Diagnostics were developed to study the spectral energy absorption and observe hot-spot formations due to localized heating experimentally. Simulations using COMSOL 4.2a, a simulation modeling software that enables analysis of electromagnetic fields on localized heating within an energetic material will also be presented.