Shock initiation and detonation properties of bisfluorodinitroethyl formal (FEFO)

Abstract

Abstract. FEFO is a liquid explosive with a density of 1.60 g/cm 3 and an energy output similar to that of trinitrotoluene (TNT), making it one of the more energetic liquid explosives. Here we describe shock initiation experiments that were conducted using a two-stage gas gun using magnetic gauges to measure the wave profiles during a shock-to-detonation transition. Unreacted Hugoniot data, time-to detonation (overtake) measurements, and reactive wave profiles were obtained from each experiment. FEFO was found to initiate by the homogeneous initiation model, similar to all other liquid explosives we have studied (nitromethane, isopropyl nitrate, hydrogen peroxide). The new unreacted Hugoniot points agree well with other published data. A universal liquid Hugoniot estimation slightly under predicts the measured Hugoniot data. FEFO is very insensitive, with about the same shock sensitivity as the triamino-trinitro-benzene (TATB)-based explosive PBX9502 and cast TNT.

(U) Design Considerations for Obtaining Deep Release in Reacted Epon 828

“…The optimal diagnostic for this type of experiment would be some form of embedded diagnostic that measures the pressure state of Epon directly, while simulta-neously not interfering with the dynamics of wave propagation in the target. While embedded magnetic gauges have been used previously at LANL to measure the shock and unloading characteristics of explosives and other materials, [3][4][5] these diagnostics are not currently available for use on the Ancho Canyon two-stage gun. The primary diagnostic at the Ancho Canyon gun facility is optical velocimetry, where both VISAR [6] and PDV [7] are regularly fielded.…”