The effect of ultrasonics on the explosive sensitivity of ammonium permanganate

Abstract

Phenomena of thermal and ultrasonic initiation of solid explosives are briefly reviewed. In this work we have studied the explosive decomposition of ammonium permanganate when subjected to the action of ultrasonic radiation of constant frequency (2 mc). We found that ammonium permanganate crystals could not be exploded by the sound field in air alone, but had to be suspended in mineral oil. We also found that, as for thermal explosions, there is an induction period, the length of which depends on the intensity of ultrasonic radiation ; the induction period is inversely proportional to the square of the intensity. The effect of ultrasonic radiation cannot be explained by the overall rise in temperature, because this is small.

Properties and Promise of Catenated Nitrogen Systems As High-Energy-Density Materials

“…61 Silver fulminate has found some use as a primary explosive in naval weapons applications. 62 In addition, related molecular nonmetal oxides such as iodinanes, 63−65 xenon oxides, 66 and high-oxidation-state metal oxides such as chromates 67 and permanganates 68 , 9) is synthesized by the acidcatalyzed nitration of the sugar alcohol, glycerol (Scheme 4). 69 In comparison with black powder, nitroglycerine incorporates the oxidant (nitro group) directly into the organic fuel via covalent bonding which results in much faster reaction rates.…”

“…Silver fulminate has found some use as a primary explosive in naval weapons applications . In addition, related molecular nonmetal oxides such as iodinanes, − xenon oxides, and high-oxidation-state metal oxides such as chromates and permanganates can form dangerous explosive mixtures with fuels.…”

Developments in Explosives Characterization and Detection

“…In 1976, Loginov et al [41] showed explosives such as RDX and lead azide were driven to initiation by applying low frequency mechanical vibrations. Theoretically, these techniques could be utilized as stand-off detection methods if, for example, heating of the target explosive could be achieved via an external source, such as ultrasonic radiation [43,44]. Despite this potential, only a few researchers have investigated these properties thoroughly.…”

Sensitivity of Explosives.

“…Nonthermal effects are certainly present during induction periods which may run for minutes (11,53). This must be so especially since, for some primary explosives at least, induction periods can be broken up into two or more stages separated by long intermissions (hours and even days so that the possibility of accumulation of heat is completely out of the question), and yet discontinuous periods of heating are essentially additive, their sum approximating the one-stage induction period (61,125). A theoretical analysis of such presensilization or memory effects has been given recently by Hess and Ling (67).…”