Fortifcation of W/O Emulsions by Demilitarized Explosives. Part I. Use of TNT

This paper presents a study of the relationship between detonation velocities, D, and relative explosive strength (RS) of fortifed W/O emulsion explosives, on the one hand, and the grain size and quality of the demilitarized TNT used for this fortifcation, on the other. It has been found that demilitarized TNT having a grain size below 400 μm could give acceptable results both in terms of initiation and detonation velocity and the RS values. Demilitarized TNT, however, is not a reliable sensitizer even in a micronized state, and therefore using TNT necessitates simultaneous sensitizing of the fnal W/O explosive with microballoons and it has no signifcantly better infuence on the performance of the resulting explosives. The small-scale cook-off test of such a W/O mixture fortifed by 50% by wt. of TNT has shown that such a mixture is a relatively safe explosive.