Studies on Tungsten Based High Density Cast Polymer Bonded Explosive (PBX) Formulations

Aluminized melt-cast TNT and PBX (cast/pressed) based compositions have been widely studied and used in different warheads for various applications,such as air blast, underwater blast, thermobaric effects, etc. Tungsten (W) based cast PBX formulations are the least reported in the literature. We have partially replaced RDX or HMX in the control PBX formulation with 15 to 25% W powder and investigated the effect of this on the ease of processing, density, sensitivity, mechanical properties and explosive performance. The viscosity was improved from 9 to 3 kPoise, and the density by about 12 to 25% on the addition of W powder to the PBX formulations. The sensitivity to impact for the RDX/Wand HMX/W based PBX formulations was improved by 12 to 37%. The reinforcing effect of the W powder caused an increase in hardness (Shore A) by 16 to 45%. A decreasing trend in the velocity of detonation (VOD) was observed because of the replacement of the nitramine content (RDX/HMX) with W powder. The approximate detonation pressure of RDX/W/HTPB (65/20/15), roughly calculated by the Kamlet-Jacobs method, is better than the other tungsten based formulations investigated.