Reactive wave growth in shock-compressed thermally degraded high explosives

The authors have performed experiments to study the effect of thermal degradation on shock sensitivity and growth to detonation of several high-density plastic bonded explosives, confined in stainless steel cells. Assemblies were heated in situ in the target chamber of a light-gas gun. Confinement was varied to allow, in some cases, for thermal expansion of the explosive, and in other cases to vent the decomposition gases. Particle velocity profiles were measured using VISAR at a LiF window interface. Results for the IHE PBX-9502 showed that its sensitivity to shock initiation could be dramatically increased or decreased depending on the confinement conditions during heating. Effects were much less pronounced for PBX-9404 and PBX-9501