Publications - Energetic Materials

This paper deals with the sensitivity of certain pyrotechnic compositions applied in countermeasure stores based on data from the literature. It is recommended to investigate the IM properties of in-service pyrotechnic ammunition.

For the first time a high energy density material based on magnesium and xenon(II) fluoride, XeF2, has been prepared and characterized spectroscopically. With Tc = 2575 K MAX exceeds the combustion temperature of magnesium/Teflon/Viton (MTV) in air which is ~2100 K.

Infrared decoy flares serve the protection of aerial platforms such as helicopters, fixed wing and jet propelled planes against infrared guided air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles [1-3].  These flares are jettonised from the craft at high speed and upon combustion develop a strong infrare

Since the 1990s a large number of insensitive energetic materials have been under consideration for insensitive munitions purposes.  After the landmark paper by Doherty and Simpson [4], new candidate materials have entered the field and others have vanished for different reasons.

The present report summarizes the adiabatic equilibrium composition and combustion temperature for the following energetic materials: black powder, Magnesium/Teflon/Viton, red Bengal flare composition, spectral flare composition, Al/MoO3-thermite, M 30 gun propellant at various pressures ranging

In many cases countermeasure flares are applied in high altitudes with air pressure of less than 10 kPa. Also under such conditions the flare compositions aim to intensive emission and high temperatures.

Samarium, europium, thulium and ytterbium merit consideration as high dense flare fuels. The metals exhibit a luminous combustion plume in reaction with both oxygen based and halocarbon oxidizers. Pyrolants have been prepared and investigated.

Binary pyrolants made from Mg, MgH2, MgB2, Mg3N2, Mg2Si and polytetrafluoroethylene display a wide range of burn rates at ambient pressure. The burn rates do not coincide with the theoretical maximum adiabatic combustion temperatures.

The mechanical threats Fragment Impact (FI), Shaped Charge Jet (SCJ) and Explosively Formed Projectile (EFP) are recognized to be really severe because they can lead to a shock to detonation transition of the energetic materials, which is difficult to manage and difficult to mitigate.  Conse

Large quantities of data, associated with energetic materials, are published in the open literature from conference proceedings (ICT, Gordon Research, KISHEM, IMEMTS), workshops (Nitrocellulose, New High Explosives) and journal articles (PEP, J. Energetic Materials).