A comparison of deflagration rates, at elevated pressures and temperatures, with thermal explosion results

Previously, the deflagration rate and behavior of HMX-based explosives have been correlated with the violence of thermal explosion experiments. In particular, HMX materials that experience deconsolidative burning at elevated pressures (i.e. P = 200 - 600 MPa) also produce significantly more violent thermal explosions. Recently, we have measured the deflagration rates of HMX-based explosives at elevated temperatures (i.e. T = 150 -- 180C) and moderate pressures (i.e. P = 10 -- 100 MPa). These conditions more closely mimic the pressure and temperatures of an explosive shortly after ignition of a thermal explosion. We will discuss the deflagration rates of HMX based explosives at elevated temperatures and make comparisons with thermal explosion studies on the same materials.