Characterization of Detonation and Partial Detonation of PBX 9501, PBX 9502, and TATB

To further our understanding of chemical reaction pathways occurring during shock loading (sub-detonative and detonative) of plastic bonded explosives (PBXs), post-shock/detonation product species were investigated. Using a contained firing vessel, charges of PBX 9501, PBX 9501/9502 and PBX 9501/TATB were detonated producing gaseous products as well as solid carbonaceous species. Gaseous samples were transferred to a collection vessel which were then analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) with a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) or mass spectrometer (MS). Identification and quantification of gases will be presented. Solid samples collected from detonation of PBX 9502 and TATB were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to ultraviolet-visible absorbance and mass spectrometery (LC-UVVis-MS) and gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS). Additionally, solid samples from sub-detonatively shocked PBX 9502 were also analyzed via LC-UVVis-MS and GC-TOFMS. Identification of these solids will be reported and potential decomposition pathways to observed intermediate products will be presented. LA-UR-21708