Measuring Nanodiamond Formation During High Explosive Detonations

Nanodiamond and other carbon allotropes are pervasive throughout the solid residue produced by the detonation of many common high explosive materials, with the specific composition depending on many factors including the initial explosive and its subsequent detonation chemistry and temperature-pressure environment.  Detonation models predict which allotropes may form through computation of Chapman-Jouguet point and subsequent evolution through the size-calibrated carbon phase diagrams; however, models of formation mechanisms and kinetics vary and need experimental validation.  Here, we will present analysis to date directly measuring the emergence and evolution of the diamond phase during high-explosive detonation via time-resolved x-ray diffraction, at the Linac Coherent Light Source, in comparison to prior particle size and morphology evolution dynamically measured previously with small-angle scattering.