The Application of Modern Analytical Instrumentation Techniques to the Analysis of Explosive Mixes

Abstract

Upgrading and modernization of munition manufacturing facilites to improve production capabilities and to increase cost effectiveness are under way at several Army installations. It is a requirement that each batch of blended explosive mixture be analyzed before loading into detonator and related items to insure that they are properly mixed. Rates of production are being increased considerably, placing new requirements on analytical procedures. The traditional methods consisting of consecutive extractions with a variety of solvents are cumbersome and much too slow, requiring four hours to analyze a single batch of explosive mix. The batches are very small because of the extreme sensitivity of this class of explosives, making it necessary either to have many batches being stored in explosive facilities while awaiting analysis or to reduce the time for the analysis (of each batch) to not more than thirty minutes. The latter is a much more desirable and cost effective approach.