Low‐Sensitivity Explosive Compounds for Low Vulnerability Warheads

Abstract Looking for explosives for Low Vulnerability Ammunitions leads to an interest in explosive molecules less sensitive than the usual nitramines (RDX, HMX). If TATB is quite convenient in terms of sensitivity, its performance is too low. The researches described here are related to synthesis and use of NTO (nitrotriazolone), another insensitive molecule. The synthesis by nitration of TO (triazolone) is easy and the two steps from available starting materials have been optimized. A comparison of desensitivation of PBX either by TATB or by NTO have been made. The sensitivity levels were found equivalent while the detonation velocity of the NTO based PBX was slightly higher. Unfortunately in this case, the failure diameter would be larger. The last part relates to an extensive characterization in terms of performance and vulnerability to fast cook off, slow cook off, bullet impact, shock sensitivity and sympathetic detonation of a NTO and HMX based PBX. This PBX, B 2214, was one of the first examples of explosive composition showing no sympathetic detonation, even in 248 mm large diameter.