Initiation of Energetic and Flammable Material by Adiabatic Compression

The rapid adiabatic compression of gas and/or vapor can initiate energetic liquid and solid materials. The fixed and entrapped gases, gas/air bubbles and cavitation in liquid propellant, flammable liquid, densensitized (solid) explosive in solvent, vapor above or within solid energetic material can be rapidly compressed by certain process operations. Examples of these operations include opening/closing a valve, pressure surges by external static load, pump ripple, hammer action in a container during transportation.

The initiation of energetic material by adiabatic compression is of a thermal nature and is due to sudden heating of the trapped gas bubbles.

A simple apparatus adiabatic cell and method is designed to provide the gas space which can be compressed at different rates. The potential for initiation of several energetic liquids and solids was investigated. The procedure requires a small amount of sample (1-2 gm) and can be used as a screening test to characterize the energetic liquid and the desensitized explosive in liquid solvent of various compositions and concentrations. The results can also be used as elements of particular design process/equipment for hazard mitigation and control.