An experimental study of the deflagration-to-detonation transition in granular secondary explosives

The deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) has been studied in prepared columns of granular secondary explosive. The secondary explosives 2- (5-cyanotetrazolato) pentammine cobalt (III) perchlorate (CP) and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) were chosen for the study due to their known propensity to undergo DDT within a few millimetres of ignition. Confinement of CP columns within polycarbonate and PETN within metallic confinement fitted with slit windows allowed direct high-speed streak photography of the events. Deflagration and detonation velocities and the run-to-detonation lengths were measured as a function of charge pressed density. Ignition of the explosive column was attained thermally through a copper barrier with a gasless pyrotechnic. Deflagration and detonation velocities were seen to depend strongly upon pressed density with both explosives. There appeared to be a maximum density conducive to DDT with both explosives but no minimum with CP. Studies of DDT continue to have interest for the safe storage and use of reactive materials, and for the development of a detonator based on a secondary explosive.