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Polymer-bonded explosive: Difference between revisions

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<tr><td>LX-16 </td><td>[[PETN]] 96%</td><td>FPC461 6%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>LX-16 </td><td>[[PETN]] 96%</td><td>FPC461 6%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>LX-17-0 </td><td>[[TATB]] 92.5%</td><td>Kel-F 800 7.5%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>LX-17-0 </td><td>[[TATB]] 92.5%</td><td>Kel-F 800 7.5%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX-9007</td><td>[[RDX]] 90%</td><td>[[Polystyrene]] 9.1%; DOP 0.5%; [[rosin]] 0.4%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX 9007</td><td>[[RDX]] 90%</td><td>[[Polystyrene]] 9.1%; DOP 0.5%; [[rosin]] 0.4%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX-9010</td><td>[[RDX]] 90%</td><td>Kel-F 3700 10%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX 9010</td><td>[[RDX]] 90%</td><td>Kel-F 3700 10%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX-9011</td><td>[[HMX]] 90%</td><td>[[Estane]] and 5703-Fl 10%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX 9011</td><td>[[HMX]] 90%</td><td>[[Estane]] and 5703-Fl 10%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX-9205</td><td>[[RDX]] 92%</td><td>[[Polystyrene]] 6%; DOP 2%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX 9205</td><td>[[RDX]] 92%</td><td>[[Polystyrene]] 6%; DOP 2%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX-9404</td><td>[[HMX]] 94%</td><td>[[nitrocellulose|NC]] 3%; CEF 3%</td> <td>Nuclear Weapons</td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX 9404</td><td>[[HMX]] 94%</td><td>[[nitrocellulose|NC]] 3%; CEF 3%</td> <td>Nuclear Weapons</td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX-9407</td><td>[[RDX]] 94%</td><td>FPC461 6%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX 9407</td><td>[[RDX]] 94%</td><td>FPC461 6%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX-9501</td><td>[[HMX]] 95%</td><td>Estane 2.5%; BDNPA-F 2.5%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX 9501</td><td>[[HMX]] 95%</td><td>Estane 2.5%; BDNPA-F 2.5%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX-9502</td><td>[[TATB]] 95%</td><td>Kel-F 800 5%</td><td>Nuclear Weapons</td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX 9502</td><td>[[TATB]] 95%</td><td>Kel-F 800 5%</td><td>Nuclear Weapons</td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX-9503</td><td>[[TATB]] 80%; [[HMX]] 15%</td><td>Kel-F 800 5%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX 9503</td><td>[[TATB]] 80%; [[HMX]] 15%</td><td>Kel-F 800 5%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX-9604</td><td>[[RDX]] 96%</td><td>Kel-F 800 4%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBX 9604</td><td>[[RDX]] 96%</td><td>Kel-F 800 4%</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td>PBXN-106</td><td>[[RDX]]</td><td>[[polyurethane]] rubber</td><td>Naval shells</td></tr>
<tr><td>PBXN-106</td><td>[[RDX]]</td><td>[[polyurethane]] rubber</td><td>Naval shells</td></tr>
<tr><td>PBXN-5</td><td>95% [[HMX]]</td><td>5% fluoroelastomer</td><td>Naval shells</td></tr>
<tr><td>PBXN-5</td><td>95% [[HMX]]</td><td>5% fluoroelastomer</td><td>Naval shells</td></tr>

Revision as of 05:08, 14 December 2007

A polymer-bonded explosive, also called PBX or plastic-bonded explosive, is an explosive material in which explosive powder is bound together in a matrix using small quantities (typically 5–10% by weight) of a synthetic polymer ("plastic").

PBXes are normally used for explosive materials which are not easily meltable to cast or which are otherwise hard to form.

Polymer-bonded explosives have several potential advantages:

  • If the polymer matrix is an elastomer (rubbery material), it tends to absorb shocks, making the PBX very insensitive to accidental detonation.
  • Hard polymers can produce PBX that is very rigid and maintains a precise engineering shape even under severe stress.
  • PBX powders can be pressed into a particular shape at room temperature, when casting normally requires hazardous melting of the explosive. High pressure pressing can achieve density for the material very close to the theoretical crystal density of the base explosive material.
  • Many PBXes are safe to machine — to turn solid blocks into complex three-dimensional shapes. This technique is used at nuclear weapons fabrication plants.
Some example PBXs
NameExplosive IngredientsBinder IngredientsUsage
EDC-3791% HMX/NC9% polyurethane rubber
LX-04-1 HMX 85%Viton-A 15%
LX-07-2 HMX 90%Viton-A 10%
LX-09-0 HMX 93%BDNPA 4.6%; FEFO 2.4%
LX-09-1 HMX 93.3%BDNPA 4.4%; FEFO 2.3%
LX-10-0 HMX 95%Viton-A 5%
LX-10-1 HMX 94.5%Viton-A 5.5%
LX-11-0 HMX 80%Viton-A 20%
LX-14-0 HMX 95.5%Estane & 5702-Fl 4.5%
LX-15 HNIS 95%Kel-F 800 5%
LX-16 PETN 96%FPC461 6%
LX-17-0 TATB 92.5%Kel-F 800 7.5%
PBX 9007RDX 90%Polystyrene 9.1%; DOP 0.5%; rosin 0.4%
PBX 9010RDX 90%Kel-F 3700 10%
PBX 9011HMX 90%Estane and 5703-Fl 10%
PBX 9205RDX 92%Polystyrene 6%; DOP 2%
PBX 9404HMX 94%NC 3%; CEF 3% Nuclear Weapons
PBX 9407RDX 94%FPC461 6%
PBX 9501HMX 95%Estane 2.5%; BDNPA-F 2.5%
PBX 9502TATB 95%Kel-F 800 5%Nuclear Weapons
PBX 9503TATB 80%; HMX 15%Kel-F 800 5%
PBX 9604RDX 96%Kel-F 800 4%
PBXN-106RDXpolyurethane rubberNaval shells
PBXN-595% HMX5% fluoroelastomerNaval shells
X-024292% HMX8% polymer

References

  • Cooper, Paul W. Explosives Engineering. New York: Wiley-VCH, 1996. ISBN 0-471-18636-8.
  • Norris, Robert S., Hans M. Kristensen, and Joshua Handler. "The B61 family of bombs", 2003.