Studies on FOX-7 Based Melt Cast High Explosive Formulations

Abstract: The key driving force in modern explosive research is the development of low vulnerable high explosive (LOVEX) compositions for future applications in insensitive munitions (IMs). The increasing demand for LOVEX has led to exhaustive studies on low vulnerable explosives as a replacement for conventional cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX) in 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) melt cast high explosive formulations. In the present study, 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7) has been evaluated as a possible RDX replacement in TNT based, non-aluminized as well as aluminized, melt cast formulation. FOX-7 based melt cast formulations were characterized for their sensitivity to mechanical/shock stimuli, velocity of detonation (VOD), blast parameters and thermal decomposition behavior. These characteristics are compared with the corresponding RDX based compositions as reference standard. The studies show that with little sacrifice on performance parameters, FOX-7 based, non-aluminized and aluminized, melt cast formulations are found to be less vulnerable, compared with the corresponding RDX based formulations.