Detection of aging in the common explosive RDX using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

A method to detect the aging in cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (RDX), using terahertz (THz) waves, is reported in this paper. The absorption spectra of RDX are analyzed, and any changes of the characteristic absorption peaks (before and after aged treatment of RDX in laboratory) are compared. When RDX samples undergo aging, the characteristic absorption peaks (at 1.02 THz, 1.36 THz, 1.58 THz, and 2.37 THz) disappear, which corresponds to the fracture of N- N O 2 bonds in RDX molecules. These results show that THz time-domain spectroscopy technology may be used not only for analysis but also for detection of aging in RDX and similar materials.