Detonation products of less sensitive high explosives formed under different pressures of argon and in vacuum

Less sensitive high explosive charges of TNT/nitroguanidine (NQ) and PBX charges with polybutadiene (PB) and Cariflex binder containing RDX with and without NQ and Al were detonated in a stainless steel chamber of 1.5 cubicmetre in vacuum and under different ambient argonpressures up to 0.3 MPa. Gaseous and solid reaction products were analyzed and enthalpy of detonation calculated from the products and the components of the charge. It was found that the products were highly dependent on the ambient pressure of argon. The most important changes of the reaction products were found between vacuum and atmospheric pressure of argon (0.1 MPa). With increasing pressure, Hsub2 and CO decrease and C0sub2, Hsub20, Csub8, NHsub3, HCN, CHsub4, and Csub2Hsub2 increase. In the same way enthalpy of detonation increases up to 50 percent.