Microstructure of the PBX KS32 after mechanical loading investigated by x-ray diffraction and DMA

Plastic bonded explosives are highly filled polymers containing up to 90% high energy crystalline solid loads. Different non-destructive X-ray diffraction techniques were applied in order to characterize the ingredients of PBXs and their behavior in shock-loading tests. The investigations revealed damages to embedded coarse HMX crystals such as deformation twinning and crystal cleavage, and a change in the micro structure of the binder HTPB; the latter was verified by advanced DMA investigations. The investigations are part of a bilateral cooperation and a project agreement on Insensitive High Explosives for High Speed Penetrators (IHE-HSP) between the USA and Germany.