Investigations of the microstructure of pressed explosive/wax/graphite granulates by means of X-ray diffraction

Granulates of the explosives HMX, RDX and CL-20/HMX cocrystal were pressed to cylinders for mini detonation tests and the microstructure of the samples were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction before and after the pressing process. The granulates consist of mixtures of the explosives with wax and graphite with weight fractions of 94.5 % explosive, 4.5 % wax (paraffin) and 1 % graphite, respectively. The investigations show different mechanical strengths of the explosives, with an improved mechanical stability of RDX and CL-20/HMX cocrystal, when compared to the mixtures with HMX.