Novel HMX (octahydro-1.3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazonicine) based metalized explosive formulations, containing boron and aluminum (B/Al) powders, hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and belonging to the enhanced blast explosive, were designed and prepared. Investigations of the energetic characteristics of the new metalized explosives were undertaken to improve such composite explosive formulations. The impact sensitivity and friction sensitivity were measured which made a full acknowledgement of the safety of metalized explosive under different external energy stimuli. The detonation velocity and detonation pressure were measured using spring electric pin method and plate dent test, respectively. The explosion heat was measured in a calorimetric bomb filled with nitrogen (N2) and the cylinder expansion test was performed. From the cylinder test data the wall velocity and the Gurney energy of the explosives were determined. Then, the isentrope exponents of the composite detonation products were estimated numerically with hydrodynamic code. Finally, the JWL equation of state of the detonation products was determined for each explosive according to our test data. The effect of the Al and B content on the detonation characteristics is also checked.
metalized explosives, safety characteristics, detonation characteristics, boron, aluminum