Aging Study of Sheet Explosive Based on RDX/HTPB by Dynamic-Mechanical Analysis, Sol –Gel and Hardness Measurements

Aging of a sheet explosive contain RDX explosive and HTPB binder is studied at temperatures of 50, 60 and 70 oC in times 60, 120 and 180 days. Dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA), sol – gel analysis (SGA) and hardness measurements methods are used in this research.  The changes of tan_delta in DMA, hardness amounts and soluble fraction in SGA are measured for unaged and aged samples. The obtained results showed the samples are aged with increasing of temperature and time of aging process. The pseudo-first order kinetic equation and obtained data are used for calculation of kinetic rate constants of measured properties changes. The changes in tan_delta in DMA, hardness amounts and soluble fraction in SGA indicated kinetic rate constants, respectively, 0.9-2.3´10-3, 1.9-4.8´10-3 and 1.5-5.5´10-3 per day at temperatures of 50, 60 and 70 oC. The Arrhenius equation is used for calculation of activation energy of each changes and calculation of kinetic rate constants at temperature 25 oC. Kinetic rate constant at room temperature showed a reduction 50% in measured properties of the product after 3300 days (~9 years).