Morphological evaluation of nanophase carbons recovered from deflagrated vs. detonated PBX 9502

Understanding the correlation between detonation conditions and nanophase carbon formation is important for achieving greater accuracy in predicting high explosive performance. To advance our understanding, and ultimately improve our ability to accurately predict the nanophase carbon products, requires knowledge of the operable carbon framework reactions and nascent particle assembly mechanisms ensuing behind the shock front. The detonation chemical reaction zone (CRZ) is temporally short (ns) and spatially small (100’s microns), making it difficult to directly probe. Further complicating direct interrogation is the high optical opacity. Deflagration, however, is less extreme characterized by a larger dimensional reaction zone (mm) that is temporally longer (ms). Furthermore, deflagration produces lower opacity at pressures in the MPa range. Thus, deflagration offers a means for carrying out direct spectroscopic monitoring of the generated and evolving carbon products as a function of HE chemical composition. In this presentation, the morphology of nanophase carbons recovered from the detonation and deflagration soot derived from PBX 9502 is characterized. The data is interpreted in the context of emission spectra recorded in the deflagrating flame.