Thermal effects of long-term aging on pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN): A multi-analytical study over 18 months at 50, 60, and 75 °C.

Widespread use of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) by civilian and military sectors warrants the investigation of how aging conditions may affect initiation and performance of PETN-based detonators. Powders of PETN held at elevated temperatures result in larger particle size and altered chemical composition that affects detonator performance. Addition of stabilizers to PETN powders can slow the rate of change without affecting explosive performance. However, the effects of long-term storage on stabilized PETN at elevated temperatures have not been studied in a large-scale, statistically significant way. Here we describe an aging study of detonators and powders of pure PETN and TriPEON-stabilized PETN, at sampling times between 1 to 18 months at three different temperatures of 50, 60, and 75 °C. The stabilized powders show a decreasing rate of change up to 60 °C and slowed the rate of change at 75 °C without significantly impacting detonator performance. Supporting Fischer specific surface area analysis, SEM imaging, light scattering particle size, HPLC and detonator performance will be discussed.