Insensitive hexogen explosive

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an explosive composition comprising a paste comprised of hexogen and octogen and in inert binder comprised of dioctyl adipate and polyacrylate elastomer, the binder being present in an amount ranging from about 2% to about 10% by weight, where the weight of dioctyl adipate to polyacrylate of about 1:1 to about 5:1 and whereas the hexogen is present in an amount ranging from about 86% to about 92%, by weight and the octogen is present in an amount ranging from about 4% to about 6% by weight of the composition. It is also directed to the process of preparing said composition.

1 . An explosive composition comprising a paste comprised of hexogen and octogen and an inert binder comprised of dioctyl adipate and polyacrylate elastomer, the binder being present in an amount ranging from about 2% to about 10% by weight, where the weight ratio of dioctyl adipate to polyacrylate in the binder ranges from about 1:1 to about 5:1 and whereas the hexogen is present in an amount ranging from about 86% to about 92% by weight and the octogen is present in an amount ranging from about 4% to about 6% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       2 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1  wherein the octogen is present in an amount ranging from abut 4.5% to about 5.5%.  
   
   
       3 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1  wherein the binder is present in an amount ranging from about 4% to about 6% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       4 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1  wherein the weight ratio of dioctyl adipate to polyacrylate ranges from about 1:1 to about 4:1.  
   
   
       5 . The explosive composition according to  claim 4  wherein said weight ratio of dioctyl adipate to polyacrylate ranges from about 1:1 to about 3:1.  
   
   
       6 . The explosive composition according to  claim 5  wherein the weight ratio of dioctyl adipate to polyacrylate is about 1.5:1.  
   
   
       7 . A process for the preparation of the explosive composition of  claim 1  which comprises: 
 (a) forming a slurry comprised of octogen, hexogen and binder comprised of dioctyl adipate and polyacrylate elastomer;    (b) mixing the slurry formed in (a) with a solvent comprised of a mixture of ethyl acetate and acetone in a molar ratio ranging from about 1:3 to about 3:1 in a vacuum under conditions sufficient to form a paste and    (c) removing the solvent therefrom, thereby forming said explosive composition.    
   
   
       8 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein the solvent is removed by evaporation while stirring the paste.  
   
   
       9 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein the slurry is prepared by mixing the octogen and hexogen in water until it becomes a suspension; 
 (b) adding the binder to the product of (a) in an inert solvent in amount sufficient to cause the turbidity of the water to disappear; and    (c) removing the water.    
   
   
       10 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein the solvent is removed by heating the product of (b) at about 40° C. under vacuum until the partial pressure of the solvent is reduced to about 240 mbar and then removing the remaining solvent by raising the temperature to a range of about 60° C. to about 110° C. under vacuum until the partial pressure of the solvent present is less than about 1 mbar.  
   
   
       11 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein the octogen is present in an amount ranging from about 4.5% to about 5.5% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       12 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein the binder is present in an amount ranging from about 4% to about 6% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       13 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein the weight ratio of dioctyl adipate to polyacrylate elastomer in the binder ranges from about 1:1 to about 4:1.  
   
   
       14 . The process according to  claim 13  wherein said weight ratio of dioctyl adipate to polyacrylate elastomer ranges from about 3:1.  
   
   
       15 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the weight ratio of dioctyl adipate to polyacrylate elastomer is about 1.5:1.