RDX Red Gum: A High Performance Pressable Formulation

Explosive pellets containing binary mixtures of 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and yacca resin "red gum" (RG) with composition ratios of 90:10, 95:5, and 98:2 RDX:RG were prepared. These were created without use of specialized pressing or casting facilities, making it a convenient formulation for researchers. Red gum, a component of molding powder, was mixed with RDX, both in powder form and in slurry format. The addition of red gum to RDX did not significantly change the sensitivity of RDX to impact or friction nor was thermal stability dramatically altered as judged by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Formulations of RDX:RG were pressed to produce pellets with densities ranging from 1.628-1.683 g/cm3. Pressed pellets were assembled in clear cellulose tubes to allow high speed camera photography to assess detonation velocity. Velocities between 8.04-8.50 km/s were determined. Photon Doppler velocimetry (PDV) measured CJ-pressures in the pellets between 24-29 GPa.