Energy output of HMX-based aluminized explosives with varying aluminum (Al) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) ratios

Abstract. Fluorinated oxidizers are attracting oxidizers for aluminized explosives, mostly due to the combination of high heats of formation of AlF₃, comparable to that of metal oxides, with the relatively high vapor pressure of metal fluorides, which volatilize more readily than refractory oxides for most of the energetically interesting metals. In our previous work, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, C₂F₄) has been used as the fluorine carrier and typical oxidizer for Al, with a high content of fluorine (76%), exhibiting high heat of explosion for aluminized explosives. In this work, several formulations of HMX-based polymer bonded explosives (PBXs) containing varying contents of Al and PTFE were manufactured by acoustic resonance and rotary cutting methods. First, the theoretical energy performance was calculated by the VLW thermodynamics code. Then, the heat of explosion, detonation velocity, detonation pressure, air blast and underwater explosion of those explosives were tested and compared. Results show that PTFE as an oxidizer can increase the heat of explosion, and exhibits significant post-detonation reaction potential with metal fuels. And the optimal contents of Al and PTFE were suggested. Further analysis on the reaction between PTFE and Al was conducted based on the theoretical calculation and experimental results.