Research on the Specific Heat Capacity of PBX Formulations Based on RDX

ABSTRACT The experimental results of specific heat capacity of 2 plastic bonded explosives formulations based on 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine, using differential scanning calorimetry thermal analysis, and the theoretical ones calculated with the specific heat capacity and mass fraction of individual compounds are compared for a temperature range between 340 and 410 K. Apart the filler, the plastic bonded explosives composition includes the binder based on hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, the plasticizer bis (2-ethylhexyl) sebacate and the curing agent isophorone diisocyanate. The experimental and theoretical results showed a better approach when no curing agent is added. Without curing agent, the specific heat capacity of plastic bonded explosives increases linearly with temperature. When plastic bonded explosive is cured, the specific heat capacity is nearly constant until 380 K and decreases linearly for higher temperature values. These results suggest that phase change requires adjusting parameters to different heating rates in order to describe adequately the experimental data.