Detonation Performance of PBX 9502 at -55, 25 and 75 C

The detonation performance of the TATB-based insensitive high explosive PBX 9502 is affected by its initial temperature. Cooling the HE increases its density, heating decreases the density, while reaction rates are affected by the change in initial temperature. We compare the detonation performance of PBX 9502 at -55, 25 and 75 ⁰C through a series of rate-stick and cylinder expansion tests. We also present new measurements on the thermal expansion rates over this temperature range. A detonation shock dynamics model is used to study the relative propagation rates across the three temperatures for large and small diameter charges, while a product equation-of-state model is used to explore the change in confiner push.