Thiokol Corporation

Carlos Somoza

Lee C Estabrook

James A Blackwell

A process for reducing the particle size of particulate crystalline energetic material such as HMX or RDX by slurrying the particulate energetic particles in an inert liquid wherein the liquid coats the surfaces of the particles and introducing the slurried energetic particles at a predetermined pressure into a Microfluidizer.RTM. high-pressure grinding chamber wherein high-pressure interparticle collision reduces the mean particle size of the energetic particles, thereby reducing the sensitivity of the energetic material.

Process for reducing sensitivity in explosives

The particle size of a particulate energetic material such as HMX or RDX is reduced by introducing the energetic material as a water-containing slurry at less than 40 percent solids into a high velocity fluid stream in a fluid energy mill and controlling the fluid temperature, fluid velocity, and energetic material feed rate to achieve a particle size of about 10 microns or less.

Wet grinding of crystalline energetic materials

The particle size of energetic explosive materials is reduced by slurrying the particulate explosive materials in an inert liquid such as water or an aqueous solution, and subjecting the slurry to intense acoustic cavitation from an ultrasonic generator for a short time. The particulate explosive materials are rapidly ground to a small particle size while minimizing the danger of detonation.

Ultrasonic grinding of explosives

Occluded acidity in particulate explosives is removed by slurrying the particles in an inert liquid and subjecting the slurry to wet-grinding. The inert liquid may include an alkaline salt at or near saturation. Separation of the ground explosive particles from the liquid phase results in a ground explosive material with much reduced acidity.

Growing community of inventors

Minden, LA, United States of America

Carlos Somoza