Process for the preparation of aluminum-containing high-energy explosive

Abstract

A castable high-energy explosive composition comprising trinitrotoluene (TNT) and crystalline explosives of the RDX or HMX type as well as aluminum powder, and, optionally, flegmatizing agents and stablizers consisting of wax, lecithin and nitrocellulose (NC), is prepared by dispersing crystals of RDX (or HMX) in water with wax, under heavy stirring and a temperature above the melting point of the wax, then adding aluminum powder, treated in order to tolerate water, to the dispersion, and then, optionally, cooling in order to separate the explosive as granules. A further step comprises melting and dispersing TNT in hot water under heavy stirring, optionally under the addition of wetted NC and lecithin, then reducing the temperature to below 80.degree. C., and separating the solidifying, dispersed explosive droplets in the form of granules. The final step comprises mixing the products from the former steps in specific ratios so as to provide the final explosive compositions known by the name 'Hexotonal' or 'Octonal', respectively. Alternatively, the mixtures of granules from the first two steps are melted together and cast on a drum, ribbon or plate, or the first two are combined in the same reactor before any part of the dispersed phases has solidified.