Calorimetry studies of explosion heat of non-ideal explosives

Heats of explosion of non-ideal RDX-based compositions in four various atmospheres (argon, nitrogen, air and argon/oxygen mixture) were measured. Charges of phlegmatized RDX containing 30% of two types of aluminium powders, coarse aluminium oxide, or fine lithium fluoride particles were fired in a calorimetric bomb of 5.6 dm³ in volume. The influence of inert and reactive additives and the atmosphere filling the bomb on the heat outcome was examined. To estimate the degree of afterburning of the detonation products and reactive particles, thermochemical calculations were also performed for the tested explosive compositions.