Dynamic Isentropic Compression of Mock Polymer-Bonded Explosive*

95 wt% idoxuridine (IDOX) combined with 2.5 wt% estane is a viable mock material for the explosive, PBX-9501. IDOX closely mimics the high explosive cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX) in terms of thermal stability, density, and mechanical properties under static compression [1]. To expand the material characterization of IDOX into dynamic conditions, we perform shock and ramp compression experiments on the compressed gas-driven gun and compact pulsed power machine Thor, respectively, both housed in Sandia’s Dynamic Integrated Compression Experimental (DICE) facility. Preliminary shock Hugoniot results show the response of mixed IDOX and estane is similar to its reactive counterpart, PBX-9501. High strain rate results from Thor experiments will be used for calibration and validation of Direct Numerical Simulations within the Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program Center on particulate materials research.

1. Yeager, J. D., Woznick, C. S., Thompson, D. G., Duque, A. L., Liu, C., Burch, A. C., ... & Bahr, D. F. (2018, July). Development of a new density and mechanical mock for HMX. In Proceedings of the 16th International Detonation Symposium (pp. 1631-41).