Abstracts Chemistry

An impact sensitivity study of reactive materials

by Carl E. DeLong

"The impact sensitivity of a potassium chlorate, stabilized red phosphorous, Quso, and magnesium oxide mixture in a 34/14/4/2 ratio has been found to be about 18 ł 5 gram-centimeters for a 50% sensitivity to initiation. Chi-square tests at the 95% confidence level have determined that it is not possible to reject the hypothesis that the distribution is either normally distributed or log-normally distributed within the 50% range. Humidity, aging, and some additives were found to desensitize the mixture. Energy versus drop weight and test height curves show that momentum considerations are crucial over large test ranges in studies of impact sensitivity. Drop weight velocity and energy delivered to the reactants were determined to be the critical parameters. Sensitivity data for phosphorous and potassium chlorate mixtures and copper chlorotetrazole are presented and interpreted. A method for appraising the performance of the impact apparatus is included" – Abstract, p. ii.