Effect of the Al/O ratio on the Al reaction of aluminized RDX-based explosives

Aluminum (Al) powders are used in composite explosives as a typical reducing agent for improving explosion performance. To understand energy release of aluminum in aluminized RDX-based explosives, a series of thermal measurements and underwater explosion (UNDEX) experiments were conducted. Lithium fluoride (LiF) was added in RDX-based explosives, as a replacement of aluminum, and used in constant temperature calorimeter experiments and UNDEXs. The influence of aluminum powder on explosion heat (Q_v) was measured. A rich supply of data about aluminum energy release rate was gained. There are other oxides (CO₂, CO, and H₂O) in detonation products besides alumina when the content of RDX is maintained at the same levels. Aluminum cannot fully combine with oxygen in the detonation products. To study the relationship between the explosive formulation and energy release, pressure and impulse signals in underwater experiments were recorded and analyzed after charges were initiated underwater. The shock wave energy (Esk), bubble energy (E_b), and total energy (E_t) monotony increase with the Al/O ratio, while the growth rates of the shock wave energy, bubble energy, and total energy become slow.