High Performance, Low Sensitivity: The Impossible (or Possible) Dream?

Abstract

After mentioning methods for quantifying detonation performance and sensitivity, we proceed to discuss some factors that govern these properties. To enhance the likelihood of an explosive having high performance in conjunction with low or moderate sensitivity, it should have (a) a high density, and (b) a large number of moles of gaseous detonation products per gram of explosive, and should avoid having (c) a strongly positive electrostatic potential in the central portion of its molecular surface, (d) a large amount of free space per molecule in its crystal lattice, and (e) a large maximum heat of detonation. In particular, we demonstrate that a large heat of detonation is unnecessary from the standpoint of performance and undesirable from the standpoint of sensitivity. We summarize some specific molecular features that may help to satisfy the guidelines listed above.