Pressure dependent laser induced decomposition of RDX

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Abstract
The pressure dependence of laser induced decomposition of RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) and RDX-d6 has been studied from ambient pressure to 5.2 GPa. RDX samples were loaded in Merrill-Bassett anvil cells and cooled to a minimum of 23 K at the desired starting pressure. Individual samples were each exposed to a single 8 ns pulse of 532 nm light from a Nd:YAG laser. Thermal transport from the decomposing RDX and RDX-d6 into the anvils arrested the decomposition, enabling the identification of intermediates and products formed under high pressure-high heating rate conditions. A two dimensional finite elements model was employed to estimate the quenching rates and heat flow within the samples. Single crystals, pressed powders, and solutions were studied to determine the effect of mechanical stress on the sensitivity towards laser initiation. The threshold energy for reaction initiation and product distribution is given as a function of pressure.

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