Deflagration-to-detonation transition in granular pentaerythritol tetranitrate

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Abstract
The deflagration‐to‐detonation transition process has been observed in pressed granular columns of the explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate. Charges were confined within a steel housing which had been fitted with a polycarbonate window to allow direct recording by high‐speed streak photography. The explosive was thermally ignited by a gasless pyrotechnic mixture to minimize pre‐pressurization of the charge. The results indicate that upon ignition, early choked flow of the combustion gases prevents the continued propagation of the combustion via a convective heat transfer mechanism and that the propagation of reaction becomes governed by a leading compaction wave which causes ignition through the mechanical formation of hot spots. Detonation finally occurs when the leading front of an accelerating plug of highly compacted material (density close to the theoretical maximum) formed between the reaction front and the leading compaction wave, attains the critical pressure necessary for shock‐to‐detonation transition.

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