Fractoemission from cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) explosive single crystals

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Abstract
Production-grade Class D and laboratory-grown cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) explosive crystals were fractured in a vacuum (10−5 Pa) while viewed by particle detectors biased to separate positive and negative charge. Fracture was achieved by compressive loading (both production and laboratory crystals) and by three-point bending (laboratory crystals only). ‘‘Cleavage’’-type fracture resulted for several crystals subjected to three-point bending and yielded a sharp emission peak followed by rapid decay. Longer and more intense emission was observed for a few crystals broken in flexure which may correspond to more ‘‘energetic’’ fracture. Multiple fracture, involving surface frictional grinding, occurred for crystals that were compressed; in this case, relatively intense emission resulted which continued for several minutes after fracturing the crystals. These results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms.