We report proton transmission images obtained during direct heating of a sample of PBX 9501 (a plastic bonded formulation of the explosive nitramine octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX)) prior to the ignition of a thermal explosion. We describe the application of proton radiography using the 800 MeV proton accelerator at Los Alamos National Laboratory to obtain transmission images in these thermal explosion experiments. We have obtained images at two spatial magnifications and viewing both the radial and the transverse axes of a solid cylindrical sample encased in aluminum. During heating we observe the slow evolution of proton transmission through the samples, with particular detail during material flow associated with the HMX β-δ phase transition. We also directly observe the loss of solid density to decomposition associated with elevated temperatures in the volume defining the ignition location in these experiments. We measure a diameter associated with this volume of 1–2 mm, in agreement with previous estimations of the diameter using spatially resolved fast thermocouples.
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15 May 2012
Research Article|
May 18 2012
The evolution of solid density within a thermal explosion. I. Proton radiography of pre-ignition expansion, material motion, and chemical decomposition
L. Smilowitz;
L. Smilowitz
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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B. F. Henson;
B. F. Henson
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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J. J. Romero;
J. J. Romero
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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B. W. Asay;
B. W. Asay
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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A. Saunders;
A. Saunders
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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F. E. Merrill;
F. E. Merrill
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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C. L. Morris;
C. L. Morris
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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K. Kwiatkowski;
K. Kwiatkowski
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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G. Grim;
G. Grim
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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F. Mariam;
F. Mariam
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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C. L. Schwartz;
C. L. Schwartz
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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G. Hogan;
G. Hogan
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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P. Nedrow;
P. Nedrow
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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M. M. Murray;
M. M. Murray
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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T. N. Thompson;
T. N. Thompson
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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C. Espinoza;
C. Espinoza
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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D. Lewis;
D. Lewis
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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J. Bainbridge;
J. Bainbridge
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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W. McNeil;
W. McNeil
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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P. Rightley;
P. Rightley
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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M. Marr-Lyon
M. Marr-Lyon
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos
, New Mexico 87545, USA
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J. Appl. Phys. 111, 103515 (2012)
Article history
Received:
October 24 2011
Accepted:
April 02 2012
Connected Content
A companion article has been published:
The evolution of solid density within a thermal explosion II. Dynamic proton radiography of cracking and solid consumption by burning
Citation
L. Smilowitz, B. F. Henson, J. J. Romero, B. W. Asay, A. Saunders, F. E. Merrill, C. L. Morris, K. Kwiatkowski, G. Grim, F. Mariam, C. L. Schwartz, G. Hogan, P. Nedrow, M. M. Murray, T. N. Thompson, C. Espinoza, D. Lewis, J. Bainbridge, W. McNeil, P. Rightley, M. Marr-Lyon; The evolution of solid density within a thermal explosion. I. Proton radiography of pre-ignition expansion, material motion, and chemical decomposition. J. Appl. Phys. 15 May 2012; 111 (10): 103515. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4711071
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