Studies of stab initiation. Sensitization of lead azide by energetic sensitizers

Abstract

A series of 17 compounds which ignite and explode upon heating have been synthesized. Ignition temperatures range from 122º to 261º. The ability of these compounds to sensitize the primary explosive lead azide to stab initiation has been determined on 1 : 10 admixtures. The general trend observed was that stab initiation energies increase with sensitizer ignition temperature but the overall correlation is poor. An assessment of the dependence of the ratio of sensitizer to lead azide on stab initiation energies is also included for two of the compounds. The results are interpreted in terms of possible mechanisms for the initiation process and support the hypothesis that frictional processes are of primary importance.