US EPA

7684473 

Journal Article 

Safety aspects of slurry explosives 

van Ham, NHA; , 

2000 

SPRINGER 

DORDRECHT 

149-173 

WOS:000168052400019 

The Royal Dutch Navy in co-operation with TNO has developed a method to remove the explosives from munitions by means of high-pressure water jets. After separation of the explosives from the metal parts, munitions components can be reused. The TNT filling can be used as a component for industrial explosives, and the metal shells can be reused as practise rounds.Explosives that result from the dismantling of munitions cannot be reused in all cases, and must be disposed consequently. A possible way of disposing explosive waste is by incinerating of the explosives. During the incinerating of explosives there always will be the risk of an explosion. Due to the characteristics of the explosive, the physical and chemical reactions that might occur, a (slow) burning reaction might turn into a violent incineration or even a detonation. This will lead to loss of life and property.The most common way to suppress accidental reactions in explosives is to moisten the explosives with water. A mixture of at least 30 % water by weight is no longer classified as explosive. In order to prevent the settlement of the explosive in the water, additives are used resulting in stable slurry that can be stored for at least several months.To evaluate the possible risks during the handling and incineration of slurry, safety test were performed on slurry consisting of 50 % TNT and 50 % water. These tests included the sensitiveness towards impact, friction, electrostatic discharge and heat. The same tests were repeated with the dried slurry to investigate the possible risk of slurry spilling and subsequent drying of the slurry.Next step is to study the reaction of the slurry under confinement. This confinement may occur in the process equipment. Due to the confinement explosives usually show very high reaction rates and pressures. The slurry in the process equipment can be ignited by external heat sources, such as fire and short-circuiting. Tests include the Koenen test and the Deflagration to Detonation Transition (DDT) test.Most severe test is the detonation test. In this test the ability of the slurry to show a detonating reaction can be detected.The tests that were performed clearly showed that it was very difficult to ignite the slurry, once ignited no propagating reaction could be detected. Even a very strong shock wave from an adjacent detonating explosive dissipated in the slurry resulted in the fading out of a propagating shock wave.It was concluded that TNT slurry is safe to handle, safe to transport and safe to store. 

Machacek, O; 

0-7923-6697-2 

NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Application of Demilitarized Gun and Rocket Propellants in Commercial Explosives 

KRASNOARMEISK, RUSSIA