Abstract: A method is provided for making blast explosive molding powder. According to an aspect of the invention, energetic solids and a metal powder are suspended in a bulk phase fluid. Lacquer is added to an energetic solids and metal powder suspension to achieve a super-saturated solution. Final granulation of the super-saturated solution is optimized to form a fluidized metallized energetic molding powder. The fluidized metallized energetic molding powder is distilled to remove an organic solvent component of the lacquer, which is reclaimed through distillation. The bulk phase fluid is decanted to recover a wet metallized energetic molding powder. The bulk phase fluid is reclaimed through distillation. The wet metallized energetic molding powder is dried to form a dry metallized energetic molding powder. This method is especially useful in making insensitive enhanced blast explosive molding powders with high metal powder content.

Abstract: A pressable explosive composition is provided. The composition includes at least 40 weight percent of substantially uncoated fuel particles, a nitramine mechanically blended with the substantially uncoated fuel particles, and a binder coating the nitramine. The binder constitutes about 1 to about 6 weight percent of the pressable explosive composition. Also provided are a pressed thermobaric explosive, weapons containing the pressed thermobaric explosive, and methods for making the composition and thermobaric explosive.

Abstract: A pressable explosive composition is provided. The composition includes at least 40 weight percent of substantially uncoated fuel particles, a nitramine mechanically blended with the substantially uncoated fuel particles, and a binder coating the nitramine. The binder constitutes about 1 to about 6 weight percent of the pressable explosive composition. Also provided are a pressed thermobaric explosive, weapons containing the pressed thermobaric explosive, and methods for making the composition and thermobaric explosive.

Abstract: A process for mitigating shear induced particle migration of highly filled explosive suspensions during injection loading of the explosive suspension into a confined container that includes monitoring particle migration within the highly filled explosive suspension and correcting flow parameters effective to reduce the particle migration.

Abstract: Apparatus for injection molding highly viscous materials in which incoming high-viscosity material flows through a supply conduit (24) and is divided into strands by splitter plates (58) as it flows into an evacuated chamber (52) and is degassed. When the chamber is full, the supply of high-viscosity material is interrupted and the chamber (52) is rotated to an injecting station while another chamber (54) swings to the degassing station for filling. At the injecting station, a piston (100) is lowered to engage the high-viscosity material in the first chamber (52), and a mold table is rotated to register a mold with a vacuum shroud (128') and the mold is lifted into the shroud. The piston (100) is further lowered in controlled increments to inject a quantity of high-viscosity material sufficient to fill a mold, then stop in place while the filled mold is removed and empty molds are sequentially inserted for filling.

Abstract: Fluid products, particularly highly filled materials, are manufactured and cast in a continuous system utilizing feedforward composition quality control and plug flow. Liquid and solid raw are supplied to, and combined in, a continuous fluid flow system in which plug flow is established. Quantities of materials supplied are measured and averaged over time to determine composition proportions, which are compared to specification. Running averages are maintained for successive serial portions of the continuous plug flow stream. In-specification product is diverted to casting and off-specification to waste, after a time delay so that appropriate diversion is accomplished for each particular, composition-determined serial portion of the product flowstream.