Disposal of Non-Stockpile Chemical Weapons by Controlled Detonation

摘要

In many countries, important efforts are developed to destroy old and abandoned chemical weapons. One of the promising technologies is the Controlled Detonation Chamber (CDC). Belgium has selected this technology for the destruction of shells containing agent CLARK (diphenylchloro-arsine). The mechanical dismantling/disposal of such shells poses a problem since the chemical warfare agent (CWA) is usually contaminated with the relatively large explosive charge and, therefore, CWA cannot be safely removed nor incinerated. In Japan, the Kanda project has demonstrated similarly the intrinsic capability of the CDC technology to destroy efficiently toxic munitions. To achieve the full maturity of the technology, more investigation is needed, inter alia on the donor charges, in order to improve the chemical destruction rate efficiency, to ease the preparatory operation, and to reduce damages to the chamber... Various types of explosive donor charges are tested. Small and large scale experiments permit to give a better understanding of the fragmentation process and the characteristics of the fragments. Important conclusions may be drawn from this investigation, leading to major potential improvements of the functioning of the CDC disposal technology.