'Neutralization of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) by Destruction of Explosive Lead'

摘要

Weapons which fail to explode are a danger to all who come in contact with the devices as they lay on the battlefield. Radiation Effects Research Associates (RERA) and Maegerlein Materials Investigations (MMI) received a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract to address the neutralization of these weapons once they have failed to detonate. The fuze train of most weapons have a detonator (electrical or stab), an energetic lead, and a booster that cause eventual detonation of the weapon. The SBIR contractors have designed three neutralization features, each of which could be adapted by most fuze designs to prevent ordnance from unintended function. Two of the neutralization concepts are designed to interrupt the transfer of the firing train to the main fill explosive by degrading the performance of the explosive lead to the point the initiation of the booster is not possible. A chemical is contained in a glass vial which shatters upon weapon impact with the target. If the weapon has armed properly and detonates, the neutralization feature will have no effect on the correct sequence of firing. However, if the weapon fails to arm or detonate, the chemical from the neutralization feature will begin to harm the lead energetic material causing it to be unable to function from action of the detonator. A second method is to use a curing adhesive/sealant to form a hard protective coating over the lead to prevent the detonator from firing the lead. In both cases within a short time the energetic lead will not be able to function from action of the detonator. This paper will provide information and progress on the two neutralization techniques.