Manufacturing of PAX-3 High Explosive

Authors: Sean Swaszek, Phil Samuels, Dr. Paul Anderson, Katherine Guraini

Abstract

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The manufacturing methods of processing controls of explosives play an important role in maintaining the quality of explosive formulations. PAX-3 is an explosive formulation that is of interest to the Army for use in gun launch munitions and grenades. PAX-3 shows improved shock and Insensitive Munition (IM) response as compared with traditional explosive fills. ARDEC developed the explosive formulation PAX-3 utilizing a twin screw extrusion mixing method. This is a continuous process in which a two part mixture is fed into the extruder, which uses high shear mixing to produce PAX-3. Currently, ARDEC is also pursuing an alternate formulation process of PAX-3 production in a single batch 500 gallon slurry coating process. Efforts for qualification of explosives often requires a significant amount of resources to complete all required testing. ARDEC is evaluating the material produced from these two methods to assess PAX-3 safety, long-term aging, and maintaining similar sensitivity and performance characteristics according to AOP-7. Cost and acquisition time are also responses of interest.

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