High Blast Explosive

Type of explosive From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

High Blast Explosive, or HBX, is an explosive used as a bursting charge in missile warheads, mines, depth bombs, depth charges, and torpedoes.

History

It was developed during World War II as a desensitized modification of Torpex explosives.[1]

Properties

It is an aluminized (powdered aluminum) explosive having the same order of sensitivity as Composition B.[1]

Tests indicate that it is about 98% to 100% as powerful as Torpex, that it is definitely less sensitive than Torpex in both laboratory impact and bullet impact, that it is slightly more sensitive in these respects than TNT, and that it is about the same order as Composition B.[2]

A difficulty with HBX is that water slowly reacts with aluminium powder and produces hydrogen gas, building up pressure in the case during storage. It was discovered that adding calcium chloride to the mixture will absorb all the moisture and eliminate the gassing.[2]

Composition

There are three types of HBX explosives: HBX-1, HBX-3, and H-6. Below is each type's "Grade A" composition based on weight:[3]

  • HBX-1
More information Composition, Percent by weight ...
CompositionPercent by weight
RDX plus nitrocellulose, calcium chloride and calcium silicate40.4 ± 3%
TNT37.8 ± 3%
Aluminum17.1 ± 3%
Wax plus lecithin4.7 ± 1%
Close
  • HBX-3
More information Composition, Percent by weight ...
CompositionPercent by weight
RDX plus nitrocellulose, calcium chloride and calcium silicate31.3 ± 3%
TNT29.0 ± 3%
Aluminum34.8 ± 3%
Wax plus lecithin4.9 ± 1%
Close
  • H-6
More information Composition, Percent by weight ...
CompositionPercent by weight
RDX plus nitrocellulose, calcium chloride and calcium silicate45.1 ± 3%
TNT29.2 ± 3%
Aluminum21.0 ± 3%
Wax plus lecithin4.7 ± 1%
Close

References

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