Experimental determination of TNT equivalence values for binary energetic materials

TNT equivalency quantifies the impact of energetic materials relative to TNT, aiding in safety guidelines and performance evaluations. Despite widespread use in industry, military, and research, many binary energetics lack published TNT equivalence values. This study experimentally determines TNT equivalency values for Helix, Texpak, Rimfire, Tannerite, and Kinepak using three tests: (1) plate dent, (2) reaction velocity and (3) air blast. Each test evaluates distinct aspects of energetic performance, addressing both close-in destructive power and downstream effects. Helix produced TNT equivalence values from 0.64 to 1.10, comparable to TNT, while Kinepak had lower values (0.18 to 0.58) indicating limited brisance, but higher air-blast impulse. Tannerite and Rimfire did not produce dent values due to low brisance; with reaction velocity and air blast TNT equivalence values ranging from 0.18 to 0.71. Commercial AN-based energetics consistently produced low TNT equivalence values, while commercial liquid energetics show values closer to TNT. Synthetic AN-based energetics lack the brisance found in other energetics but effectively produced gas and overpressure. These findings emphasize the importance of considering the characteristics of energetic materials and test type when determining TNT equivalence. Plate dent and reaction velocity tests are suggested for assessing close-in destructive power, while air-blast tests are suitable for evaluating downstream effects.