A study of the interaction between the components of heterogeneous explosives by the electrical-conductivity method

The detonation of TNT/RDX alloys is studied by the electrical-conductivity method. The measurement technique is developed with correction for the deformation of electrodes in the explosion. The maximum electrical conductivity of pure TNT was $\approx$25 $\Omega^{-1}$ $\cdot$ cm$^{-1}$. The addition of RDX decreases the electrical conductivity and width of the conducting zone, which, is, apparently, connected with the formation of diamond. It is shown that the RDX particle size plays an important role. With equal mass fraction, the conductivity of the sample is several times smaller for micron particles than for millimeter particles. This fact is explained by the different degree of mixing of the detonation products of the heterogeneous-explosive components.