R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

Susan Test
suitable shape to the powder granule (in a seven-hole powder, the
surface area increases during combustion, and the combustion is
therefore progressive); progressive combustion is also enhanced to a
considerable extent by surface treatment, i.e., by allowing phlegmatizing,
combustionretarding substances (such as Centralit, dibutyl phthalate,
camphor, dinitrotoluene, etc.) to soak into the powder. A careful
surface treatment is an excellent way of keeping the maximum pressure
peak of the combustion curve low.
Susan Test*)
The Susan Sensitivity Test is a projectile impact test. The explosive to
be tested is loaded into a projectile shown in Fig. 23 and thrown
against a steel target. The reaction on impact is recorded by measuring
the shock wave pressure by a gauge 10ft (3.1 m) away. The
percentage of the reaction (0 = no reaction; 40 = fast burning reactions;
70 = fully reacted TNT; 100 = detonation) is plotted against the
projectile velocity (0 to 1600 ft/s = 488 m/s). W Plastic Explosives with
rubberlike binders give better results than cast RDX/TNT mixtures.
Fig. 23. The Susan projectile.
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* Information, results, and figure obtained from Brigitta M. Dobratz, Properties
of Chemical Explosives and Explosive Simulants, publication UCEL-51 319,
University of California, Livermore.