Secondary high explosive booster, and method of making and method of using same

An explosive booster, which comprises a secondary high explosive material of PYX having an average density of from 1.2 to 1.45 g./cc. such that the material is capable of receiving a detonation from another explosive material across a discontinuity interposed between the booster and said other explosive material to be detonated, capable of detonating in response to said received detonation, and capable of transmitting said responsive detonation to yet another secondary high explosive mass to effect detonation thereof.

A method for producing an explosive booster capable of accepting a detonation, which comprises compacting an increment of secondary high explosive material of HMX secondary high explosive material having a particle size of less than 45 microns at a pressure of from 5,000 psi to 45,000 psi to a density such that the booster is capable of receiving a detonation from another secondary high explosive mass across a discontinuity interposed between the booster and said other mass, capable of detonating in response to said received detonation, and capable of transmitting said responsive detonation to yet another secondary high explosive mass to effect detonation thereof.

A method for producing an explosive booster capable of accepting a detonation, which comprises compacting an increment of secondary high explosive material of PYX secondary high explosive material having a particle size of less than 45 microns at a pressure of from 5,000 psi to 30,000 psi to a density such that the booster is capable of receiving a detonation from another secondary high explosive mass across a discontinuity interposed between the booster and said other mass, capable of detonating in response to said received detonation, and capable of transmitting said responsive detonation to yet another secondary high explosive mass to effect detonation thereof.

An explosive booster adapted to be affixed to a secondary high explosive mass, said booster comprising a housing and disposed therein a secondary high explosive material of HMX having an average density of from 1.2 to 1.7 g./cc. such that the booster is capable of receiving a detonation from another explosive material across a discontinuity interposed between the booster and said other explosive material to be detonated, capable of detonating in response to said received detonation, and capable of transmitting said responsive detonation to yet another secondary high explosive mass to effect detonation thereof.

An explosive booster adapted to be affixed to a secondary high explosive mass, said booster comprising a housing and disposed therein the secondary high explosive material PYX having an average density of from 1.2 to 1.45 g./cc. of density such that the booster is capable of receiving a detonation from another explosive material across a discontinuity interposed between the booster and said other explosive material to be detonated, capable of detonating in response to said received detonation, and capable of transmitting said responsive detonation to yet another secondary high explosive mass to effect detonation thereof.