cutefix
August 21st, 2002, 07:55 PM
Baratol was used in early nuclear warheads as being the slow explosive, having a detonation rate of about 4500 meters per second.It was applied in high explosive lens system such as described in:
<a href="http://nuketesting.enviroweb.org/hew/Nwfaq/Nfaq8.html" target="_blank">http://nuketesting.enviroweb.org/hew/Nwfaq/Nfaq8.html</a>
The High Explosive Lens System
"The entire high explosive implosion system made a layer some 47 cm thick weighing at least 2500 kg. This system consisted of 32 explosive lenses; 20 of them hexagonal, and 12 pentagonal. The lenses fitted together in the same pattern as a soccer ball, forming a complete spherical explosive assembly that was 140 cm wide. Each lens had three pieces: two made of high velocity explosive, and one of low velocity explosive. The outermost piece of high velocity explosive had a conical cavity in its inner surface into which fitted an appropriately shaped piece of slow explosive. These mated pieces formed the actual lens that shaped a convex, expanding shock wave into a convex converging one. An inner piece of high velocity explosive lay next to the aluminum sphere to amplify the convergent shock. The lenses were made by precision casting, so explosives that could be melted were used. The main high explosive was Composition B, a mixture of 60% RDX - a very high velocity but unmeltable explosive, 39% TNT - a good explosive that is easy to melt, and 1% wax. The slower second explosive was Baratol, it is a mixture of TNT and barium nitrate of variable composition (TNT is typically 25-33% of the mixture) with 1% wax as a binder. The high density of barium nitrate gives baratol a density of at least 2.5. "
I t was reputedly used in early English grenades ;
<a href="http://www.defence.gov.au/army/uxo/gren36M.html" target="_blank">http://www.defence.gov.au/army/uxo/gren36M.html</a>
“A British Service fragmentation grenade, the 36M contained approximately 2.5oz of explosives (Baratol or TNT). The filling Baratol and a new waterproofing were first used for grenades used in Mesopotamia, hence the 'M' in the designation. The 36M was hand thrown or when fitted with a gas check plate was fired from the .303 rifle.”
In early grenades many explosives were tested including nitrostarch which are weaker explosives.If the grenade surface is corrugated it does not need much force to form suitable antipersonnel fragmentation.Threfore a blend of known explosive with alternative nitrates is feasibl even if its capable of producing VOD in the range of 4000 meters per second.
Therefore in the application it was added for the purpose of slowing down the detonation rate enabling the formation of a planar wave pattern from the shock wave in the detonation of fast explosive behind it.The change of wave pattern will then enable the compression of fissle components to achieve nuclear detonation.It is notable that the ratio between the TNT and Barium nitrate was in favor of the metallic nitrate.Hence any blend of alternative nitrate can be feasible.There was a tested formulation that even used lead nitrate to form plumbatol which was used in the same way as baratol in nukes.There was a case that even inert salts was admixed with TNT in these system(using boric acid to form boracitol).
If these reasoning is applied then its possible strontim nitrate can be blended with organic nitrate to form binary explosive mixtures.
However this strontium nitrate practical use in pyrotechny was for the fornmation of red flames.It may cost more that well known nitrates(such as NH4NO3,NaNO3,KNO3,etc so not cost effective practically for explosive composition.
However one of the advantage of strontium nitrate is its not as deliquescent as other metallic nitrates;that is why it has found use as oxidant in gas generating system-See USPTO 6,221,322
where its synthesis is listed as well a brief description of its peculiarities.
"Strontium nitrate emits red light when ignited, and is thus predominantly used as a material for smoke candles. Strontium nitrate is used in small amounts as a lighting material for briquettes, as well as an intermediate starting material for semiconductors, fluorescents, and the like.
In another recent application, the compound* has come to be used as an oxidant for gas generation in automotive airbags due to this compound's low deliquescence or hygroscopicity, relative stability against heat, and the like. Metal oxidizers have been used in the past as oxidants for the gas-generating agents of airbags, but these oxidizers cannot necessarily be considered as having adequate deliquescence, hygroscopicity, stability against heat, or the like, and a transition to strontium nitrate has gradually come about, as described above. "
Just like anthony said it can have possible application in some binary explosives he succesfully did with KNO3/NM and NaNO3/NM.
<small>[ August 21, 2002, 09:01 PM: Message edited by: cutefix ]</small>