Detonation properties and electrical conductivity of explosive–metal additive mixtures

Detonation properties of mixtures of condensed high explosives with metal additives are studied. A scheme of measurement of high electrical conductivity of detonation products ($\sigma>10$ $\Omega^{-1}$ $\cdot$ cm$^{-1}$) with a time resolution of $\sim10$ nsec is developed. It is shown that the properties of detonation products depend significantly on the content of the additive in the HE and on dispersion and density of the mixture. The electrical conductivity of detonation products of the compositions examined reaches $\sim5$ $\cdot$ $10^3$ $\Omega^{-1}$ $\cdot$ cm$^{-1}$, which is more than three orders higher than the electrical conductivity of the HE without the additive. Significant variation of electrical conductivity of detonation products over the conducting region thickness has been found. The main conductivity corresponds to a sector $\sim1$ mm long near the detonation front. The overdriven state of the detonation wave has a strong effect on electrical conductivity and conducting region thickness. It is assumed that the behavior of electrical conductivity with time is caused by successive processes of shock compression of the HE, excitation of the chemical reaction (including the reaction of the additive with detonation products), and expansion of detonation products. The measurement technique used is highly informative due to the possibility of studying detonation in various regimes.