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Advanced Energetic Materials (2004) / Chapter Skim
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4 Reactive Materials
Pages 20-23

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From page 20...
... However, the reactive fragment must hit a component of the target for the ignition of the reactive materials of the fragment and the initiation of subsequent reactions, either with itself or with parts of the target. Experimental firings against soft targets have shown enhanced blast damage, greatly increased observable external rupture damage, and potentially increased lethality when compared with conventional fragment performance.
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From page 21...
... Comparisons are made between reactive and inert fragments because of the near-term potential application of reactive fragments as direct replacements for inert fragments in existing fragmentation warheads. Th is com pa riven is shown i n Figu res 4-1 th rough 4 4.6 Figu re 4-1 i 11 ustrates the damage done by inert fragments to a guidance component of a missile.
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From page 22...
... The quantification of increased lethality is difficult owing to a number of uncertainties: Lack of confidence in the ignition of the reactive fragments; Questions regarding the energy transferred from a material of lower density than steel, Uncertainty about the overall probabilities of impacting the target, and Lack of knowledge about the physical integrity of the reactive fragments during launch. Energy release from reactive materials is potentially tunable, and other applications, such as reactive casings, shaped charge liners, and explosively formed penetrators, are envisioned.
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From page 23...
... Other materials such as thermoplastics should be investigated in greater detail with lower processing temperatures to allow the use of other metals. Requirements regardingthe material properties of reactive materials should be correlated with results in realistic warhead tests including probability of kill.
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Key Terms

  • reactive fragments
  • inert fragments
  • damage caused
  • reactive fragment
  • formed penetrators

  • energy release
  • guidance component
  • soft targets
  • explosively formed
  • increased lethality

  • charge liners
  • surface warfare
  • shown enhanced
  • improved damage
  • eglin air

  • hard target
  • lower density
  • fragment performance
  • force base
  • overall probabilities

  • warhead tests
  • potentially increased
  • cause visually
  • similar conditions
  • fragment development

  • shaped charge
  • destruction similar
  • ascertainable damage
  • experimental firings
  • experimental demonstrations


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