Ultrasonic Probe for Quality Measurement of Explosives Manufacturing

There is currently very limited in-process monitoring and control information for explosives manufacturing at the Army ammunition plants. The first quality measurement is often done well after all processing is complete. Unfortunately, the composition/quality of these explosives can vary significantly due to metering errors, process variations, and delivery blockages. Even a small variation in the mix composition can severely impact the performance, reliability, and safety of the explosive. This initiative would apply unique, ultrasonic-sensing technology to monitor the quality of explosives manufacturing. Ultrasound sensors can be completely isolated from the explosives, making it low power and safe for operators. Ultrasound can be used to continually monitor the composition, contaminants and load quality of explosives. The proposed effort would provide key quality measurements at an early stage rather than after the process is finished. For example, if significant variations in composition are detected during batch processing, adjustments to feed rates or mass balances could be changed to ensure final product quality. Phase II will pursue advanced development of an ultrasound probe for process monitoring of explosives manufacturing. The probe will be proved out at an Army Ammunition Plant and will be available for commercialization to both military and private sector companies.