Ultrasonic Fragmentation of Cast Energetic Materials

"Demilitarization of obsolete and aging munitions has slowed dramatically with the loss of open burning and open detonation options. This has created a need for a fast, efficient, environmentally acceptable alternative for explosives removal. Toalleviate this problem, TPL proposes the ultrasonic fracturing and removal of cast explosives from shells in a single remote operation. This will be accomplished with an ultrasonic probe and transmission/transport medium which will be determined in thisstudy. The focus of the program will be to find the most effective system which will also minimize hazardous waste and operations hazards. Small scale testing will be accomplished in a detonation chamber with scale-up to a system to remotely removeexplosive directly from shells. Circulation and separation techniques will be developed for integration with the chosen medium and process requirements. TPL is active in numerous areas of energetic material research and is known for formulation and full scale chemical process development primarily for demilitarization activities for the Army, Navy, Air Force and BMDO. This research project would develop an ultrasonic system for the removal of materials from the interior of pipes or vessels without the need for dismantling or entering the pipe or vessel. It would also create very little, if any, hazardous waste and would not require high heat or pressure.A huge variety of commercial business