Microwave Induced Decomposition of High Explosives from Loaded Munitions

The United States Navy has numerous projectiles/munitions loaded with explosives such as Explosive D, which present problems with demilitarization. Explosive D which has been pressed into and removed from projectiles or other ammunitions is much more sensitive than new or unused material. Therefore, reclaimed material should not be pressed or loaded into ammunition items until it has been recrystallized. Apart from recrystallization cost, removal from the Projectiles Or ammunition could be risky because of the sensitivity changes due to aging. Therefore, there is a need to develop a safe and cost effective technology which would convert Explosive D into commercially usable product in an environmentally acceptable manner. Conducting Materials Corp. (CMC) has developed a cost effective microwave technology known as "Microwave Induced Rotational Excitation Technology" (MIRET). This technology can convert high explosives like HMX, RDX, TNT into commercial products. An attractive attribute of this technology is that it can selectively decompose one high explosive in the presence of other constituents. Additionally since metal does not absorb microwaves MIRET can be employed to decompose a desired high explosive such as Explosive D, in situ, without it being removed from the projectile or munitions.