Testing and Inspection of Interface Corrosion of the DBX-1 and MIC Primer Components and Ammunition Housings

Development of new lead-free replacements for lead styphnate and lead azide-based munition formulations made necessary to re-examine possible compatibility problems with current and future materials used for selecting adequate ammunition housings. Moreover, the compatibility/corrosion problems could be inherently associated with processing technology and therefore this aspect should be addressed before of munitions production begins. The main goals of the proposed Phase I SBIR project are to: 1) develop a testing and inspection methodology for the assessment of corrosion effects from interaction of the lead-free energetic materials and ammunition housing in liquid solvents, especially water; and 2) establish a method of evaluation of the lead-free energetic materials after exposure to the reactive environments (oxygen, water vapor). The key R&D objectives are: i) analysis of compatibility/corrosion of the components of ammunition that uses DBX-1 and MIC in igniter devices and investigation of corrosion of selected primer components in the presence of liquid water by use of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS); ii) design of a protocol for testing a primer’s chemical and structural components exposed to water vapor in an Isothermal Microcalorimeter (IC), and iii) correlate EIS and IC test results with energetic viability of the primer mixture affected by water vapor.