IMX-101
Explosive mixture From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
IMX-101 is a high-performance insensitive high explosive composite mixture developed by BAE Systems and the United States Army to replace TNT in artillery shells.[1][2][3][4] IMX stands for "Insensitive Munitions eXplosives", which refers to the purpose of IMX-101: to provide explosive force equivalent to TNT without its sensitivity to shocks such as gunfire, explosions from improvised explosive devices, fire, and shrapnel. For example, it is believed that a training incident in Nevada which killed seven Marines would not have occurred with the new explosive. On March 23, 2013, the United States Army ordered $780 million worth of the explosive, with a production of millions of pounds annually, to be produced by BAE at Holston Army Ammunition Plant in Tennessee.[5] The new explosive will cost $8 per pound, compared to $6 per pound for TNT.[6] As of 2023, IMX-101 filled shells are being used in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7]
Time Magazine called IMX-101 one of the "50 best inventions of 2010".[6]
Composition
Summarize
Perspective
IMX-101 is composed of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), nitrotriazolone (NTO), and nitroguanidine (NQ).[5] The nominal composition is 43.5 wt% DNAN, 36.8 wt% NQ, and 19.7 wt% NTO.[8][9][10] Trace amounts of N-methyl-p-nitroaniline (MNA) are included in some formulations to aid in processing.[11][12] A formulation containing about 24 wt% aluminum and 76 wt% IMX-101 is called ALIMX-101 and is currently being investigated as an insensitive replacement for H6 and PBXN-109 in Mk82-style bombs.[13]
| Formulation | Key Ingredients | Replaces | Purpose | Qualification Status (2012) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMX-101 | DNAN + NTO + NQ | TNT | Artillery and other large caliber munitions | Material qualified; Type qualified for 155mm M795, on-going for 155mm M1122 and 105mm projectiles |
| IMX-104 | DNAN + NTO + RDX | Comp B | Mortar applications | Material qualified; Type qualification on-going for 81mm mortar, 60mm & 120mm to follow |
| PAX-48 | DNAN + NTO + HMX | Comp B | Mortar and tank ammunition | Material qualified; Type qualification achieved for 120mm IM HE-T tracer round (NAMMO) |
| OSX-12 | DNAN + NTO + RDX + Al | PAX-28 | High blast applications | Material under evaluation |
| PAX-21 Picatinny arsenal explosive | DNAN + RDX + AP + MNA (N-methyl-p-nitroaniline) | Main fill for the 60mm M768 Mortar Rounds | Currently in-use in theater | |
| PAX-41 | DNAN + RDX + MNA | Main fill for the Spider Grenade, thus a low critical diameter is required.[14] |
The performance of PAX-28, a thermobaric, containing a mixture of RDX, DNAN, Al, AP and MNA was found to have an indoor explosive equivalency factor of 1.62 when compared to Composition B.[12] OSX-12 is being studied as a replacement to PAX-28.[citation needed]
Processing
Like Composition B, IMX formulations are melt-castable without thermal degradation, and are thus processed into munitions by a melt pour process starting with a batch melt kettle heated by a steam heat exchanger.[15][16]
See also
- M107 projectile
- XM1128 projectile
Further reading
References
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