Chemical Kinetic Modeling of HMX and TATB Laser Ignition Tests

Recent high-power laser deposition experiments on octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) and 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) produced ignition times from milliseconds to seconds. Global chemical kinetic thermal decomposition models for HMX and TATB developed to predict thermal explosion experiments lasting seconds to days are applied to these laser ignition experimental data. Excellent agreement was obtained for TATB, while the calculated ignition times were longer than experiment for HMX at lower laser fluxes. Inclusion of HMX melting and faster reaction for liquid HMX in the HMX decomposition model improved the agreement with experiment at lower laser energies.