Compressive Behavior of TATB Grains inside TATB-Based PBX Revealed by In-Situ Neutron Diffraction

We investigate the (002) lattice strain evolution of triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB) grains inside one TATB-based plastic bonded explosive (PBX) through the in-situ neutron diffraction. By comparing the untreated specimen with the thermal-treated one, it is found that the volume-average response of measured TATB grains remains nearly elastic during quasi-static uniaxial compression. The observed changes in TATB (002) lattice strains correlate tightly with the evolution of damage. A damage parameter defined by the macroscopically determined residual strain is further used to describe the damage degree of PBX, which suggests that the compressive behavior of TATB-based PBX is significantly influenced by the damage evolution.