High Blast Explosive
High Blast Explosive, or HBX, is an explosive used as a bursting charge in missile warheads, mines, depth bombs, depth charges, and torpedoes.
History
It was developed during World War II as a desensitized modification of Torpex explosives.[1]
Properties
It is an aluminized (powdered aluminum) explosive having the same order of sensitivity as Composition B.[1]
Tests indicate that it will be about 98% to 100% as powerful as Torpex, that it will definitely be less sensitive than Torpex in both laboratory impact and bullet impact, that it will be slightly more sensitive in these respects than TNT, and that it will be about the same order as Composition B.[2]
A difficulty with HBX is that they produce gas and build up pressure in the case during stowage. It has been discovered that adding calcium chloride to the mixture will absorb all the moisture and eliminate the production of gas.[2]
Composition
There are three types of HBX explosives: HBX-1, HBX-3, and H-6. Below is each type's "Grade A" composition based on weight:[3]
- HBX-1
| Composition | Percent by weight |
|---|---|
| RDX plus nitrocellulose, calcium chloride and calcium silicate | 40.4 ± 3% |
| TNT | 37.8 ± 3% |
| Aluminum | 17.1 ± 3% |
| Wax plus lecithin | 4.7 ± 1% |
- HBX-3
| Composition | Percent by weight |
|---|---|
| RDX plus nitrocellulose, calcium chloride and calcium silicate | 31.3 ± 3% |
| TNT | 29.0 ± 3% |
| Aluminum | 34.8 ± 3% |
| Wax plus lecithin | 4.9 ± 1% |
- H-6
| Composition | Percent by weight |
|---|---|
| RDX plus nitrocellulose, calcium chloride and calcium silicate | 45.1 ± 3% |
| TNT | 29.2 ± 3% |
| Aluminum | 21.0 ± 3% |
| Wax plus lecithin | 4.7 ± 1% |