A Thermal and Nanomechanical Study of Molecular Crystals as Versatile Mocks for Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate

摘要: Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) is a commonly used high explosive (HE) in detonators. Often, surrogate or “mock” materials are place of HE for mechanical tests, proofing out equipment, developing new diagnostics. However, there no accepted mock PETN. A good should match at least one physical property the target material, and ideally mimic multiple thermal properties. Here, we investigate several molecular crystals to evaluate their efficacy mocking PETN density, melting point, elastic modulus, hardness, plastic deformation, fracture behavior. Materials were tested with combination calorimetry nanoindentation. Two materials, 2,4,6-trifluorobenzoic acid (246 TFBA) mesoerythritol, downselected detailed indentation study after initial round screening experiments, both found behavior quite well, 246 TFBA closer most properties (hardness, density) than erythritol, but erythritol having advantages relative cost matching onset yield. Depending on desired implementation mock, material may be preferred over other, have potential as generic mocks Nanoindentation demonstrated versatile tool provide rapid these materials’