Propellants Explosives Pyrotechnics, Vol.30, No.5, 344-350, 2005
Coefficient of thermal expansion of the beta and delta polymorphs of HMX
Dimensional changes related to temperature cycling of the beta and delta polymorphs of HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7- tetrazocine) are important for a variety of applications. coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of beta and delta phases are measured over a temperature range of -20 degrees C to 215 degrees C by thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA). Dimensional changes associated with the phase transition were also measured, and the time-temperature dependence of the dimensional change is consistent with phase transition kinetics measured earlier by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). One HMX sample measured by TMA during its initial heating and again three days later during a second heating showed the beta-to-delta phase transition a second time, thereby indicating back conversion from delta-to-beta phase HMX during those three days. DSC was used to measure kinetics of the delta-to-beta back conversion. The most successful approach was to first heat the material to create the delta phase, then after a given period at room temperature, measure the heat absorbed during a second pass through the beta-to-delta phase transition. Back conversion at room temperature follows nucleation-growth kinetics.