Explosive decomposition of pentaerythritol tetranitrate pellets containing nickel nanoparticles with various radii

The kinetics of the explosive decomposition of pressed pentaerythritol tetranitrate pellets containing nickel nanoparticles with various radii has been investigated experimentally, with the explosion initiated by a neodymium laser pulse (wavelength, 1064 nm; pulse duration at half-height, 14 ns), and probability curves for this process have been recorded. The experimental values of critical initiation energy density corresponding to 50% explosion probability are 0.9, 0.7, and 1.4 J/cm2 at a nickel particle radius of 67, 78, and 138 nm, respectively. The initial time interval in which the intensity of light emission accompanying the explosive decomposition increases begins during the action of the pulse and is described by a Gaussian function with an effective constant of k = (1.4 ± 0.1) × 108 s–1, which is independent of the nanoparticle radius. Experimental data of this study can be interpreted within the micro-hotspot model of thermal explosion.