LASER INITIATION OF THE DECOMPOSITION OF ENERGETIC POLYMERS - SHOCK-WAVE FORMATION

Irradiation of the energetic polymer GAP (glycidyl azido polymer) by a high power pulsed IR laser leads to its rapid decomposition. A large amount of solid and gaseous material is released, and, in the presence of an inert gas, a shock wave develops. Comparison with an inert polymer indicates that the energy released by the exothermicity of the decomposition reaction contributes significantly to the shock's formative energy. The energy released in the micro-explosion can be estimated from the analysis of the shock's front propagation velocity.