DYNAMIC RECRYSTALLIZATION IN A TANTALUM SHAPED CHARGE

We have recently presented evidence for dynamic recrystallization in a copper shaped charge by comparing the grain structure and the substructure of the original liner cone with cross section view of a slug and a jet recovered from a similar detonated copper liner cone. Here we present comparisons of microstructures for annealed, undetonated (starting) tantalum shaped charge liner cone with cross sectional views of a recovered slug, and a jet fragment from a detonated tantalum liner cone. These observations provide even more compelling evidence for dynamic recrystallization in the shaped charge regime, and suggest that dynamic recrystallization constitutes the most apparent mechanism characterizing shaped charge and related explosively formed penetrator deformation phenomena, as recently suggested by Mayers, et al in the extreme deformation of pre-shock-hardened copper.