20MM Hexagon Ammunition

[Tomislav Haramincic]

Originally Posted by Ruy Horta

M-Geschoss, both 20mm and 30mm.

HTA-15 (45% Tri-nitrotoluol, 40% Hexogen & 15% Aluminium-Pyroschliff)
HA-41 (75% Hexogen, 20% Aluminium-Pyroschliff & 5% Montanwachs

Hello,

Hexogen (RDX) and TNT are the most common explosives used in military explosive compositions. The percentage of these two are set to achieve the desired detonation speed and detonation pressure.
Hexogen or RDX is the more powerfull one, as Juha already said, with density around 1.8 g/cm3.
TNT is less dense, around 1,65 g/cm3. So if you have two same shells and fill one with RDX and the other with TNT, the RDX round will be 35% more powerfull, but also approx. 5 times more sensitive (dificult to handle).
Aluminium dust is used to increase the detonation speed - side effect: it increases also the sensibility.
Wax used in a compositions is just one of many ways to reduce the detonaton speed and sensitivity. For the same purpose for example motor oil or saw dust are used.


regards,
Tomislav