Desensitizing Waxes

Desensitizing Waxes

Desensitizing (phlegmatized) wax, when added to explosive compositions, functions as a binder and a lubricant for press-loaded and cast-loaded mixtures. Importantly, the added wax also desensitizes the explosive compositions, thus reducing the frequency of unintentional explosions, and controlling the detonation velocity or brisance. A significant criteria for such a desensitizing material are its thermal characteristics, in particular the ability to absorb large quantities of heat when temperatures rise above room temperature but below the desired ignition temperature.

Phlegmatization is another term used to describe this wax's stabilizing and desensitizing function. Without such waxes, it would be impossible to process many explosives during their transport or manufacture or to control the mixtures detonation velocity.

We supply desensitizing wax which complies with American MIL-W-20553D standard and British CS 5301C (Wax Special No. 6) standard.

Desensitizing waxes are an example of our thermal control and phase change wax technologies. See also microcrystalline waxes and phase change waxes.