Browsing by Author "Claydon, Andrew"

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    Andrew Claydon PhD
    (Cranfield University, 2020-11-27 10:15) Gill, Philip; Claydon, Andrew; Gaulter, Sally; Kister, Guillaume
    Current Polymer Bonded Explosive (PBX) formulation is limited by a compromise - optimised final properties against processability. While explosive content would ideally be maximised and plasticiser content ideally minimised, the formulation would become too viscous to cast and require arduous mixing processes using conventional techniques. However, with Resonant Acoustic Mixing (RAM), formulation does not have to be constrained. Instead of mixing blades, mixing is achieved using an oscillating platform to impart acoustic pressure waves (vibrations) into the mixture. Mixing is orders of magnitude faster than conventionally achievable, and the added ability to mix in the end use casing (mixing ‘in-situ’) also renders casting obsolete in many scenarios. The research aim of the PhD is to assess how machine control and vessel design can be altered to optimise the mixing mechanism and compare material properties of composites mixed ‘in-situ’ and ‘mixed and cast’.
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    The Effects of Processing Variables on Resonant Acoustic Mixed Polymer Bonded Explosives
    (Cranfield University, 2018-11-23 10:40) Claydon, Andrew
    Poster presented at the 2018 Defence and Security Doctoral Symposium.Polymer Bonded Explosives (PBXs) are composite materials which consist of high explosive crystals bound in a polymer matrix. During manufacture, the crystals are dispersed throughout a liquid prepolymer, which is then cured into a crosslinked elastomeric solid. Dispersion can be achieved with Resonant Acoustic Mixing (RAM), a novel mixing technique which uses a vibrating platform to create longitudinal acoustic pressure waves which agitate the mixture. This work describes the outcomes of a comparison between the effects of different mixing vessel surfaces on process efficiency, and a way in which RAM equipment can be modified to mix PBX samples ‘in-situ’, in their end-use cases.NOTE: This poster is based on preliminary data that has since been superseded, additional details on where to find current work will be included here in due course.