Effect of explosion on matter. Shock compression topography of nitrates of the alkali metals

Summary

The action of an explosion on alkali metal nitrates produces the following results:

• 1. Penetration of 0.05–1.5% iron into the compressed material, the contamination being greater, the less densely packed the bomb is; contamination increases toward the bottom of the cylinder.

• 2. The density of the nitrates decreases and their dielectric constant increases. After remelting these properties return almost to the original state.

• 3. The compressed material acquires an alkaline reaction, which disappears on annealing only in the case of NaNO₃.

• 4. The UV and IR spectra of the compressed nitrates reveal thermal and radiation effects, the latter being identical with those obtained when the nitrates are irradiated with X-rays.

These observations are explained on the assumption of charge transfer from the NO ⁻₃ ion to the alkali metal cation at the moment of maximum dynamic compression.