Research on the Critical Sizes for Detonation of Cube-shaped Transfer Charges

In order to obtain the minimum size, thickness and safe separation distance, for the cube-shaped transfer charges used in MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) explosive trains, an explosive train using a JO-9C(III ) cube-shaped transfer charge was designed for experimental research. Detonation transfer experiments and detonation interruption experiments were conducted in turn. In initial experiments, the electric detonators were all in the armed position, but different thicknesses of the cube-shaped transfer charges were used. In the later experiments, the thickness of the transfer charges were unchanged, but the separation distances were different. The detonation path of the transfer charge under unsafe conditions was analyzed using the shock wave attenuation law. The results showed that the minimum thickness ranged from 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm, the minimum safe separation distance ranged from 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm; and the cube-shaped transfer charge is detonated by a shock wave from a steel gap rather than air clearance when the safe separation distance is less than the minimum threshold. The thickness design value of the cube-shaped transfer charge (JO-9C(III)) should not be less than 0.6 mm, and the safe separation distance design value of the MEMS explosive train should not be less than 1 mm.