Tungsten Combustion in Explosively Initiated W/Zr Mechanical Alloys

Tungsten is mechanically alloyed with zirconium and subject to explosive initiation in confined chamber tests. Transient pressure measurements and residue analysis suggest that a majority of the tungsten reacts within 10 ms in alloys containing 33, 57, and 75 w/w W (balance Zr). The product of tungsten oxidation is likely amorphous WO₃, because no crystalline tungsten oxides are observed in X-ray analysis of the residues. These results suggest that the chemical energy of tungsten can be extracted efficiently from mechanical alloys containing as little as 25% Zr, resulting in very high-density structural energetics that release chemical energy comparable to TNT on a mass basis.