ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a new meaning to the term “Sensitivity Training.” The “sensitivity” of an energetic mixture is not just a matter of significant research interest but it is also a matter of vital interest to the manufacturer of the mixture. Each energetic material must be sensitive to ignition, but yet only function when people want it to ignite in order to achieve reliable performance from a particular device. In some instances, the energy input is strongly absorbed by the mixture; in other systems, there is little transfer of energy to the composition. Low levels of energy input will result in close to zero ignitions of the sample. During the manufacturing process, chemicals are initially mixed to produce a reasonably homogeneous blend of oxidizer, fuel, binder, and other components. The ignition sensitivity of energetic compositions can vary considerably, depending on the type of energy interacting with the chemical mixture.
