A review of the mechanism by which exploding bridge-wire detonators function

Area of Science:

• Explosives and Energetic Materials
• Plasma Physics
• Detonation Physics

Background:

• Exploding bridge-wire (EBW) detonators are critical energetic devices.
• The precise initiation mechanism of EBW detonators is debated, with theories including shock-to-detonation and thermal processes.
• Understanding detonator mechanisms is crucial for safety and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review open-source literature on EBW detonators.
• To establish a unified understanding of the operational mechanism of EBW, arc, and direct optical initiation detonators.
• To investigate the role of plasma formation in detonator initiation.

Main Methods:

• Extensive literature review of scientific publications on detonator devices.
• Comparative analysis of different detonator types (EBW, arc, direct optical initiation).
• Hypothesis formulation based on observed phenomena and theoretical principles.

Main Results:

• The literature presents conflicting views on EBW detonator mechanisms (shock vs. thermal).
• Decoupling shock and deflagration effects is possible by reviewing related detonator types.
• A unified hypothesis suggests hot plasma formation drives thermal explosion in all three detonator types.

Conclusions:

• The operational mechanism for EBW, arc, and direct optical initiation detonators is hypothesized to be the same.
• The formation of a high-power (≈1 MW) hot plasma emitting in the ultraviolet is the key initiator.
• This plasma drives a thermal explosion process, unifying the understanding of these detonators.