Improved relationships for the thermodynamic properties of carbon phases at detonation conditions

Abstract

Accurate volumetric and heat capacity relationships have been developed for graphite and diamond carbon forms for use with the Jaguar thermochemical equilibrium program for the calculation of the detonation properties of explosives. Available experimental thermodynamic properties and Hugoniot values have been analyzed to establish the equations of state for the carbon phases. The diamond-graphite transition curve results from the equality of the chemical potentials of the phases. The resulting relationships are utilized to examine the actual phase behaviour of carbon under shock conditions. The existence of metastable carbon states is established by analyses of Hugoniot data for hydrocarbons and explosives at elevated temperatures and pressures. The accuracy of the resulting relationships is demonstrated by comparisons for several properties, including the Hugoniot behaviour of oxygen-deficient explosives at overdriven conditions.