Abstract:A series of plastic explosives have been prepared with binders based on polyisobutylene (PIB), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (ABR), viton A and using four nitramines, namely RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane), ε-HMX(ε-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane), BCHMX(cis-1,3,4,6-tetranitro-octahydroimidazo-[4,5-d]imidazole) and ε-HNIW (ε-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane). Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and three putty-plastic explosives based on PETN were used for comparison. Detonation velocities, D, impact and friction sensitivities of these explosives were determined. The relations of the friction sensitivity to impact sensitivity, and of both these sensitivities to the D2 term indicate that the mechanism of transfer of the friction force to the reaction centre of nitramine molecule should be different from that of impact energy transfer. Mutual comparison of the friction and impact reactivities of technical-grade and of “reduced sensitivity” grade of ε-HNIW led to the finding that the impact sensitivity distinctly depends on the crystal quality of nitramines, while in the case of friction sensitivity this dependence should not so pronounced. From the relationship between the determined D values and the loading densities of PBX containing the PIB and ABR binders, the D value of 9.800 mm?μs-1 at 2.04 g?cm-3 for ε-HNIW was found.