What it is
PBX means plastic-bonded explosive: crystals of RDX or HMX locked in a rubbery polymer binder. The binder makes it tough and hard to break down or wash out.
How MuniRem® treats it
MuniRem lists PBX among compounds it treats. MuniRem also reports a new DoD-funded program with a research partner to demonstrate extracting energetics from PBX and destroying them with MuniRem. MuniRem says PBX compositions are evaluated case by case, with a treatability study or demonstration.
- The energetic crystals have to be extracted from the binder first. MuniRem treats this as proprietary and still under demonstration.
- Once exposed, the RDX/HMX is reduced by MuniRem's standard nitro-explosive chemistry.
- What happens to the binder is determined by treatability study.
This material is evaluated case by case with a treatability study before any full-scale work.
What it becomes
Nitrogen gas, formate (from RDX/HMX), Binder: determined by treatability study.
Where it's found
Munition fills, demilitarization lines and manufacturing scrap.
Talk to us
Every site is different. The dose depends on the material, the amount and the site conditions.
Discuss Your Project← Back to MuniRem