Advances in High Energy Materials

Abstract

Research and development efforts for realizing higher performance levels of high energy materials (HEMs) are continued unabated all over the globe. Of late, it is becoming increasingly necessary to ensure that such materials are also eco-friendly. This has provided thrust to research in the area of force multiplying HEMs and compounds free from pollution causing components. Enhancement of the performance necessitates introduction of strained structure or increase in oxygen balance to achieve near stoichiometry. The search for environment friendly molecules is focused on chlorine free propellant compositions and lead free primary explosives. Energetic polymers offer added advantage of partitioning of energy and thus not necessitating the concentration of only solid components (HEMs and metal fuels) in the formulations, to achieve higher performance, thereby leading to improvement in energetics without adversely affecting the processability and mechanical properties. During recent times, research in the area of insensitive explosives has received impetus particularly with the signature of STANAG. This paper gives a review of the all-round advances in the areas of HEMs encompassing oxidizers, high-energy dense materials, insensitive high-energy materials, polymers and plasticizers. Selected formulations based on these materials are also included.

Transmission and Reflection Terahertz Spectroscopy of Insensitive Melt-Cast High-Explosive Materials

“…Because of this, samples were prepared based on the literature [1][2][3] as well as on our experience. Three types of samples were prepared: pressed pellets for transmission (denoted by the suffix p) and reflection (denoted by the suffix P) measurements and melt-castable discs (denoted by the suffix C) for reflection measurements (Table 1, Fig.…”

“…Bearing in mind numerous cases of accidental human victims over the last several years, mixtures based on TNT are replaced by insensitive high explosives with 2.4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) as the melting ingredient. Recently, the US Army introduced a family of melt-castable DNAN-based explosives containing mainly mixtures of RDX, 1-nitroguanidine (NQ) and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-one (NTO) [1][2][3][4]. Trace amounts of N-methyl-p-nitroaniline (MNA) are included in some formulations to aid in the processing.…”

“…IMX-104 (mixture of DNAN, NTO and RDX) is qualified as a replacement for Composition B in mortars. PAX-41 containing DNAN and RDX is tested for spider grenades [1][2][3][4].…”

1,1-Diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (DADNE, FOX-7) – Properties and Formulations (a Review)

“…It is generally believed that both of these factors are intimately connected with the presence of crystalline defects in the materials. In order to explore new energetic materials with these required properties, a promising method is to explore compounds with compact structures and a high nitrogen content, as demonstrated by many recent research and development efforts [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”

Preparation, Structural Investigation and Thermal Decomposition Behavior of Two High-Nitrogen Energetic Materials: ZTO·2H2O and ZTO(phen)·H2O

“…[3][4][5] So, the significant advantages such as high heats of combustion, high specific impulse, high propulsive power, as well as smokeless combustion make them very useful as explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics. [6][7][8][9] Notable among the most promising recent developments in the chemistry of HEDM's are compounds that combine a high nitrogen content (molecular nitrogen forms the major component of the decomposition products) with a high heat of formation and insensitivity to shock, friction, and electrostatic discharge. 4-Amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO) is high nitrogen content (56%), making it of interest for the synthesis of highly enegetic materials.…”