Processing, Application and Characterization of (Ultra)fine and Nanometric Materials in Energetic Compositions

Abstract

The energetic materials research at TNO Defence, Security and Safety, The Netherlands is focusing at the development and characterization of explosives (insensitive munitions), gun/rocket propellants and pyrotechnic compositions and their ingredients. The application of reactive, (ultra)fine and nanometric materials in these compositions has gained increased interest over the past few years. Current research topics focus on the processing, application and characterization of (1) (ultra)fine energetic crystals and composite nano-clusters in plastic bonded explosives, (2) metastable intermolecular composites (MICs) and (3) self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS). In this paper these topics will be highlighted in more detail.

Applications of Nanomaterials in Energetic Formulations: Classification, Production and Properties

“…5) The increased reactivity of nanoparticles is due precisely to their large surface. Surface atoms (or molecules) have a small number of close proximity neighbors and that is why they have free (unsaturated) links on the side of the surface [15].…”