High explosive (HE) compositions typically require compounding with a non-energetic polymer 'binder' phase or a non-energetic plasticizer, which enables processing and consolidating the material into a dense form that maintains a defined geometric shape. The drawback of introducing non-energetic polymeric binders or plasticizer phases is that they displace the energetic material, which affects performance. There is a need for an alternative method to manufacture high explosive compounds without diluting the HE by adding passive binder or plasticizers.
LLNL researchers have developed a method to of crosslinking, polymerizing or otherwise covalently coupling a subset of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosive molecules and compositions. Energetic materials manufactured using the novel method can be used ‘neat’ or as an energetic binder phase for another unmodified energetic compound. The approach may also be employed to co-react an energetic with a polymeric binder to improve mechanical properties and consolidation. The process may be used as a HE surface modifying (coupling) agent to improve the strength of interaction between HE particles and/or between HE particles and existing binder that is present. LLNL’s unique approach enables a new class of polymer binder free HE compositions to be formulated that have improved properties over the current state of the art compositions.
Current stage of technology development:
TRL ☐ 0-2 ☒ 3-5 ☐ 5-9
LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.
- Method allows for mechanical stabilization and improvement of high-explosive compositions
- Method could form energetic binders that can be incorporated into HE compositions instead of passive polymeric binders currently used, which do not contribute to energetic output
- DOD munitions applications for improved performance
- Mining, oil & gas industries
