Production and characterization of nanometer explosives

Abstract

Nanometer explosives, such as RDX, HMX and CL-20, have been produced in large scale. The SEM observations show that the prepared particles are semi-spherical at the size about 60 nm having the narrow size distributions. The nanometer explosives have the same purity and crystal form with the micron-sized explosives. Compared with the micron-sized explosives, the friction sensitivity, impact sensitivity and shock sensitivity of nanometer explosives are obviously by 20%, 40% and 50% respectively. These desirable results are very encouraging and may lead to various potential applications of nanometer explosives in PBXs and CMDB propellants.