Nitrogen-rich salts based on polyamino substituted N,N '-azo-1,2,4-triazole: a new family of high-performance energetic materials

A new family of nitrogen-rich energetic salts based on 3,3'-diamino-4,4'-azo-1,2,4-triazole containing an N,N'-azo linkage has been synthesized and fully characterized by IR, H-1 and C-13 NMR spectrum, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and sensitivities toward impact, friction and electrostatics. The crystal structures of chloride 2, nitrate 3, perchlorate 4 and isomerization product 10 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All the salts exhibit high thermal stabilities with decomposition temperatures of over 200 degrees C, except for nitroformate 6. The measured densities of salts 2-7 fall in the range of 1.71 to 1.99 g cm(-1). Theoretical performance calculations (Gaussian 03 and EXPLO5) provided detonation pressures and velocities for energetic salts in the ranges 26.3 to 45.7 GPa and 8042 to 9580 m s (1) , respectively. Moreover, these salts exhibit reasonable impact sensitivities (IS = 8-40 J) and friction sensitivities (FS 90-360 N); these salts also exhibit excellent thermal stabilities, high detonation properties and reasonable sensitivities, which, in some cases, are superior to those of TNT, TATB and HMX, and present a favorable balance between the energy and stability of energetic materials. In addition, these salts exhibit excellent specific impulses (265 to 301 s), which make them competitive energetic materials.