Preparation and Properties of 1, 3, 5, 7-Tetranitro-1, 3, 5, 7-Tetrazocane-based Nanocomposites

A new insensitive explosive based on octahydro-1, 3, 5, 7-tetranitro-1, 3, 5, 7-tetrazocine (HMX) was prepared by spray drying using Viton A as a binder. The HMX sample without binder (HMX-1) was obtained by the same spray drying process also. The samples were characterised by Scanning Electron Microscope, and X-ray diffraction. The Differential Scanning Calorimetry and the impact sensitivity of HMX-1 and nanocomposites were also being tested. The nanocomposite morphology was found to be microspherical (1 mu m to 7 mu m diameter) and composed of many tiny particles, 100 nm to 200 nm in size. The crystal type of HMX-1 and HMX/Viton A agrees with raw HMX. The activation energy of raw HMX, HMX-1 and HMX/Viton A is 523.16 kJ mol(-1), 435.74 kJ mol(-1) and 482.72 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The self-ignition temperatures of raw HMX, HMX-1 and HMX/Viton A is 279.01 degrees C, 277.63 degrees C, and 279.34 degrees C, respectively. The impact sensitivity order of samples is HMX/Viton A < HMX-1 < raw HMX from low to high.