In this work we evaluate the influence of thermal desorber temperature on the analytical response of a swipe-based thermal desorption ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) for detection of trace explosives. IMS response for several common high explosives ranging from 0.1 ng to 100 ng was measured over a thermal desorber temperature range from 60 °C to 280 °C. Most of the explosives examined demonstra...

Dihydroxylammonium 5,5'-bistetrazole-1,1'-diolate (TKX-50) is a newly synthesized energetic material with excellent comprehensive properties. Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) is currently one of the most widely used energetic materials in the world. TKX-50 and RDX supercell models and TKX-50/RDX cocrystal model were constructed based on their crystal cell parameters and the formation mechani...

This work investigates the stability of trace (tens of nanograms) deposits of six explosives: erythritol tetranitrate (ETN), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), and 2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethylnitramine (tetryl) to determine environmental stabilities and lifetimes of trace level materials. ...

We have developed a method to produce discrete microparticles from compounds dissolved in nonpolar or polar solvents using drop-on-demand inkjet printer technology. A piezoelectric inkjet printhead located atop a drying tube produces precise droplets containing defined quantities of analyte. Droplets solidify into microparticles with known composition and size as they traverse down the drying t...

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy is a promising approach for explosive residue detection, but several limitations to its widespread use remain. One issue is that the emission spectra of the residues are dependent on the substrate composition because some of the substrate is usually entrained in the laser-induced plasma and the laser-material interaction can be significantly affected by the ...

The combustion of a well-stirred system of gases which result from the decomposition of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), a common solid explosive, is studied using the technique of intrinsic low-dimensional manifolds (ILDM). The method provides a systematic way to overcome the severe stiffness which is associated with full models of gas phase RDX combustion, and thus significantly improve c...

Desorption electro-flow focusing ionization (DEFFI), a desorption-based ambient ion source, was developed, characterized, and evaluated as a possible source for field deployable ambient pressure mass spectrometry (APMS). DEFFI, based on an electro-flow focusing system, provides a unique configuration for the generation of highly charged energetic droplets for sample analysis and ionization. A c...

Production, usage and disposal of the munitions constituent (MC) cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) has led to environmental releases on military facilities. The chemical attributes of RDX are conducive for leaching to surface water which may put aquatic organisms at risk of exposure. Because RDX has been observed to cause aberrant neuromuscular effects across a wide range of animal phyla, we ...

Introduction. Explosives are widely used, within the armed forces as well as civilian society, but the health effects associated with the explosive manufacturing industry are not well described. Case report. We present the case of a 48-year-old explosive manufacturing factory operator who developed contact dermatitis to trinitrotoluene as the presumed causative agent and paronychia from prolong...