Piezoelectric initiators are a unique form of ignition for energetic material because the current and voltage are tied together by impact loading on the crystal. This study examines the ignition response of an energetic composite composed of aluminum (Al) and molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nano-powders to the arc generated from a lead zirconate and lead titanate (PZT) piezocrystal. The mechanical s...

The computation of detonation waves in heterogeneous explosives involves compressible multiphase mixtures due to the chemical decomposition of the energetic material as well as its heterogeneous initial formulation. Also material interfaces are present between the explosive and the surrounding inert or reactivematerials.Wedevelop anewmethod for the modelling of interface problems andmultiphasem...

Despite rapid advances in the design and fabrication of miniaturized sensors and devices, their practical applications have been impeded by the lack of suitably miniscule sources of electrical power. Indeed, the generation and storage of electrical energy for mobile devices and systems is one of the most urgent challenges in science and engineering today. Microand nanoscale devices — such as ul...

This short paper reviews the current theoretical approach to understanding initiation and growth of reaction in energetic materials at Fort Halstead. Theoretical models at the molecular level are used to help develop algorithms at the macroscopic level which can then be used to model real systems. The study of initiation and growth of reaction in energetic materials has been a rapidly expanding...

The Cryocycling of Energetic Materials Project was executed in the period FY’94-96 as a Life Cycle Engineering activity in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on advanced conventional munitions. This MOU is an agreement between the Departments of Energy and Defense (Office of Munitions) that facilitates the development of technologies of mutual interest to the two Departments. The cryocycling...

Recently there has been increased interest in high nitrogen content “green” energetic materials which are designed to produce relatively non-toxic decomposition products as part of a push to decrease the environmental impact of energetic materials through all phases of their existence. With the use of a T-Jump/Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (T-Jump/TOFMS) capable of high heating rates (up to ...

Salts of 3,5-dinitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole, a building block for energetic materials, have been prepared and fully characterized. Most of the studied salts exhibit high thermal stability and very low shock and friction sensitivities. 3,5-Dinitro-1,2,4-triazolates with the nitrogen-rich ammonium, guanidinium, aminoguanidinium, and aminotetrazolium cations are energetic and have potential for energet...

Commonly available, nonconventional energetic materials such as H2O2, ammonium nitrates (AN), as well as reactive materials (e.g., mixtures of metals and metal oxides), and conventional plastic explosives primarily made of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX), cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine (HMX), and triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB), are often materials u...

In the last 50 years, very many new energetic compounds have been made as potential ingredients for explosive, propellant and pyrotechnic formulations. Of these compounds very few have come to be used in military munitions. To obtain a better understanding of why this has been the case and to help address the discrepancy, the NATO Insensitive Munitions Information Centre (NIMIC) held a workshop...

Energetic materials (explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics) are used extensively for both civilian and military applications and the development of such materials, particularly in the case of energetic salts, is subject to continuous research efforts all over the world. This Review concerns recent advances in the syntheses, properties, and potential applications of ionic salts based on tetr...