Evaluation of 1,3,3-Trinitroazetidine (TNAZ)-A High Performance Melt-Castable Explosive
Abstract
The melt-castable explosive 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine (TNAZ) has been assessed as a potential high energy replacement for TNT that could be processed in existing Australian industrial plant. TNAZ was produced using a five step synthetic route to give the target material in a maximum overall yield of 37%. The synthetic route chosen proved troublesome, with the Mitsunobu reaction employed to synthesize the azetidine ring non-reproducible and low yielding. Thermal analysis of heat and formulated TNAZ (60:40 RDX/TNAZ, designated ARX-4007) showed it to have high volatility and rapidly evaporated from the liquid phase (>101 deg C). Hazards assessment showed TNAZ to have an increased sensitiveness over TNT, while ARX-4007 showed sensitiveness levels similar to pentolite. TNAZ castings appeared to solidffy from the melt to give layered plates and formed large numbers of shinkage voids. Shinkage problems were evident in both neat TNAZ and ARX-4007 castings, whilst mechanical properties were poor. Performance assessment of ARX-4007 as a general purpose metal accelerating explosive gave excellent VoD (8660 m/s) and Pcj (33.0 CPa). It is concluded, however, that problems associated with synthesis, volatility, sensitiveness and casting make TNAZ unsuitable as a TNT replacement in melt-cast systems at this time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA383074
Entities
People
- Duncan S. Watt
- Matthew D. Cliff
Organizations
- Defence Science and Technology Group