Alkaline Hydrolysis of CL-20
Abstract
The Energetics and Warheads Division of the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center has been involved in the development of CL-20. An alkaline hydrolysis study was performed to better understand the fate and transport of CL-2O through environmental systems. CL-20, also known as HN 1W (2,4,6,8,10,1 2-hexanitro-2,4,6,8, 10,1 2-hexaaziaisowurtzitane), is a high energy, high density material. Concerns regarding the envirnnmental fate and transport of CL-20 are arising due to its potential introduction into soil and water matrices. The aqueous hydrolysis of CL-20 was investigated as a possible remediation technique. Alkaline hydrolysis experiments were conducted at temperatures of 15, 20, 30, and 4000, with hydroxide concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 300 mM. Like RDX and HMX, alkaline hydrolysis of CL-20 follows second- order kinetics. CL-20 alkaline hydrolysis was found to proceed at a significantly faster rate than RDX. The temperature dependency of the second-order rate constants was evaluated using the Arrehnius model. The activation energy for CL-20 was found to be within close range of the activation energies reported for RDX and HMX.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA436623
Entities
People
- C. Christodoulatos
- M. Sidhourn
- P. Karakaya
- Steven Nicolich
- Wendy Balas
Organizations
- United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center