DURIP Elucidating Phase Distribution in Cocrystallizing Multicomponent Mixtures In Situ
Abstract
Crystalline materials form the basis of most solid explosives and propellants and enable a broad range of applications dictated by their performance properties. Recently a new class of crystalline energetic materials have emerged based on the principle of cocrystallization. A cocrystal arises when two or more molecules mix in a regular arrangement on the molecular level and give rise to entirely new properties compared to the molecules from which they derive. Making new cocrystals is a challenge from the discovery standpoint and it is particularly difficult to determine the way to safely scale the production of cocrystals with desirable properties using current technologies. The proposal will create a unique system for monitoring all the most important properties of a crystallization in real time. The composition of molecules in solution will be determined by infrared spectroscopy and the solid formed will be identified by Raman spectroscopy. Together these techniques will provide a complete picture of the formation of cocrystals from solutions of varied composition. An in situ camera system will document crystal sizes and shapes during crystallization quantifying how formation conditions influence these critical parameters which effect material handling and efficiency of packing energetic materials into rockets and munitions. Research with this instrument will be conducted by graduate students and undergraduates completing their STEM degrees and enable much more rapid discovery and characterization of novel energetic cocrystals. The ability to thoroughly understand how the vast parameter space of a crystallization (molecules, concentration, temperature, agitation, solvent, additives, etc.) influences the resulting cocrystal will enable more seamless transitioning of findings to a broader scientific audience. This abstract is publicly releasable.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 13, 2025
- Source ID
- N000142512077
Entities
People
- Adam J. Matzger
Organizations
- Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy