Improved Performance of Energetic Materials Through the Formation of Hydrogen Peroxide Solvates
Abstract
The development of new energetic materials contributes to advances in military technology as well as enabling more efficient civilian applications such as mining and resource exploration. The current generation of explosives has served well in terms of performance, but more power is always desirable and cost as well as environmental impact (pollution of air and water) accompany some of the best performing materials. This project aims to overcome these problems by exploiting inexpensive and environmentally benign hydrogen peroxide as a component in new crystalline explosives. Explosives store energy in chemical bonds and then rapidly release this energy, on demand, to create heat and gas to disrupt a target. Most typically the molecules making up the explosive include fuel and oxidizer components such that when they are induced to react the explosion occurs. For the vast majority of explosives used in military and civilian application there is insufficient oxygen to realize the full potential of the material and so approaches to impart more oxygen into the materials are highly desirable. Incorporation of hydrogen peroxide into the crystalline structure of existing explosives represents and untapped potential solution to this problem. The project centers initially on a discovery phase where new hydrogen peroxide containing energetic materials will be discovered. The resulting materials will be characterized to determine their composition and properties. Both experimental and computation approaches will be employed to examine stability. For selected materials issues of longer term stability will be examined to identify those most promising for future applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 22, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910114
Entities
People
- Adam J. Matzger
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Michigan