Energetic Silver Salts with 5-Aminotetrazole Ligands

Methylation of 5-amino-1H-tetrazole ( 1 ) gives 1-methyl-5-amino-1H-tetrazole ( 2 ) and 2-methyl-5-amino-1H-tetrazole ( 3 ). A new family of energetic silver complexes based on ligands 1 , 2 and 3 with perchlorate and nitrate anions ( 10 – 15 ) were synthesized and characterized by using IR, Raman, and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁴N, and ³⁵Cl NMR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry. The crystal structures of the compounds were determined where possible and reveal interesting structural details that are discussed herein. Additionally, differential scanning calorimetry was used to assess the thermal stability of the new salts, which showed excellent thermal stabilities at temperatures up to and above 225 °C. Standard tests were also used to assess the sensitivity of the materials towards impact and friction. All the silver complexes showed increased sensitivity values in comparison with analogous protonated 5-amino-1H-tetrazolium perchlorate and nitrate salts. Some of these materials have sensitivity values that are comparable to commonly used primary explosives and all of them either deflagrate ( 12 – 14 ) or detonate loudly ( 10 and 11 ) on contact with an open flame. Lastly, nitrate salt 11 is easily initiated by thermal shock. It shows reasonably low sensitivity in comparison with other silver salts (e.g., silver azide or silver fulminate), which makes handling it much less hazardous. Compound 11 also has good thermal stability, decomposing at ≈300 °C, and shows interesting properties as a more environmentally benign alternative to lead(II) diazide in initiation devices for civil and military applications.     

Symmetry Properties of the Elastic Energy of a Woven Fabric with Bending and Twisting Resistance

A woven fabric can be described as a surface made of two families of fibers: in this work we study how the geometry of the weave pattern affects the symmetry properties of the elastic energy of the surface. Four basic symmetry classes of weave patterns are possible, depending on the angle between the fibers and their material properties. The properties of the pattern determine the material symmetry group of the network, under which the elastic energy is invariant. We derive representations for the energy of a woven fabric that are invariant under the symmetry group of the network, and discuss the relation of these invariants with the curvature and twist of the fibers.      

Quantum phenomena in magnetic nano clusters

One of the fascinating fields of study in magnetism in recent years has been the study of quantum phenomena in nanosystems. While semiconductor structures have provided paradigms of nanosystems from the stand point of electronic phenomena, the synthesis of high nuclearity transition metal complexes have provided examples of nano magnets. The range and diversity of the properties exhibited by these systems rivals its electronic counterparts. Qualitative understanding of these phenomena requires only a knowledge of basic physics, but quantitative study throws up many challenges that are similar to those encountered in the study of correlated electronic systems. In this article, a brief overview of the current trends in this area are highlighted and some of the efforts of our group in developing a quantitative understanding of this field are outlined.     

On two models in the three-dimensional theory of stability of composites

A comparative analysis is made of the infinite-fiber and finite-fiber models in the three-dimensional theory of stability of composites. The results analyzed have been obtained using the three-dimensional linearized theory of stability of deformable bodies. A historical sketch is given of the theory of stability for and approaches used in the mechanics of laminated and fibrous composite materials Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 44, No. 8, pp. 3–31, August 2008.