Effect of Armoring Composition on the Yield of Nanodiamonds and Content of Impurities

Efficiency of using detonation nanodiamonds is strongly affected by the amount and elemental composition of impurities. The study considers the possibility of affecting the yield of detonation nanodiamonds and diamond-containing stock and the content and composition of incombustible impurities in the stock and diamonds by varying the composition of the water armor (shell) of the classical TNT–hexogen (50/50) charge. As compounds affecting the above parameters were used hydrazine, urotropin, ammonia, urea, Trilon B (disodium salt of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid), aminotetrazole, and boric acid. It was found that using urotropin was the optimal as regards a whole set of parameters. In this case, the maximum yield of detonation nanodiamonds (6.9%) and diamond-containing stock (13.4%) was obtained. A close yield of the diamond-containing stock and detonation nanodiamonds was provided by using hydrazine and urea in the armor. Use of boric acid in the armor can substantially diminish the variety of impurity elements in the diamond-containing stock and detonation nanodiamonds at an acceptable yield of the diamond-containing stock (11.1%) and detonation nanodiamonds (6.13%). Use of pure water as the armor is inefficient.     

Structure,mechanical, and tribological characteristics of polyurethane modified with nanodiamonds

The effect of modifying additives based on detonation nanodiamonds on the tribological characteristics of polyurethane rubber is studied. Introduction of modifying additives based on detonation nanodiamonds (0.5 wt %) leads to a marked improvement in the antifriction and wear-resistance characteristics under conditions of boundary sliding friction for steel and for lubrication with water. The attained tribological characteristics (total energy loss for friction, weight loss of polymer during tribological contact, maximum admissible working pressure) are well (∼300%) above the corresponding characteristics of foreign analogs. Changes in the tribological characteristics of the formed nanocomposite material are observed, but the elastic and strength characteristics remain unchanged.     

Structure and mechanical properties of thermoplastics modified with nanodiamonds

The structure and properties of composite materials based on amorphous thermoplastics and detonation nanodiamonds are studied. The conception of the “rheological method” is advanced for compatibilization of a polymer and a filler under the regime of elastic turbulence (spurt) for preparation of composites with a high level of dispersion and a homogeneous distribution of nanodiamond particles. As a rule, the dependences of strength and physicomechanical characteristics of the nanocomposites on the content of the dispersed phase are described by curves with an extremum or saturation. The concentration of the filler corresponding to the extremum or the approach to the plateau value for a specific parameter depends on the nature of the polymer matrix and is attained at filler contents below 2.5 wt %. The elastic modulus monotonically increases as the content of nanodiamonds is increased to 5 wt %.     

Surface modification of detonation nanodiamonds by the perfluorobutyl radical

The method was developed for surface defunctionalization of detonation nanodiamonds by substitution of a perfluorinated organic radical for hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. Size-mass distributions of modified particles of detonation nanodiamonds in water and toluene were studied     

Purification of detonation nanodiamond material using high-intensity processes

New procedures were developed for chemical treatment of detonation nanodiamonds and diamond-containing detonation blend to remove water-insoluble metal-containing impurities. The detonation nanodiamond material is treated with complexing agent solutions under cavitation conditions and at high temperature and pressure. Sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropanesulfonate (Unithiol), disodium dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate, thiourea, potassium thiocyanate, dicyandiamide, and hexamethylenetetramine are used as complexing agents. The complexing agent concentration in solution is 0.5–20 wt % at the nanodiamond material to complexing agent weight ratio higher than 0.2. The use of aqueous solutions of the complexing agents at high temperatures and pressures appeared to be the most efficient.     

Development of a rational technology for synthesis of high-quality detonation nanodiamonds

Concepts concerning the structure of detonation nanodiamonds were generalized on the basis of data reported in previous publications. The pH value of the nanodiamonds in an aqueous suspension was determined. The mechanism of the longest stage, washing of nanodiamonds with water to remove excess acidity, was considered. A novel method for substantially improving the quality of nanodiamonds and the stability of aqueous suspensions of nanodiamonds was suggested.     

Composite tribological materials based on molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles and polytetrafluoroethylene microgranules

Tribological materials based on molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles localized on the surface of ultradispersed polytetrafluoroethylene were prepared. The composition and properties of the new composite materials were studied. Introduction of ultradispersed additives based on polytetrafluoroethylene with MoS₂ and on polytetrafluoroethylene and nanodiamonds prepared by detonation synthesis (taken as reference samples) decreases the viscosity of MS-20 aviation oil. The dependence of the friction coefficient on the Sommerfeld number for the composites obtained was examined. Introduction of additives leads to a decrease in the friction coefficient with increasing linear sliding velocity, in contrast to the initial oil for which the trend is opposite. The dependence of the friction coefficient on the concentration of additives in the initial oil was demonstrated. Modification of polytetrafluoroethylene microgranules with 3 wt % MoS₂ nanoparticles allows the amount of additive to the oil to be considerably reduced.     

Detonation nanodiamonds as catalysts of steam reforming of ethanol

Physicochemical properties and catalytic performance of detonation nanodiamonds were studied. Original samples of nanodiamonds and nanodiamonds modified by hydrogen, oxygen, and nitric acid with hydrogen peroxide and infrared-treated were investigated. The catalyst structure and morphology were examined by transmission electron microscopy and IR spectroscopy. All the investigated catalysts were active in the steam reforming of ethanol. The correlation of catalytic properties with composition and structure of the described systems is discussed. The specific surface area of nanodiamonds is changed insignificantly upon modification.     

Adsorption and structural characteristics of the surface of modified nanodiamond powders

The adsorption of benzene and water vapors on the surface of detonation nanodiamond powders that differed in particle size, degree of their strong aggregation, and chemical state of their surface was studied. Specific features of the processes of adsorption of polar and nonpolar molecules on chemically modified surfaces of nanodiamonds are analyzed.     

A nickel-substituted form of nanodiamonds and its catalytic activity in decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

Adsorption of nickel (II) ions with nanodiamonds obtained by the detonation synthesis was studied. A nickel-substituted form of nanodiamonds was obtained. The catalytic activity exhibited by nickel ions (II) in the form of the surface complexes with nanodiamond functional groups in decomposition of hydrogen peroxide was determined.     

Development of the Detonation Nanodiamond Synthesis from Tetryl Based Ternary Mixtures

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - The process of detonation synthesis of nanodiamonds from ternary systems was developed with conversion tetryl as their main component. The dependence of the...     

Nafion- and aquivion-based nanocomposites containing detonation nanodiamonds

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - Nafion- and Aquivion-based composite solid polyelectrolytes containing deagglomerated detonation nanodiamonds were studied by the impedance spectroscopy...     

Selective membranes with biologically active surface

Composite membranes have been developed for media where accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms on the membrane surface is possible. It has been proposed to use as membrane skin layer a polymer nanocomposite modified with detonation nanodiamonds containing surface-bound dibutyltin dilaurate as biologically active substance, which should ensure self-cleaning of the membrane surface.     

Quantification of nanodiamonds in aqueous solutions by spectrophotometry and thermal lens spectrometry

Spectrophotometry and thermal lens spectrometry were used to study solutions of several commercial detonation nanodiamonds. It was found that the absorption spectra of solutions of all studied nanodiamond samples obey the Bouger-Lambert-Beer law, which ensures the precise determination of the total mass concentration of unknown nanodiamond solutions using a calibration plot. It was shown that the absorption spectra of nanodiamond solutions exhibit both absorption and scattering components, both significantly affecting signal formation. Conditions were proposed for the spectrophotometric determination of nanodiamonds at 250 nm (l = 1.0 cm). The detection limits were from 60 ng/mL to 2 ??g/mL, depending on the nanodiamond type. Limits of detection of SDND nanodiamonds by spectrophotometry and thermal lens spectrometry were calculated for identical conditions of sample preparation and measurements (488 nm, l = 1.0 cm). These were 10 and 0.6 ??g/mL for spectrophotometry and thermal lens spectrometry, respectively (power of excitation radiation 150 mW).     

Detonation Properties of High Explosives Containing Ammonia Borane

Ammonia borane (AB) is used as a combustion agent to improve the properties of high explosives. The detonation velocity (D_v) and detonation pressure (P) of raw high explosives and of samples containing AB were calculated and compared. The detonation properties, impact sensitivities, thermal sensitivities, and thermal decomposition characteristics of high explosives containing AB were also measured. The results indicated that when the AB content was 20 wt‐%, the optimal detonation velocity and detonation pressure were achieved. Both the detonation velocity and detonation pressure of the high explosives containing AB were clearly increased compared with those of the raw high explosives. Moreover, the detonation velocities of high explosives containing AB were 7078 to 7423 m · s^–1 and their density ranged from 1.570 to 1.589 g · cm^–3. The detonation pressure ranged from 34.5 to 37 GPa and the average heat of detonation was 6688 J · g^–1. Furthermore, the impact and thermal sensitivities were 170 cm and 613 K, respectively, whereas a slight change occurred in the thermal decomposition characteristics. These results suggest that AB can serve as a powerful combustible agent in energetic materials and improve the detonation properties and sensitivities of high explosives.     

Transition metal atoms grafted on the nanodiamonds surface: Identification and guest–host spin–spin interactions

This survey describes recent achievements in creating a new type of materials – nanodiamonds grafted with atoms of transition metals. Structural features of some selected chelate complexes studied by density functional theory, their scope and limitations as well as possible applications are discussed. Using the example of copper ions, their location relative to subsurface defects of detonation diamond is investigated by the method of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).     

Determination of water content in silica nanopowder using wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer

A wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) technique that uses the scattered radiation of the X-ray tube lines and the fluorescence radiation of an element present in a powder sample is proposed as a non-destructive method for the determination of the water content in silica powder. Although direct X-ray fluorescence analysis of water using WDXRF is not adequate for the quantitative determination of water in powder, due to the very low fluorescence yield for hydrogen and oxygen, the fluorescence signal of silicon (Si) in silica powder is attenuated by water, and is shown to decrease in proportion to the water content in silica powder. In addition, it is demonstrated that the Compton- and Rayleigh-scattering of the X-ray tube lines is proportional to the water content. The coefficients of determination, R², of the linear regression equations obtained from the calibration curves for all individual scattered radiations and for the fluorescence radiation of Si were > 0.90. The sum of the peak intensities of the four scattering signals, i.e. the Rayleigh-scattered Rh K–L_2,3 and Rh K–M_2,3 lines, and Compton-scattered Rh K–L_2,3 and Rh K–M_2,3 lines, also showed fairly good linearity and sensitivity over a very wide range of water content from 0 wt.% to 61.5 wt.%. However, porosity had a significant effect on the X-ray signal at low water content, in the range from 0 wt.% to 7.5 wt.%, where the sensitivity for the silica nanopowder with well-defined mesopores (~ 3 nm in diameter) decreased to 0.40 kcps/wt.%, from 0.99 kcps/wt.% for the non-porous silica nanopowder. The use of the Si fluorescence signal along with the scattered radiation of the X-ray tube lines expands the applicability of conventional XRF spectrometers to the quantitative determination of water content in silica powder.     

Dense Iodine‐Rich Compounds with Low Detonation Pressures as Biocidal Agents

Fifteen iodo compounds and six iodyl compounds with an iodine content between 45.3 and 89.0 % were prepared. The mono, di, and triiodyl compounds were obtained from the corresponding iodo compound by employing Oxone. All the compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, elemental analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The impact sensitivity was measured by using BAM (Bundesamt für Materialforschung) methodology. Based on the calculated heats of formation and experimental densities, the detonation properties and detonation products were predicted by employing Cheetah 6.0. A total percentage of iodine‐containing species in wt % (I₂, HI, and I in gas phase) ranged from 46.7 ( 21 ) to 88.94 % ( 11 ) was found in the detonation products. The high concentration and easy accessibility of iodine and/or iodine‐containing species is very important in developing materials suitable as Agent Defeat Weapons (ADWs).     

The behaviour of water molecules associated with structural changes in negatively charged phosphatidyl-glycerol assemblies as studied by DSC

Variation of the thermotropic behaviour of both lipid assemblies and associated water molecules with an increase in water content was investigated for negatively charged phosphatidyl-glycerol (PG)-water system up to 90 wt.% water by DSC. The number of water molecules existing in interbilayer regions of the present gel phase was estimated from a deconvolution analysis of ice-melting DSC curves. On the basis of a result of the calorimetric analysis, a water-distribution diagram was constructed over the water content range from 0 to 90 wt.%. The diagram presented a continuous incorporation of interlamellar water up to 90 wt.% water, related to unilamellar-vesicle forming properties of charged lipids. Furthermore, similarly to a result for neutral lipid systems previously reported by us, the present diagram also showed the existence of a specific water content region (i.e., pre-region) where a structural change of planar to curved bilayers for multilamellar structures proceeds with the aid of bulk-like water before finally reaching unilamellar vesicles.     

Effect of Industrial Detonation Nanodiamonds on the Ratio of Mononitrotoluene Isomers in Nitration of Toluene with a Sulfuric-Nitric Acid Mixture

A qualitative and quantitative influence exerted by addition of detonation nanodiamonds on the formation selectivity of mononitrotoluene isomers in the heterophase nitration of toluene with a sulfuric-nitric acid mixture having low nitration activity was found. It is shown that the isomer ratio of the ortho-/paramononitrotoluenes can be varied within the range 1.00–2.7 at a temperature of 50°C by changing the stirring intensity within the range 300–5000 rpm. It was found that the strongest influence on the ortho-/para-ratio of the mononitrotoluene isomers is exerted by nanodiamonds having surface chemically modified via oxidation with a mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids.