The pressure effect study on the burning rate of ammonium nitrate-HTPB-based propellant with the influence catalysts

The burning rate of AN–HTPB-based propellant catalysed with chromium salt has been studied using conventional strand burner under the various pressure range, i.e. from atmospheric pressure to 6.897 MPa and verified with Piobert law, i.e. r = aP ⁿ . At atmospheric pressure, the burning rate AN–HTPB propellant was being accelerated with the chromium-based catalysts used. In case of lead chromate-catalysed system, burning rate was observed 2.655 times higher than burning rate (r = 0.200 mm s⁻¹) of virgin AN–HTPB propellant sample. However, the Copper chromate-catalysed propellant burned with slower rate (r = 0.160 mm s⁻¹) than the virgin AN–HTPB propellant sample. The burning rate of all catalysed propellant samples are found to be the pressure sensitive and accelerated higher with rise of pressure. The highest burning rate (r = 2.422 mm s⁻¹) was recorded with ammonium dichromate and lowest (r = 1.40 mm s⁻¹) with lead chromate-catalysed propellant sample with the rise of pressure up to 6.897 MPa at different pressures. A linear relationship was observed between the burning rate and pressure rise which followed the Piobert law, i.e. r = aP ⁿ . The pressure index (n) values of AN–HTPB-based samples were calculated higher when catalysed with ammonium dichromate, Copper Chromate, Cr₂O₃, Potassium dichromate (n = 0.525, 0.555, 0.429, and 0.408 respectively) and lower (n = 0.226) with lead chromate compared to virgin sample (n = 0.405). Higher value indicates the positive effect on accelerating the burning rate with catalyst at higher pressure ranges.     

Features of the Reaction of the CO Molecule with a Platinum Atom and Its Diatomic Cluster

The potential energy profile of the Pt⋯CO and Pt₂⋯CO systems was calculated within the formalism of density functional theory. It was shown that bonding in these systems is only achieved after a triplet-singlet transition, which is unusual for the interaction of a CO molecule with the surface of a platinum crystal. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Eksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 278–282, September–October, 2005.     

Partial nearest neighbor PDF for multi-component material systems

We develop general expressions for partial nearest neighbor probability density functions (PNNPDF’s) for equilibrium multi-component systems, valid for arbitrary partial densities, temperatures, and interaction potentials; thus providing an alternative means of describing structure at the microscopic (atomic scale) level for multi-component material systems. This paper thus complements an earlier paper (U.F. Edgal and D.L. Huber, J. Phys. Chem. B 108, 13777–13788 2004) in the analytical investigation of the classical statistical thermodynamics of multi-component systems. The connection between PNNPDF’s and the commonly employed partial m-body distribution functions is detailed. Results for PNNPDF’s and partial m-body distribution functions applicable for the poisson-distributed multi-component system and the low density binary mixture of hard spheres are provided. The statistical geometry of the systems is further studied through a brief investigation of particle clustering. A major hallmark of the above investigation involves the several multiple integrals and multiple sums encountered, that were quite formidable to perform, even in the absence of particle interactions.     

Self-assembly of DMF with chloromethane and their structures: a theoretical study

The stability of hydrogen-bonded complexes, DMF–H _n CCl_4−n (n = 1–3), has been investigated by several theoretical methods including the MP2 level of ab initio theory at various basis sets from 6-31+G* to 6-311++G**. Two stable configurations (respectively a and b) were obtained for each complex with no imaginary frequencies. The minimum energy structure of these complexes has also been analyzed by means of the atoms in molecule theory at MP2/6-311++G** level. It is found that C–H···O hydrogen bonding exists in these systems and that the intensity of HB interaction gradually increases with successive chlorination. Computed results indicate that these complexes automatically assemble into different stable configurations. For the complexes under consideration, their stabilities can be mainly ascribed to the intermolecular HB interaction. The present work is helpful to clearly understand the interaction mechanism of these complexes in theory.     

Molecular design and theoretical investigation on novel porphyrin derivatives for dye-sensitized solar cells

We report on a quantum-chemical study of the electronic and optical properties of a series of β, β′-edge-fused zinc porphyrin with different aromatic rings, in order to design efficient sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Our calculations found that the replacement of quinoxaline moiety in ZnQMA (having high power conversion efficiency η of 6.3%) with other aromatic rings decreases the HOMO–LUMO energy gap mainly due to destabilization of the HOMO level. For all of the investigated compounds, the reorganization energies of electron and hole are in the same order of magnitude as and similar to those of ZnQMA. The absorption spectra in both Soret and Q bands for most of the considered molecules exhibit red shifts to some extent with respect to that of ZnQMA. In the simulated dye-sensitized TiO₂ systems, the bidentate adsorption mode of porphyrin derivatives is computed to be energetically favored compared to the monodentate one, which well confirms the experimental results observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The slightly shorter Ti–O bond lengths calculated for D–TiO₂ systems point toward a stronger interaction of the dye with the titania surface compared to ZnQMA–TiO₂ systems. Our calculation indicates that the designed molecule D is promising to challenge the current photoelectric conversion efficiency record 6.3% of ZnQMA.     

BTATz-CMDB propellants

The high-pressure thermal properties and their correlation with burning rates of the composite modified double base (CMDB) propellants containing 3,6-bis (1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazol-5-yl-amino)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (BTATz), a substitute of hexogen (RDX), were investigated using the high-pressure differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC). The results show that there is a main exothermal decomposition process with the heating of each propellant. High pressure can restrain the volatilization of NG, accelerate the main decomposition reaction, and make the reaction occur easily. High pressure can change the main decomposition reaction mechanism function and kinetics, and the control process obeys the rule of Avrami–Erofeev equation at high pressure and chemical reaction at normal pressure. However, the mechanism function can not be changed by the ballistic modifier. The correlation between PDSC characteristic values and burning rates was carried out and found that u and ( p  \Updelta H_\textd / \Updelta T ) ^{1 / 2} \left( {p \, \Updelta H_{\text{d}} { / }\Updelta T} \right)^{ 1 / 2} keep a good linear relation, k _u keeps a similar changing trend with u, and it can be used to study the effect of the ballistic modifier or the other component on the burning rates.     

Constant-volume combustion energy of the lead salts of 2HDNPPb and 4HDNPPb and their effect on combustion characteristics of RDX–CMDB propellant

The constant-volume combustion energies of the lead salts of 2-hydroxy-3,5-dinitropyridine (2HDNPPb) and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitropyridine (4HDNPPb), ΔU _c (2HDNPPb(s) and 4HDNPP(s)), were determined as –4441.92±2.43 and –4515.74±1.92 kJ mol^–1 , respectively, at 298.15 K. Their standard enthalpies of combustion, Δ_c ^m H θ(2HDNPPb(s) and 4HDNPPb(s), 298.15 K), and standard enthalpies of formation, Δ_r ^m H θ(2HDNPPb(s) and 4HDNPPb(s), 298.15 K) were as –4425.81±2.43, –4499.63±1.92 kJ mol^–1 and –870.43±2.76, –796.65±2.32 kJ mol^–1 , respectively. As two combustion catalysts, 2HDNPPb and 4HDNPPb can enhance the burning rate and reduce the pressure exponent of RDX–CMDB propellant.     

Determination of the charge transport abilities of polymorphs [C<Subscript>6</Subscript>F<Subscript>5</Subscript>Cu]<Subscript>2</Subscript>(4,4′-bipy) with different interactions: a density functional theoretical investigation

Due to the different molecular stacking conformations, two kinds of intermolecular interactions, arene–arene π-stacking interaction and Cu–Cu interaction coexist in the polymorphs of [C₆F₅Cu]₂(4,4′-bipy) crystals, 3-α and 3-β. However, the relative magnitude of the two kinds of intermolecular interactions in 3-α and 3-β is different. With the help of first-principle band structure calculations, the relationship between the charge transport abilities and the intermolecular interactions in the two polymorphs was investigated for the first time. The analysis of band structures and Г point wave functions of the band-edge state in the valence band of crystal 3-α shows that the Cu–Cu interaction so-called cuprophilic interaction determines the hole transport ability, although this interaction is weaker than that in crystal 2 of C₆F₅Cu(py) discussed in our previous work, which is a promising hole transport material. For polymorph crystal 3-β, the wave functions of LUMO are mainly localized on the bipyridine (bpy) groups, which are result from the arene–arene π-stacking interaction between the bpy groups. Such a π–π stacking interaction dominates the electron transport ability in the conduction band of 3-β and makes the electron main carrier for transporting. The results are also supported by the analysis of effective masses and density of states (DOS). Thus, the charge transport properties are dominated by different intermolecular interactions due to the different molecule stacking in the two polymorphs.     

Adsorption of RDX and TATP on IRMOF-1: an ab initio study

The adsorption of 1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine (RDX) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP) on representative fragments of metal organic framework (IRMOF-1) was studied at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. For examined adsorbates several possible adsorption positions toward the IRMOF-1 fragments were found. The adsorption strength of the adsorbate on IRMOF-1 is largely affected by the geometry of the active site of IRMOF-1 which controls the orientation of the target molecule with respect to the IRMOF-1 fragment. The calculations show that the adsorption on these fragments occurs due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the molecular C–H groups and the oxygen atoms of IRMOF-1. The RDX and TATP molecules are the most strongly adsorbed on the linker fragment of IRMOF-1. This type of adsorption results in the polarization of RDX and TATP on the IRMOF-1 fragments. The interaction energy of two most stable RDX-, and TATP-IRMOF-1 adsorption systems are ?9.8 and ?12.8 kcal/mol, respectively. It can be concluded that the 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate site of IRMOF-1 shows the stronger molecular adsorption of RDX and TATP than the site containing [Zn₄O(CO₂)₆] and also it is characterized by higher reactivity than the other considered sites. The binding of studied explosive molecules to IRMOF-1 consists of interplay between attractive interactions between the target molecule and MOF as well as the shielding by the IRMOF-1 fragment induced by the molecular adsorption. The relative importance of these effects depends on the chemical nature, the size, and the shape of the molecule and MOF. Small-size molecules require smaller space for the adsorption and also they are less shielded by the sizeable adsorbent. So they interact better when adsorbed on larger IRMOF-1 fragment. On the other side, larger molecules show higher adsorption strength with small fragments of IRMOF-1.     

Charge-charge and cation-<Emphasis Type="Italic">π</Emphasis> interactions in ligand binding to G protein-coupled receptors

To study the importance of charge–charge and cation-π interactions for the binding of positively charged amine ligands to their receptors, the energies of interaction between [(CH₃)₄–N]⁺, [(CH₃)₃–NH]⁺, and [(CH₃)₄–NH₃]⁺ and acetate, as a model of Asp and Glu, and with benzene, as a model of aromatic side chains, were obtained at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. The free energies of solvation in water were also calculated for the different amines. It was found that, although primary amines form stronger charge–charge interactions with acetate than tertiary or quaternary amines, the difference is not large enough to compensate their higher solvation energy. Quaternary amines show the weakest interaction with acetate. However, their alkyl groups can interact with various aromatic groups, enhancing ligand binding to the receptor. The analysis was completed with MD calculations on amine binding to the G protein-coupled receptors β₂AR and CCR5. The calculations on the model systems were found to be in good agreement with the simulations of the ligand-receptor complexes. Contribution to the Serafin Fraga Memorial Issue.     

Experimental study on ballistic behaviour of an aluminised AP/HTPB propellant during accelerated aging

The chemical stability of a propellant and its influence on the ballistic properties during aging is a subject of interest. The effect of aging on ballistic properties, viz., ignition delay, burning rate, and heat of combustion for an aluminised ammonium perchlorate–hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (AP/HTPB) composite propellant during accelerated aging were investigated. Samples of composite propellants were aged at 60 and 70 °C at relative humidity of 50% in a climatic chamber. The propellant samples were tested with pressurized nitrogen gas environment for ignition delay measurement. Test results indicate that aging does not have any appreciable effect on ignition delay. The change in ignition delay time is less than 3% within the scatter of the data. Experiment results indicate that burn rate do affect with pressure but aging does not have much effect on burn rate. It was also observed that the burning rate at low pressures did not undergo significant changes during the aging period. The most significant of all the ballistic properties of this propellant is the burning rate exponent which increased by about 10% during the aging period.     

Analysis of Solvent–Solvent Interactions in Mixed Isosteric Solvents by Inverse Gas Chromatography

The Flory–Huggins interaction parameter, χ ₂₃, characterizing the interaction between solvents in a mixed stationary phase has been calculated using inverse gas chromatography (IGC). The χ ₂₃ parameters for four mixed solvent systems formed by mixing a non-polar branched alkane, 19, 24-dioctadecyldotetracontane (C78), with four different polar solvents are analysed as a function of temperature. Two of the polar solvents are formed by replacing one of the –CH₃ groups of C78 by –OH (POH) group and –CN (PCN) group and the other two polar solvents are formed by replacing all the four –CH₃ groups of C78 by four –CF₃ (TTF) groups and four –OCH₃ (TMO) groups. The five solvents have similar structures and nearly the same molar volume and in mixtures, they form regular solutions. For the mixture, C78 + POH, χ ₂₃ was calculated at two compositions and for the remaining three mixtures χ ₂₃ was calculated at equimolar composition. Eight solute probes representing all possible chemical structures and polarity were used under conditions approaching infinite dilution. The effects of temperature, concentration of the mixed solvent and probe solute on χ ₂₃ are presented and discussed. The probe-independent χ ₂₃ values were also calculated by linear regression analysis using the retention data of all the solute probes. In all the mixed solvents considered here the χ ₂₃ values are probe-dependent and decrease with increase of temperature.     

Ab initio study of the cooperativity between NH···N and NH···C hydrogen bonds in H3N–HNC–HNC complex

Ab initio calculations at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level have been performed to study the cooperativity of hydrogen bonds in homoclusters (HNC–HNC–HNC and HNC–HNC–HNC–HNC) and heteroclusters (H₃N–HNC–HNC and H₃N–HNC–HNC–HNC). The cooperative energies in the HNC–HNC–HNC and H₃N–HNC–HNC trimers are –2.05 and –2.56 kcal/mol, respectively. The result shows that the cooperativity in the heterotrimer is larger than that in the homotrimer. A similar result also happens in the tetramers. The energy decomposition scheme indicates that orbital interaction is a major contribution to the cooperative energy of N···HN hydrogen bond, whereas the electrostatic and orbital interactions to that of C···HN hydrogen bond. The effect of HNC chain length on the strength of N···HN hydrogen bond has also been considered at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level. It is indicated that the interaction energy of N···HN hydrogen bond trends to be a fixed value when the HNC number tends to be infinite, and the strength of N···HN hydrogen bond is regulated mainly through the electrostatic and polarization interactions although the charge transfer interaction also has an effect on it.     

Vibrational spectroscopy standoff detection of explosives

Standoff infrared and Raman spectroscopy (SIRS and SRS) detection systems were designed from commercial instrumentation and successfully tested in remote detection of high explosives (HE). The SIRS system was configured by coupling a Fourier-transform infrared interferometer to a gold mirror and detector. The SRS instrument was built by fiber coupling a spectrograph to a reflective telescope. HE samples were detected on stainless steel surfaces as thin films (2–30 μg/cm²) for SIRS experiments and as particles (3–85 mg) for SRS measurements. Nitroaromatic HEs: TNT, DNT, RDX, C4, and Semtex-H and TATP cyclic peroxide homemade explosive were used as targets. For the SIRS experiments, samples were placed at increasing distances and an infrared beam was reflected from the stainless steel surfaces coated with the target chemicals at an angle of ∼180° from surface normal. Stainless steel plates containing TNT and RDX were first characterized for coverage distribution and surface concentration by reflection–absorption infrared spectroscopy. Targets were then placed at the standoff distance and SIRS spectra were collected in active reflectance mode. Limits of detection (LOD) were determined for all distances measured for the target HE. LOD values of 18 and 20 μg/cm² were obtained for TNT and RDX, respectively, for the SIR longest standoff distance measured. For SRS experiments, as low as 3 mg of TNT and RDX were detected at 7 m source–target distance employing 488 and 514.5 nm excitation wavelengths. The first detection and quantification study of the important formulation C4 is reported. Detection limits as function of laser powers and acquisition times and at a standoff distance of 7 m were obtained.     

On the equilibrium between monomeric and dimeric iminochlorophosphanes R–N=P–Cl

The monomer/dimer equilibrium has been studied for a series of alkyl and aryl substituted and functionalized iminochlorophosphane species of the type R–N=P–Cl. In agreement with experiment, theoretical data always favor the dimer when the group R is small, while bulky groups such as Mes* destabilize the dimer by a considerable steric repulsion. This effect is superimposed by electronic effects. Para-substitution in the aryl systems either favors the monomer (energy gain ca. 15–30 kJ/mol) when a π-electron donating group such as p-NMe₂ is used or favors the dimer when a π-electron withdrawing group such as p-NO₂ is used (energy gain ca. 1–13 kJ/mol).     

Kinetics of thermal decomposition of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane

Thermal decomposition of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (HNIW) in the solid state and in solution was studied by thermogravimetry, manometry, optical microscopy, and IR spectroscopy. The kinetics of the reaction in the solid state is described by the first-order equation of autocatalysis. The rate constants and activation parameters of HNIW thermal decomposition in the solid state and solution were determined. The content of N₂ amounts to approximately half of the gaseous products of HNIW thermolysis. The thermolysis of HNIW and its burning are accompanied by the formation of a condensed residue. During these processes, five of six nitro groups of the HNIW molecule are removed, and one NO₂ group remains in the residue, which contains amino groups and no C−H bonds. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 815–821, May, 2000.     

Saturated vapor pressures and enthalpies of evaporation of esters of glycerol and lower carboxylic acids

Saturated vapor pressures and enthalpies of evaporation of trisubstituted esters of glycerol and carboxylic acids C₁–C₅ with normal and branched structure were determined by the transpiration method in the temperature range of 300–371 K. Dependences of enthalpies of evaporation on the number of carbon atoms in a molecule and on the retention indices are established. Prognostic possibilities of existing calculation schemes are analyzed for compounds with three carboxyl groups in a molecule.     

Rank-1 approximation to the van der Waals interaction

We present and discuss a variational single-product approximation to the van der Waals dispersion interaction leading to a simple formula for C ₆ that seems capable to give more than 99% of the ‘exact’ value. The formula is derived from Hylleraas’ variational principle in the tensor product space of the interacting molecules and therefore enjoys bounding properties. The formula has been tested by computing the C ₆ dispersion constants of H–H, and, at Full CI level, of the following systems: He–He, He–Li, Li–Li, LiH–LiH, HF–HF. Connections with the London formula are discussed. Contribution to the Fernando Bernardi Memorial Issue.     

An investigation on eutectic binary phase diagram of volatilizable energetic materials by high pressure DSC

The eutectic binary phase diagrams of volatilizable energetic material 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine (TNAZ) with 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (RDX) and 1-methyl-2,4-dinitroimidazole (MDNI) have been investigated by high pressure differential scanning calorimeter (PDSC), respectively. The liquefying and melting processes of TNAZ/RDX and TNAZ/MDNI volatilizable systems have been studied. On the basis of the data of apparent fusion heat and liquefying temperature, the phase diagrams of apparent fusion heat (H) with composition (X) and liquefying temperature (T) with composition (X) were constructed, respectively. The results showed that the gasification or volatilization of easy volatile energetic materials could be efficiently restrained by high pressure atmosphere, and the perfect and ideal phase diagrams can be constructed. The eutectic temperatures for TNAZ/RDX and TNAZ/MDNI are measured to be 95.5 and 82.3 °C, respectively. The eutectic compositions of mole ratios for the two systems are obtained to be 93.55/6.45 (T–X method), 93.79/6.21 (H–X method) and 62.25/37.75 (T–X method), 63.29/33.71 (H–X method), respectively.     

The effect of the oxidative properties of [Mg(H2O)6] in the triplet and singlet states on the energetics of adenosine triphosphate cleavage

The interaction of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecule (the ATP subsystem) with the magnesium complex [Mg(H₂O)₆]²⁺ (the Mg subsystem) in the singlet (S) and triplet (T) states in an aqueous medium mimicked by 78 water molecules was studied by the molecular dynamics (density functional theory) method MD DFT:B3LYP with the 6–31G** basis set at T = 310 K. Potential energy surfaces for the S (lowest-lying) and T (highest-lying) states are significantly separated in space. The Mg complex moves along these surfaces to approach either oxygen atoms of the γ-β phosphate groups (O1–O2) (S PES) or oxygen atoms of β-α phosphate groups (O2–O3) (T PES). Chelation of the γ-β β-α and phosphates yields, respectively, a stable low-energy complex ([Mg(H₂O)₄-(O1–O2)ATP]²⁻) and a metastable high-energy complex ([Mg(H₂O)₂-(O2–O3)ATP]²⁻), which differ in the number of water molecules surrounding the Mg atom. Crossing of two triplet PESs is accompanied by the formation of an unstable state characterized by redistribution of spins between the Mg and ATP subsystems. This state, sensitive to interaction with the ²⁵Mg nuclear spin, induces an unpaired electron spin, which initiates the ATP cleavage by the ion-radical mechanism, yielding a reactive radical ion of adenosine monophosphate (•AMP⁻), which was earlier found experimentally by the of chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) method. Biological aspects of the results obtained are discussed. Original Russian Text ? A.A. Tulub, V.E. Stefanov, 2009, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 54, No. 7, pp. 1188–1195.