Nitration Products of 5‐Amino‐1H‐tetrazole and Methyl‐5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazoles – Structures and Properties of Promising Energetic Materials

The nitration of 5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazole ( 1 ), 5‐amino‐1‐methyl‐1H‐tetrazole ( 3 ), and 5‐amino‐2‐methyl‐2H‐tetrazole ( 4 ) with HNO₃ (100%) was undertaken, and the corresponding products 5‐(nitrimino)‐1H‐tetrazole ( 2 ), 1‐methyl‐5‐(nitrimino)‐1H‐tetrazole ( 5 ), and 2‐methyl‐5‐(nitramino)‐2H‐tetrazole ( 6 ) were characterized comprehensively using vibrational (IR and Raman) spectroscopy, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁴N, and ¹⁵N) NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The molecular structures in the crystalline state were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The thermodynamic properties and thermal behavior were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the heats of formation were determined by bomb calorimetric measurements. Compounds 2, 5 , and 6 were all found to be endothermic compounds. The thermal decompositions were investigated by gas‐phase IR spectroscopy as well as DSC experiments. The heats of explosion, the detonation pressures, and velocities were calculated with the software EXPLO5, whereby the calculated values are similar to those of common explosives such as TNT and RDX. In addition, the sensitivities were tested by BAM methods (drophammer and friction) and correlated to the calculated electrostatic potentials. The explosion performance of 5 was investigated by Koenen steel sleeve test, whereby a higher explosion power compared to RDX was reached. Finally, the long‐term stabilities at higher temperatures were tested by thermal safety calorimetry (FlexyTSC). X‐Ray crystallography of monoclinic 2 and 6 , and orthorhombic 5 was performed.     

Contemplation on Detonation Pressures of Nitramines and ­Nitro Aromatics

A physical model and a mathematical theory for the detonation pressures of explosives materials were developed. The pressure values are expressed as function of the detonation velocity (D) and the average mass (m) of the gaseous products, and are applied for various nitramines and aromatic nitro compounds including nitro pyrimidines and nitro triazines. Some regression equations were obtained and discussed. The pressure values show poor linear dependence on the average mass of the products but good dependence on the detonation velocities alone or Dm. Moreover, for the same Dm value nitramines should produce more pressure than aromatic nitro compounds. This work deals with pressure developed by explosion products and interrelates it with detonation pressure within the constraints of certain assumptions and pays attention to so far unnoticed relationships at least under certain circumstances.     

Computational analysis of some possible initial steps in the unimolecular thermal decompositions of 1,3-diazacyclobutane and its 1,3-dinitramine derivative

Summary We have investigated some possible initial steps in the unimolecular thermal decompositions of 1,3-diazacyclobutane and its 1,3-dinitramine derivative, the latter being selected as the simplest example of a symmetric cyclic nitramine. Vibrational analyses were used to identify normal modes that, in the extreme limits, would correspond to bond rupture and molecular decomposition. The energy requirements for ring fragmentation and N-N bond-breaking were computed at the MP4/6-31G level, using SCF 3-21G optimized structures. It was concluded that ring-fragmentation is a probable initiating step in the decomposition of the unsubstituted molecule, and that it is roughly competitive with N-N bond scission for the dinitramine. The nitronitrite rearrangement is predicted, on the basis of SCF calculations, to be less likely than either of the other two processes. It is proposed that N-N bond-breaking may be of primary importance for nitramine stability, but that energetic performance may be determined more by decomposition pathways having energy barriers.     

Study of initiation reactivity of some plastic explosives by vacuum stability test and non-isothermal differential thermal analysis

On the basis of measurements of 18 high explosives by means of the Czech Vacuum Stability Test (VST) STABIL, a relationship has been specified between the results of this test and those of Russian manometric method. The said relationship was used to predict the Arrhenius parameters (E_a and log A values) of four plastic explosives based on RDX and one high explosive based on PETN (Semtex). The slopes E_aR⁻¹ of Kissinger's equation were specified by means of non-isothermal differential thermal analysis (DTA) and evaluation of the measurement results by means of the Kissinger method. The role played by binders and plasticizers in thermal decomposition of nitramines was pointed out on the basis of relationship between the E_a values obtained from VST and the E_aR⁻¹ values obtained from DTA, both for plastic explosives, eight nitramines, Composition B and PETN. The relationships between the E_aR⁻¹ values and thermostability threshold was specified for the given group of explosives. The relationship classify some of the studied plastic explosives as belonging to nitramines with steric hindrance in the molecule (CPX, TNAZ and HNIW). The relationship between E_aR⁻¹ values and drop energies, E_dr, sharply differentiates between plastic explosives and individual nitramines. From the relationship between the E_dr and D² values it was found that the increasing performance of the studied nitramines and plastic explosives is connected with the decrease in their impact sensitivity. Also specified are the approximate linear dependences between the peak temperatures of exothermic decomposition of all the explosives studied and their ignition temperatures, T_ig, or critical temperatures, T_c; these dependences were applied to prediction of T_ig and T_c of both the studied plastic explosives and some of the nitramines.     

Determination of explosives in environmental water samples by solid-phase microextraction-liquid chromatography

When explosives are present in natural aqueous media, their concentration is usually limited to trace levels. A preconcentration step able to remove matrix interferences and to enhance sensitivity is therefore necessary. In the present study, we evaluated solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique for the recovery of nine explosives from aqueous samples using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). Several parameters, including adsorption and desorption time, coating type, rate of stirring, salt addition, and pH, were optimized to obtain reproducible data with good accuracy. Carbowax coating was the only adsorbent found capable of adsorbing all explosives including nitramines. Method detection limits (MDL) were found to range from 1 to 10 microg/L, depending on the analyte. SPME/HPLC-UV coupling was then applied to the analysis of natural ocean and groundwater samples and compared to conventional solid-phase extraction (SPE/HPLC-UV). Excellent agreement was observed between both techniques, but with an analysis time around five times shorter, SPME/HPLC-UV was considered to be applicable for quantitative analysis of explosives.     

Kinetic compensation effect and thermolysis mechanisms of organic polynitroso and polynitro compounds

The present study starts from the published values of the Arrhenius parameters E_a and log A of thermolysis in the condensed state of seven nitrosamines and one hundred organic polynitro compounds. On the basis of the linear relationship between E_aand log A, the set studied has been divided into several reaction series, each of which is characterized by a mechanism of primary thermolysis. For compounds with intense intermolecular interactions in a crystal, the classification mentioned is codetermined by the stabilizing effect of the crystal lattice. In the context of this effect, the absence of an effect of solid-liquid transition on thermal reactivity of octogen (HMX) has been confirmed. The idea also presented is that, in the primary homolysis in thermolyses of polynitro compounds, there takes place a mutual interaction of molecules of the given compound, which is analogous to termination interactions of nitroarenes in radical polymerizations.     

Rapid detection of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives on chromatographic paper and their reflectometric sensing on PVC tablets

Rapid and inexpensive sensing of explosive traces in soil and post-blast debris for environmental and criminological purposes with optical sensors has recently gained importance. The developed sensing method for nitro-aromatic and nitramine-based explosives is based on dropping an acetone solution of the analyte to an adsorbent surface, letting the solvent to dry, spraying an analytical reagent to produce a persistent spot, and indirectly measuring its reflectance by means of a miniature spectrometer. This method proved to be useful for on-site determination of nitro-aromatics (trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethylnitramine (tetryl) and dinitrotoluene (DNT)) and nitramines (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (RDX) and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX)) pre-adsorbed on a poly vinyl chloride (PVC) surface, with the use of different spray reagents for each group of explosives producing different colors. The calibration equations of the tested compounds as reflectance vs. concentration showed excellent linearity (correlation coefficient: 0.998-0.999). The linear quantification interval in terms of absolute quantity of analyte was 0.1-0.5 μg. The developed method was successfully tested for the analysis of military explosives Comp B and Octol, and was validated against high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The reflectometric sensing method could also be used for qualitative identification of the nitrated explosives on a chromatographic paper. The reagent-impregnated paper could also serve as sensor, enabling semi-quantitative determinations of TNT and tetryl.     

Flame structure of composite pseudo-propellants based on nitramines and azide polymers at high pressure

The chemical and thermal structures of flame of composite pseudo-propellants based on cyclic nitramines (HMX, RDX) and azide polymers (GAP and BAMO–AMMO copolymer) were investigated at a pressure of 1.0 MPa by molecular beam mass spectrometry and a microthermocouple technique. Eleven species H₂, H₂O, HCN, CO, CO₂, N₂, N₂O, CH₂O, NO, NO₂, and nitramine vapor (RDX_v or HMX_v), were identified, and their concentration profiles were measured in HMX/GAP and RDX/GAP pseudo-propellant flames at a pressure of 1 MPa. Two main zones of chemical reactions in the flame of nitramine/GAP pseudo-propellants were found. In the first, narrow, zone 0.1 mm wide (adjacent to the burning surface), complete consumption of nitramine vapor and NO₂ with the formation of NO, HCN, CO, H₂, and N₂ occurs. In the second, wider high-temperature zone, oxidation of HCN and CH₂O by NO and N₂O with the subsequent formation of CO, H₂, and N₂ takes place. The leading reactions in the high-temperature zone of flame of nitramine/GAP pseudo-propellants are the same as in the case of pure nitramines. In the case of nitramine/BAMO–AMMO pseudo-propellants a presence of carbonaceous particles on the burning surface did not allow us to analyze the zone adjacent to the burning surface, therefore only one flame zone was found. Temperature profiles in the combustion wave of nitramine/azide polymer pseudo-propellants were measured at 1 MPa. The data obtained can be used to develop and validate a self-sustain combustion model for pseudo-propellants based on nitramines and azide polymers.     

Investigation on the Sodium and Potassium Tetrasalts of 1,1,2,2‐Tetranitraminoethane

With respect to high‐energy dense materials with high oxygen‐content, the tetrasodium salt of 1,1,2,2‐tetranitraminoethane as monohydrate Na₄TNAE · H₂O ( 4 ) and the tetrapotassium salt as dihydrate K₄TNAE · 2H₂O ( 5 ) were synthesized and reported for the first time together with their crystal structures at 173 K. Whilst 4 cannot be dehydrated the crystal water content of 5 can be removed irreversibly at 160 °C to obtain K₄TNAE ( 6 ) as demonstrated by DTA and TGA measurements. K₄TNAE ( 6 ) was demonstrated using the small scale reactivity test to be a inferior explosive to RDX and CL‐20. However the anionic nitramine compound was measured to be less toxic against Vibrio fischeri than RDX (EC₅₀: 240 mg · L^–1) with respect to its EC₅₀ value above 15070 mg · L^–1. This demonstrates that the introduction of anionic nitramine moieties is a promising concept for the stabilization of energetic materials with lower toxicity.