Energetic Materials Research at LMU Munich: Is TKX-50 a thermally stable replacement for RDXa?

摘要

RDX (hexogen, Fig. 1) is still one of the most widely used high explosives in military energetic formulations. However, RDX and its degradation products are toxic for plants, microorganisms and microbes (earthworms), and RDX shows kidney toxicity in human beings. Conventional energetic materials (TNT, RDX), which are currently used by NATO armies for exercises on training grounds have an extremely negative ecological impact if they end up unwanted and uncontrolled in the environment as unexploded munitions (UXOs = unexploded ordnance), or through low-order as well as high-order detonations. This necessitates expensive and very time-consuming remediation and detoxification operations. The development of alternative energetic materials which are environmentally compatible but still fulfill the performance and insensitivity (i.e. safe handling), requirements of NATO armies, is an important step in the direction of developing ecologically compatible, non-toxic and sustainable highly energetic materials. For example, RDX is toxic when ingested or inhaled in large quantities, causing seizures, nausea and vomiting. Consequently, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has suggested a limit of 2 μg L~(-1) for RDX in drinking water. This value is, however, marginally overstepped in some areas in the vicinity of troop training grounds. Limits for RDX in the workplace have also been determined by NIOSH and correspond to 3 μg m~(-3) in air and 1.5 μg m~(-3) hr~(-1) for a 40 hour working week [1].