Nanodiamond-based energetic core-shell composites: The route towards safer materials

摘要

This work proposes to determine how diamond has an influence on the structure (core-shell morphology or not) as well as on the desensitization of ND-RDX (Nanodiamond - cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine) mixtures. RDX is one of the most used high performance explosives worldwide for military and civil applications. ND-RDX composite core-shell particles are obtained by Spray Flash Evaporation (SFE), a patented process developed in the laboratory. The characteristics and pyrotechnical properties of the resulting core-shell compounds are then compared to those of composite materials prepared by other means like slow evaporation and physical mixing. Further investigation of the sample morphology and the core-shell architecture are also discussed in the light of XPS and BET measurements. Finally, the interest of the nanodiamond properties to elaborate an energetic material that combines high energetic performance with desensitization to impact and friction in order to ensure safer handling is outlined hereinafter.