The precipitation of CL‐20 with different chemical purity is presented herein. Studies have shown that the first crystallization of the crude CL‐20 does not allow achieving the expected polymorphic purity and slightly increases chemical purity. Further precipitation processes result in gradual increase of the chemical purity about 1–2 % and in the improvement of the properties of crystals, i.e. density, polymorphic purity, and sensitivity to friction. This paper attempts a preliminary purification of the crude CL‐20 with columns filled with activated charcoal. A material of high purity, obtained by this process, was used in the process of precipitation. As a result of the crystallization a sample of CL‐20 was obtained with high chemical purity of 99.5 % and significantly reduced sensitivity to friction (128 N) and to impact (4 J). Additionally, samples of CL‐20, recovered from the filtrate after crystallization with a chemical purity of about 88 %, were purified on columns filled with activated charcoal. In this process a significant amount of impurities was removed and the purity was increased to 96 %.

No abstract

The classification of explosives in accordance with GHS is based on the system defined in the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations. In many cases, classification of explosives depends on certain transport packaging. This approach results in that a number of classified explosives, after removal from the transport packaging, being placed in to another division and compatibility group, what is not communicated by the hazard communication elements appearing on the label. Experts of the GHS Sub-Committee from 2015 have been taking action to change the system of explosives classification, so that the criteria allow for proper assessment of the hazard posed by a specific explosive in a configuration other than for transport.

In this paper, the effect of antisolvent addition rate on the yield and polymorphic purity of the obtained product, in order to optimise the 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) precipitation process using a solvent/antisolvent system, was determined. It was found that increased dispensing rate of the antisolvent results in increased supersaturation in the mother liquor. This, in turn, increases the nucleation rate. The prevalence of the process of creating new seeds reduces the growth rate of the crystal, which affects the size distribution of the final crystallisation product. Reducing the time of the process results in the transformation of the initially formed, kinetically stable polymorph β, into the thermodynamically stable ε form with a lower yield, than the yield obtained after increased time.