ReaxFF (van Duin, A.C.T.; Dasgupta, S.; Lorant, F.; Goddard, W.A. J. Phys. Chem. A, 2001, 105, 9396-9409) reactive potentials are parametrized for cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) and 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7) in a novel application combining data envelopment analysis and a modern self-adaptive evolutionary algorithm to optimize multiple objectives simultaneously and map the entire family of solutions. In order to correct the poor crystallographic parameters predicted by ReaxFF using its base parametrization (Strachan, A.; van Duin, A. C. T.; Chakraborty, D.; Dasgupta S.; Goddard, W. A. Phys. Rev. Lett., 2003, 91, 098301), we augmented the existing training set data used for parametrization with additional (SAPT)DFT calculations of RDX and FOX-7 dimer interactions. By adjusting a small subset of the ReaxFF parameters that govern long-range interactions, the evolutionary algorithm approach converges on a family of solutions that best describe crystallographic parameters through simultaneous optimization of the objective functions. Molecular dynamics calculations of RDX and FOX-7 are conducted to assess the quality of the force fields, resulting in parametrizations that improve the overall prediction of the crystal structures.

The Multiple Objective Evolutionary Strategies (MOES) algorithm was used to parametrize force fields having the form of the reactive models ReaxFF (van Duin, A. C. T.; Dasgupta, S.; Lorant, F.; Goddard, W. A. J. Phys. Chem. A 2001, 105, 9396) and ReaxFF-lg (Liu, L.; Liu, Y.; Zybin, S. V.; Sun, H.; Goddard, W. A. J. Phys. Chem. A 2011, 115, 11016) in an attempt to produce equal or superior ambient state crystallographic structural results for cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX). Promising candidates were then subjected to molecular dynamics simulations of five other well-known conventional energetic materials to assess the degree of transferability of the models. Two models generated through the MOES search were shown to have performance better than or as good as ReaxFF-lg in describing the six energetic systems modeled. This study shows that MOES is an effective and efficient method to develop complex force fields.

To elucidate the mechanisms of energy release in a reacting nickel/aluminum bilayer, we simulate the exothermic alloying reactions using both microcanonical and isoenthalpic-isobaric molecular dynamics simulations and an embedded-atom method type potential. The mechanism of the mixing consists of a sequence of steps in which mixing and reaction first occurs at the interface; the resulting heat generated from the mixing then melts the Al layer; subsequent mixing leads to further heat generation after which the Ni layer melts. The mixing continues until the alloying reactions are completed. The results indicate that pressure has a significant influence on the rates of atomic mixing and alloying reactions. Local pressures and temperatures within the individual layers at the time of melting are calculated, and these results are compared with the pressure-dependent melting curves determined for pure Al and pure Ni using this interaction potential.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using a recently developed first-principles-based embedded-atom-method (EAM) potential are used to simulate the exothermic alloying reactions of a Ni/Al bilayer initially equilibrated at 1200 K. Simulations are performed in the isobaric-isoenthalpic (NPH) ensemble, which provides insight into the influence of pressure on atomic mixing and the subsequent alloying reaction. For pressures lower than 8 GPa, the mechanism of mixing is the same: as mixing and reaction occur at the interface, the heat generated first melts the Al layer, and subsequent mixing leads to further heat generation after which the Ni layer melts, leading to additional mixing until the alloying reactions are completed. However, for simulations at pressures higher than 8 GPa, the reaction does not occur within the time interval of the simulation. The results will be compared with our previous simulations of a Ni/Al bilayer using a different interatomic potential, which predicts substantially different pressure-dependent melting behavior of the pure components. This comparative study suggests that pressure-dependent melting behavior of components of reactive materials can be used to influence reaction rates and mechanisms.

Nanoenergetic material modifications for enhanced performance and stability require an understanding of the mechanical properties and molecular structure-property relationships of materials. We investigate the mechanical and tribological properties of single-crystal hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine (RDX) by force-displacement microscopy and molecular dynamics (MD). Our MD simulations reveal the RDX reduced modulus (Er) depends on the particular crystallographic surface. The predicted Er values for the respective (210) and (001) surfaces are 26.8 and 21.0 GPa. Further, our simulations reveal a symmetric and fairly localized deformation occurring on the (001) surface compared to an asymmetric deformation on the (210) surface. The predicted hardness (H) values are nearly equal for both surfaces. The predicted Er and H values are ∼33% and 17% greater than the respective experimental values of 0.798 ± 0.030 GPa and 22.9 ± 0.7 GPa for the (210) surface and even larger than those reported previously. Our experimental H and Er values are ∼19% and 9% greater than those reported previously for the (210) surface. The difference between the experimental values reported here and elsewhere stems in part from an inaccurate determination of the contact area. We employ the parameter √H/Er, which is independent of area, as a means to compare present and past results, and find excellent agreement, within a few percent, between our predicted and experimental results and between our results and those obtained from previous nanoindentation experiments. Also, we performed nanoscratch simulations of the (210) and (001) surfaces and nanoscratch tests on the (210) surface and present values of the dynamic coefficient of deformation friction.