HMX is often used in military explosives and propellants
due to
its superior explosive properties. There already exist five different
crystal forms of HMX. This paper synthesized a new form of ζ-HMX,
in which the crystal is a trigonal system, and the space group is R3̅c. The crystal density is 1.330
g cm–3, and the calculated porosity is 31.0%, which
provides the possibility for adsorption inside molecules and coating
of military explosives. The crystal structure was tested by an X-ray
single-crystal diffractometer. The thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy,
powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), explosion performance, and safety
performance were compared with the most stable-state β-HMX.
The detonation velocity of ζ-HMX is 7530 m s–1, and the detonation pressure is 20.03 GPa. It has certain advantages
in sensitivity, and this experimental result is in good agreement
with the theoretical calculation of the crystal structure and electronic
energy. This study has a certain reference value for HMX application
in mixed explosives and propellants.