Effect of Porphyrin Doping on Thermodynamic Parameters of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) Single Crystals

Hikal, Walid M.; Bhattacharia, Sanjoy K.; Weeks, Brandon L.

doi:10.1002/prep.201100161

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Keywords: Single crystal · PETN · Doping · Impurities · Mass-Loss rate · Morphology ous works have demonstrated that doping with appropriate compounds can control such aging process of PETN [11,17,18]. For instance, it was shown that doping with homologs like dipentaerythritol hexanitrate (diPEHN) and tripentaerythritol octanitrate (triPEON) can lower the vapor pressure of PETN single crystals [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Homolog Doping on Surface Morphology and Mass‐Loss Rates from PETN Crystals: Studies using Atomic Force Microscope and Thermogravimetric Analysis

Bhattacharia

Maiti

Gee

et al. 2013

Propellants Explo Pyrotec

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Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) is an important energetic material, whose performance as a secondary explosive depends strongly on the density as well as flow porosity of powdered material, which in turn is governed by the size and surface properties of the PETN crystallite particles. Historically there has been evidence that the surface properties of PETN particles can be strongly influenced by the presence of homolog impurities of PETN, in particular, dipentaerythritol hexanitrate (diPEHN) and tripentaerythritol octanitrate (triPEON), although not many systematic studies characterizing such influence exist. In this work we employ thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to measure mass‐loss rates at elevated temperatures and show that doping with a small amount of diPEHN and triPEON can reduce the mass‐loss rate from PETN single‐crystal surfaces by as much as 35 % as compared to undoped crystals. Arrhenius plots of mass‐loss rates as a function of temperature suggest that the reduction in evaporation is not due to the change in activation barrier of the molecular evaporation process, but perhaps due to the impedance to the receding motion of the steps by the immobile impurities on the surface. Removal of surface impurities through gentle washing with ethanol leads to enhanced mass‐loss rate relative to pure PETN suggesting a roughened surface morphology. Some surface roughening in doped crystals is supported by Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of growth layers that show evidences of growth layer stacking and rough edges. We also find that a larger amount of impurity added to the original solution does not necessarily lead to a more highly doped crystal, which could perhaps be interpreted as PETN crystals being able to accommodate only up to a certain weight percent of homolog impurities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Homolog Doping on Surface Morphology and Mass‐Loss Rates from PETN Crystals: Studies using Atomic Force Microscope and Thermogravimetric Analysis

Bhattacharia

Maiti

Gee

et al. 2013

Propellants Explo Pyrotec

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“…This is followed by reaction with another equivalent of DNT to give the hydroxylated catalyst 16 and dehydroxylation eventually restores 10 184. The thermodynamic stability of 2,2-bis[(nitrooxy)methyl]propane-1,3-diyl dinitrate (PETN), another explosive with high brisance that was used, for example, in the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing, was enhanced via doping with an iron porphyrin 189. This is an early step towards the use of porphyrins to enhance the stability of energetic materials for safe use and IED disposal.…”

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confidence: 99%