Introduction and Overview

Cumming, Adam S.

doi:10.1002/9783527816651.ch1

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Recycling the explosives from munitions is often seen as a way of covering the costs of disposal, as the recovered energetics can possibly be reused for civil and military applications. The literature [ 8 , 9 ] presents techniques such as supercritical fluid extraction, liquid ammonia extraction, and organic solvent extraction that can produce recovered material that may be acceptable for use. But the major drawback is the need to satisfy authorities regarding the consistency and safety of the recovered materials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Green” PBX Formulations Based on High Explosives (RDX and HMX) and Water-Soluble pH-Sensitive Polymeric Binders

et al. 2023

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The increasingly harsher and more complex international and European environmental legislation drives the current development of “greener” energetics materials and munitions. The aerospace and defense industries rely on extensive research in the formulation and scale-up production of polymer-bonded explosives (PBX). In this context, this paper aims to present a versatile method for obtaining “green” PBX formulations based on two high explosives (hexogen (RDX) and octogen (HMX)) and acrylic acid—ethyl acrylate copolymeric binders. This study developed an innovative “eco-friendly” technology for coating the RDX and HMX crystals, allowing straightforward and safer manufacture of PBX, avoiding the use of traditional organic solvents. At the same time, these polymeric binders are soluble in water at a slightly alkaline pH and insoluble at acidic or neutral pH, thus ensuring a safer manipulation of the energetic materials during their entire life cycle and a facile recovery of the explosive in its original shape and morphology in demilitarization. The PBX formulations were characterized via specific analytical tools to evaluate the influence of their composition on the safety and performance characteristics: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), alkaline pH solubility tests, differential thermal analysis (DTA), impact sensitivity test (BAM Fall Hammer Test), friction sensitivity test (BAM Friction Test), electrostatic sensitivity test (ESD), vacuum stability test, small scale shock reactivity test (SSRT), detonation velocity test. The “green” PBX formulations obtained through a simple and innovative coating method, based on the polymeric binders’ adjustable water solubility, demonstrated remarkable energetic performances and a facile recovery of the explosive crystals by the dissolution of the polymeric binder at pH 11 and 30 °C.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…But the major drawback is the need to satisfy authorities regarding the consistency and safety of the recovered materials. These materials must be demonstrated to be safe in themselves and that no contaminants remain, which will prevent safe use and significantly add to the cost [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%