TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes, Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Selectable Output Weapon FNC

OBJECTIVE: Design, develop, characterize and demonstrate methods for the preparation of an advanced energetic whose energy output is similar to or exceeds RDX but whose sensitivity characteristics are similar to those of 1,3,5-Triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene TATB.

DESCRIPTION: Solve the following paradox: "Mission requirements impose the following conflicting demands for weapon systems" -- for which we lack a fundamental science base
• Resistant to inadvertent initiation, to save lives
• Significant enhancements in delivered energy in smaller weapons, to reduce system & platform cost

Since the end of the Cold War, the United States faces primarily military conflicts of an asymmetric nature. Our military opponents seek to use surprise and strategy to offset deficiencies in quantity and quality of their weapons relative to the United States. The most obvious limitation of Energetic Materials (EM) used today is that the Navy is using 19th century ingredients in 21st century weaponry to meet 21st century warfighting requirements. Most commodity EM ingredients (Nitroglycerin (NG), Nitrocellulose (NC), Trinitrotoluene (TNT) Ammonium Perchlorate (AP), RDX--AKA the workhorse industrial based high energy ingredients used for gun propellants, general purpose bomb fills and call for fires date from WW-2) and cannot meet today’s safety, environmental and IM regulations. These materials were designed and produced in a different time with different military operational criteria in place. These 19th century materials need to be phased out of Navy use in favor of the next generation EM meeting today’s applications and regulations.

Over the past 50 years RDX and HMX have been the most commonly used energetic ingredient used in advanced military weapon system for both explosive and propellant applications. While these systems function well, there inherent sensitivity to shock, impact and thermal hazards make their use a continuing safety and environmental hazard to users and manufacturers. Another line of energetic materials, TATB or FOX-7 ingredients demonstrate extremely favorable sensitivity properties, but lack the required performance. The focus of this program is to develop new revolutionary advanced energetic materials to replace RDX and HMX in current weapon systems and achieve TATB sensitivity characteristics.

The new ingredients should provide the following general characteristics:
Density > 2g/cc
Oxygen content > CO balance
Melting Pt >200 C
Low vapor pressures
Min. No. of Synthetic Steps
Sensitivity comparable or superior to Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and approaching TATB.

PHASE I: Design and prepare conceptual synthesis routes to new insensitive ingredients with the calculated energy of RDX, but with anticipated sensitivities similar to TNT or TATB. Down select and synthesize up to 5-gm samples of these new materials after consultation with the program COTR. Provide characterization, analysis, and delivery to government laboratories for evaluation of sensitivity characteristics—impact, ESD, VTS and friction (to be conducted at an independent Navy laboratory).

PHASE II: Scale-up and optimize the synthesis process to pound quantities for larger-scale evaluation. Investigate process research and establish parameters to define process for manufacturing of pure material for delivery of 2000lb. per year.

PHASE III: Transition technology to next generation propulsion and ordnance systems per appropriate PMA/PMS road maps. Provide costing and data package for pilot production of materials based on requirements and need. Examples include missile systems, general purpose bomb ordnance and underwater explosives.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: While the principle application for high energy ingredients is military in nature, insensitive materials with RDX performance could be used for selected commercial applications, potential custom explosive applications in mining and drilling can be envisioned, particular for a safe, stable, long-shelf life material.

REFERENCES:
1. Philip E. Eaton, Mao-Xi Zhang, Richard Gilardi, Nat Gelber, Sury Iyer, Rao Surapaneni, Prop., Explos., Pyrotech, 27, 1, 2002.

2. A.T. Nielsen, S. Barbara, Caged Polynitramine Compound, U.S. Patent 5,693,794, 1997-12-02.

3. Subbiah Venkatachalam, Gopalakrishnan Santhosh, Kovoor Ninan Ninan Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics 29, 178, 2004.

KEYWORDS: Insensitivity; Energetic Materials; Explosives; Monopropellants; Synthesis; Weapons

Questions may also be submitted through DoD SBIR/STTR SITIS website.