Darren L. Naud

Giant Momentum Coupling Coefficients from Nanoscale Laser-initiated Exothermic Compounds

*† ‡ § ** †† ‡‡ We report here on results obtained with laser-initiated micro-propellants, such as PVN, PVC, GAP, NC, and mixtures of these. All samples were doped with a laser absorbing component. In some cases, this was carbon nanopearls with 10nm mean diameter, while, in others, it was a carbon-based ink with ∝m-size particles. We also report results of performance tests for absorbers tuned to the 935-nm laser wavelength.

Improved synthetic routes to polynitroheterocycles

Abstract The preparations of several explosive precursors utilizing oxidative nitration are described. These include 1,3-di-t-butyl-5,5-dinitrohexahydropyrimidine, 3-t-butyl-5,5-dinitrotetrahydro-1,3-oxazine, 2,2-dinitro-1,3-propanediol (ADIOL) and potassium aci-2,2-dinitroethanol. The former pyrimidine and oxazine precursors were nitrolyzed to 1,3,5,5-tetranitrohexahydropyrimidine (DNNC) and 3,5,5-trinitrotetrahydro-1,3-oxazine (TriNOx). ADIOL, a widely used reagent in explosives preparation, was prepared by the trans-ketalization of 2,2-dimethyl-5,5-dinitro-1,3-dioxane. The dioxane was prepared in high yield by the oxidative nitration of 5-hydroxymethyl-2,2-dimethyl-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane. The little known explosive, 1,3,3,5,5-pentanitro-piperidine (PNP), has been prepared from potassium aci-2,2,4,4-tetranitrobutanol and t-butylamine hydrochloride. The vacuum thermal stabilities of DNNC, TriNOx and PNP at 100°C are reported.

Improvements in Nanoparticle Dispersion Methods for Solid Propellants

Several numerical and experimental techniques for determining the state of dispersion of a nanoparticle-containing composite system are presented. The numerical investigations range in scale from molecular to mesoscale, using a combination of molecular dynamics and dissipative particle dynamics simulations to determine mix behavior. Experiments were performed to validate these numerical models and determine suitable mixing techniques for creating a disperse nanoparticle composite. In concert, the numerical and experimental results illuminate several pathways for improvements in solid propellant nanoparticle dispersion, including variations in mass fraction, input mixing energy, and particle coating.