Improved Synthesis and Characterization of New Energetic Compounds

The Navy seeks new energetic and oxidizing ingredients for use in propellant and explosive formulations of modern weapons systems. With recent developments in the design and synthesis of new energetic molecules, we have the opportunity to take the steps needed before these materials can successfully transition to use in next generation propulsion and ordnance systems. TDA Research and the University of Idaho propose to develop novel energetic materials that have performance superior to the benchmark energetics RDX and HMX. In Phase I, we will optimize the synthetic steps used to produce selected new energetic materials by minimizing the number of steps, optimizing precursor and final product yields, minimizing the costs of precursors and ingredients, and replacing toxic chemicals and solvents with less toxic chemicals and more environmentally acceptable processes. New energetic materials will be synthesized and characterized, and delivered to the Navy for further performance testing. The advances made in this project will enable us to transition this new energetic technology from the laboratory scale (grams) to the multi-kilogram scale, and eventually to the manufacture of ton-scale quantities that can meet the needs of the Navy.