Production of Energic Materials and Associated Precursors - Nitrates

The primary objective of DLA SBIR Topic DLA222-005 is to develop domestic resources to support the production of energetic materials and precursors including metal nitrates. Energetic materials are a class of material that can release chemical energy stored in their molecular structure. Upon external stimulation, such as heat, shock, or electrical current, these materials will emit energy in a short time. Based on their applications, energetic materials can be classified as explosives, propellants, or pyrotechnics. The proposal developed by METSS seeks to fill a void in the supply chain for critical precursor materials based on metal nitrates, specifically Strontium Nitrate, Barium Nitrate, and Potassium Nitrate. The military performance specifications for these products are MIL-S-20322B, MIL-B-162D, and MIL-DTL-156C, respectively. The key to this proposal, and to capitalizing on the SBIR opportunity, is leveraging existing commercial resources to meet DoD product demands and creating commercial sales opportunities for the new domestic supplier to establish a commercially sustainable and scalable supply base for these metal salts to meet future DLA acquisition needs.