Effect of habit modifiers on morphology and properties of nano-HNS explosive in prefilming twin-fluid nozzle-assisted precipitation

Abstract

In order to investigate the effect of crystal habit modifiers (CHM) on morphology, purity, thermal properties, and short duration shock pulses sensitivity of HNS, nanocrystalline HNS was recrystallized from ultra-pure water by the prefilming twin-fluid nozzle-assisted precipitation (PTFN-P) method with two different CHMs and without CHM. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) and white dextrine (WD) were selected as CHMs. The particles were characterized using SEM, BET, HPLC, DSC, and electrically exploded metal-foil driven flyer plate. The morphology of HNS explosive without modifiers was demonstrated to be short plate-like. However, in the presence of CMC-Na and WD as modifiers, long plate-like and ellipsoid morphologies were observed, respectively. The nanocrystalline HNS prepared with CMC-Na was more receptive to high velocity flyer impact than samples produced under the other two conditions. Its sensitivity to short duration shock waves was elevated to twice the value of HNS obtained in the absence of modifiers. CMC-Na was found to be a better modifier. © 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.