New nitrogen-rich high explosives

Abstract

The possibility of new high explosives based on nitrogen-rich tetrazole building blocks is discussed. The expected advantages include gaseous products, high heats of formation, high propulsive/expolosive power, high specific impulse, and high flame temperatures. In addition, these new explosives do not have the toxicity and environmental activity of currently used organo-nitro explosives. The synthesis and characteristics of a series of neutral tetrazole compounds are looked at as well as the neutral nitramine, dinitrobiuret. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.