Advances in science and technology of modern energetic materials: an overview.

Energetic salts offer many advantages over conventional energetic molecular compounds. The use of nitrogen containing anions and cations contributes to high heats of formations and high densities. Their low carbon and hydrogen content gives rise to a good oxygen balance. The decomposition of these compounds is predominantly through the generation of dinitrogen which makes them very promising candidates for highly energetic materials for industrial or military applications.

Energetic nitrogen-rich salts and ionic liquids.

Environmentally compatible next generation green energetic materials (GEMs).

Fireworks are probably the application of chemistry which resonates best with the general public. However, fireworks and (civil and military) pyrotechnic applications cause environmental pollution and thus have given rise to the development of new, environmentally friendly pyrotechnic compounds and formulations. Nitrogen-rich energetic materials, such as the derivatives of tetrazoles and tetrazines, are about to revolutionize traditional pyrotechnic compositions. This Review summarizes the sources of pollution in current formulations and recent efforts toward "green" pyrotechnics.

Green Pyrotechnics : A Chemists' Challenge

Volume parameters for room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) and salts were developed. For 59 of the most common imidazolium, pyridinium, pyrrolidinium, tetralkylammonium, and phosphonium-based RTILs, the mean absolute deviation (MAD) of the densities is 0.007 g cm-3; for 35 imidazolium-based room-temperature salts, the MAD is 0.020 g cm-3; and for 150 energetic salts, the MAD is 0.035 g cm-3. The experimental density (Y) for an alkylated imidazolium or pyridinium-based room-temperature ionic liquid is approximately proportional to its calculated density (X) in the solid state:  Y = 0.948X − 0.110 (correlation coefficient:  R2 = 0.998, for BF4-, PF6-, NTf2--containing ionic liquids); Y = 0.934X − 0.070 (correlation coefficient:  R2 = 0.999, for OTf -, CF3CO2-, N(CN)2--containing ionic liquids).

Rapid and Accurate Estimation of Densities of Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids and Salts

The preparation and properties of three unique high-nitrogen materials based on the anion azotetrazolate are described. Cations examined were the ammonium, guanidinium and triaminoguanidinium. These compounds are unique in their gas generating ability with little or no smoke or residue produced. These materials have possible applications as explosives, pyrotechnics, gas generants and low signature propellants.

J. R. Stine

Papers

High-nitrogen energetic materials derived from azotetrazolate