Microfluidic Platform for Preparation and Screening of Narrow Size-Distributed Nanoscale Explosives and Supermixed Composite Explosives

A microfluidic platform suitable for the research, preparation, and screening of nanoscale single-compound and composite explosives was established. The microfluidic platform consisting of a microfluidic oscillator and a microchip reactor has the characteristics of excellent mixing performance, fast preparation, and less sample consumption. Furthermore, the recrystallization growth kinetics of explosives under microscale conditions was studied. Here we use typical explosives HNS (2,2′,4,4′,6,6′-hexanitrostibene) and HMX (cyclotetramethylenete tranitramine) as samples to study the applicability of the microfluidic platform in preparation and screening of nanoscale and composite explosives. Using the microfluidic platform, the optimal preparation conditions were screened efficiently. Additionally, narrow size-distributed nanoscale HNS and supermixed HNS & HMX composite were prepared with production rate of about 45 mg/min. This study demonstrates the feasibility of an efficient, low-cost, and safe way to prepare and screen nanoscale single-compound and composite explosives.