Aluminized nitramine-based nanocomposites: Manufacturing technique and structure study

A technique for producing ultrafine nitramine powders and aluminized nanocomposites based on them is described. Powders of RDX, HMX, and 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (HNIWor CL-20) with an average crystal size of about 1 µm were produced by spray drying of solutions. Results of x-ray phase analysis showed that resulting nitramine was formed in an unstable crystalline phase state and the time of relaxation to an stable phase state is several tens of days. Experimental batches of explosive aluminized nanocomposites were produced by spray drying of a suspension of nanoaluminum (nAl) in a solution of nitramines with a mass content of nAl of 5, 15, and 25%. The effect of the composition of the barrier coating on nAl surfaces (an oxide coating, an organic coating based on unsaturated carboxylic acid, an organosilicon coating based on organosilazanes) and the nAl particle size on the structure of the nanocomposite product was studied. The effect of the suspension spraying conditions on the structure of nanocomposites is discussed.