Synthesis and Characterization of Energetic Plasticizer AMDNNM

AbstractThe synthesis of room temperature liquid azidomethyl-dinitroxydimethyl-nitromethane (AMDNNM, 5) in 57% overall yield and its formulation with nitrocellulose (AMDNNM/NC) are described. The small-scale explosive sensitivity of neat AMDNNM was determined to be slightly more sensitive than PETN, whereas AMDNNM/NC is significantly less sensitive. Both neat AMDNNM and AMDNNM/NC have thermal stabilities similar to that of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). The explosive and chemical properties of this novel material make it a good candidate for an energetic plasticizer.Keywords: nitrate estersplasticizernitrocellulose ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThe authors thank Stephanie Hagelberg for elemental analyses; Mary Sandstrom and Geoff Brown for thermal analyses; and Daniel Preston for sensitivity tests.Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by the DoD/DOE Joint Munitions Technology Development Program.