The study of ZIOC researchers was listed as one of the best papers published in prestigious international journal CrystEngComm during the last quarter

The development of high-energy materials (HEM) is an important strategic task of ensuring the defense capability of our country. Efficient HEM must have a high density, significant enthalpy of formation and a balanced elemental composition, as well as be thermally and chemically stable, safe during handling and transportation. Meeting all these requirements in one molecule is quite problematic. However, the properties of HEM are determined not only by their chemical structure, but also by the morphology of the material particles. Effective control of particle morphology can reduce their sensitivity to unwanted stimuli, preserving or even improving the energetic characteristics of compounds already proven in practice.

One of the latest works of the laboratory № 11 of Zelinsky Institute is devoted to the development of an effective and safe method for producing a micro-sized powder of the most powerful energy-intensive substance — hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) in a given crystalline modification using liquefied gases. The use of tetrafluoroethane as an active medium allows for selective preparation of uniform ultrafine β- or ε-CL-20 particles under mild conditions. It should be also noted that the developed ε-CL-20 production method favorably differs from the known analogues by its tolerance to the quality of the initial substrate, increased environmental and industrial safety and ease of product isolation. The achieved results may find application in the development and production of modern CL-20-based high-energy materials.

This study was highly evaluated by the reviewers of the international journal CrystEngComm, and the article was awarded the status "HOT Article".

Source:

M. N. Zharkov, I. V. Kuchurov, and S. G. Zlotin Micronization of CL-20 using supercritical and liquefied gases CrystEngComm, 2020, 22, 7549-7555. DOI: 10.1039/d0ce01167c.