Shouei Yiu1, Marcus Lommel1, Jörg Stierstorfer1, Thomas M. Klapötke1
1 Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
Abstract. A primary explosive is a crucial component in the initiation chain, forming a shockwave from external stimulus. Commonly used heavy metal based primary explosives, such as lead styphnate (LS) and lead azide (LA) are known to contaminate the environment and exhibit high toxicity. Therefore, use of lead-based explosives is planned to be prohibited by the European Union in the near future. Although, the trend of research is currently more focused on energetic coordination compounds (ECC), the rich history, application and the cost of nitrophenol-derivatives and their salts remains attractive for development of future primary explosives. Together with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (PA), 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-1,3-diol (styphnic acid) has played a large role in the development of modern energetic materials. As noted earlier, lead styphnate has been successfully employed in current priming mixtures. With this in mind, taking a step back from synthesis of novel ECCs and following the more conventional route of creating non-toxic nitrophenol salts was the point of interest in the following research. Multiple literature known compounds such as potassium styphnate, as well as novel alkali metal and alkaline earth metal styphnates were synthesized for this purpose. Following those syntheses, the constitutions of different styphnate salts were confirmed using single crystal X-ray diffraction, and its purity was determined by elemental analysis (EA). To evaluate the applicability of these styphnate salts, standard analysis methods for energetic materials were employed. These methods included, differential thermal analysis (DTA), hot plate (HP)/hot needle (HN) test, initiation test, as well as the sensitivity measurements for impact (IS), friction (FS) and electrostatic discharge (ESD).
Keywords: Potassium Styphnate; Calcium Styphnate; Primary Explosive; Styphnate;
ID: 50, Contact: Shouei Yiu, shoyich@cup.uni-muenchen.de | NTREM 2025 |