Propellants Explosives Pyrotechnics, Vol.36, No.1, 65-74, 2011
Continuous Crystallization of Submicrometer Energetic Compounds
This study introduces the conception of an apparatus to crystallize continuously nanosized explosive or more generally nanosized organic materials. These materials can be elaborated in pure state or in form of mixtures of energetic and inert materials. The installation can produce nano-RDX or nano-PETN from 1 to 10 g h(-1) using a reactor containing one ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer. The present study describes the different parameters which influence the crystallization process. It presents first results of the parametric study of the influence of these parameters. The most important parameters which were already identified are the frequency of the ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer, the nature of the solvent, the liquid level in the reactor, the temperatures in the system, and the passing time of the aerosol droplets in the oven.