Production of Composites Containing Energetic Nano-Crystals RDX by Sol-Gel Method

Sol-gel chemistry is an approach to creating new energetic materials at the nanometer scale. Sol-gel approach to energetic materials offers the possibility of precisely controlling the composition, density, morphology and particle size of the target material at the nanometer scale. These are important variables for both safety and performance considerations. Such variables are difficult to achieve by conventional techniques.The fine control of these parameters allows the chemist the convenience of making energetic materials with tailored properties. Sol-gel is a method for creating stable energetic materials, so ambient temperature gelation and low-temperature drying schemes prevent the degradation of the energetic molecules and the water-like viscosity of the sol before gelation allows easy casting to near net shapes, which is preferred over the hazardous machining alternative. The aim of this study is to explain this method and its application in production of energetic materials. The nature of the process and the structure of the obtained products have also been discussed. At the end, the drying methods of the products together with the nature of this process have been presented.