Super impact stable TATB explosives recrystallized by bicarbonate ionic liquids with a record solubility

Wen-Li Yuan,Ling He,Guo-Hong Tao,Jinglun Huang,Weifei Yu,Zhang Zhang,Lei Zhang,Ying Xue

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-61470-9

Wen-Li Yuan, Ling He + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61470-9

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Abstract

Ensuring the security for long-term storage of weapons is always of the great cMehilaloncerns in the field of energetic materials. 1,3,5-Triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) is a remarkable explosive applied in nuclear weapons where extreme safety is required primarily. Owing to the strong inter or intra molecular hydrogen bonding, TATB shows poor solubility in most solvents. As the result, the particle shape and size of TATB products is hard to regulate, which closely related to the weapons stability. Herein, a new recrystallization method is provided to refine TATB using bicarbonate ionic liquids. Bicarbonate ionic liquids exhibited the record solubility (26.7 wt%) for dissolving TATB explosive. The recrystallized TATB were spherical particles with uniform size and showed extremely insensitivity to impact (>100 J) and friction (>360 N). Moreover, the experimental 1H and 13C NMR spectra of TATB in solution are reported for the first time.

Highlights

Explosives recrystallized by bicarbonate ionic liquids with a record solubility Wen-LiYuan[1], Guo-Hong Tao 1, Lei Zhang[1], Zhang Zhang1,Ying Xue[1], Ling He1*, Jinglun Huang2 & Weifei Yu2*
Most classical energetic materials are not qualified for strategic weapons because of their unsatisfactory mechanical stability. This apparent defect is an important reason leading to the Palomares H-bomb accident and Thule air base nuclear weapon accident, when 6 of the 8 nuclear bombs detonated by air crash, causing more than 2000 m3 water and 20 hectares of land polluted by plutonium[1,2,3,4]
The solubility is measured by UV-Vis spectrophotometer from room temperature to 115 °C. (Fig. 2b) BmimHCO3 and N3333HCO3 can dissolve 0.4 wt% and 0.18 wt% TATB at 20 °C, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Explosives recrystallized by bicarbonate ionic liquids with a record solubility Wen-LiYuan[1], Guo-Hong Tao 1, Lei Zhang[1], Zhang Zhang1,Ying Xue[1], Ling He1*, Jinglun Huang2 & Weifei Yu2*. A new recrystallization method is provided to refine TATB using bicarbonate ionic liquids. Bicarbonate ionic liquids exhibited the record solubility (26.7 wt%) for dissolving TATB explosive. We first investigated new materials for dissolving and refining TATB explosive based on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bicarbonate (BmimHCO3) and N,N,N,N-tetrapropylammonium bicarbonate (N3333HCO3) ionic liquids.

Results

Conclusion