Study on oriented induction/suppression modification of crystal morphology for primary explosives

Junda Huo; Dongxu Zhang; Debin Ni; Shan Wang; Qianyou Wang; Li Yang

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2025.161393

Study on oriented induction/suppression modification of crystal morphology for primary explosives

Junda Huo
, Dongxu Zhang
, Debin Ni
, Shan Wang
, Qianyou Wang^*
, Li Yang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Beijing Institute of Technology
Shaanxi Applied Physics-Chemistry Research Institute

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The crystal morphology of energetic materials significantly affects their sensitivity, initiation capability, and flowability, which directly determine the performance of weapons and equipment. Despite great efforts having been devoted to the morphological control of primary explosives, the mechanism insights into morphological modification are still in infancy stage. Herein, combining experimental results with theoretical calculations, we elucidated the morphological control process of a novel environmentally friendly lead-free primary explosive named bis-(ethylenediamine) copper (II) 5-nitrotetrazolate [Cu(EDA)₂(NT)₂]. Through directional suppression/induction by different surfactants on crystal face growth, three completely different shaped crystals of Cu(EDA)₂(NT)₂ (lamellar, hollow rhombic toroidal, and uniform rhombic block) were prepared, ultimately achieving precise control over the crystal morphology. Among them, the block-shaped crystals of CMC-Cu(EDA)₂(NT)₂, modified with carboxymethyl cellulose, exhibited significantly improved stacking density, thermal stability, and initiation capability. This work not only significantly optimized the modification of Cu(EDA)₂(NT)₂, but also revealed the complex interaction mechanism between surfactants and crystal surfaces, laying an important scientific foundation for tailoring morphology, and enhancing performance of primary explosives crystals.

Original language	English
Article number	161393
Journal	Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume	509
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.161393
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2025

Keywords

Crystal morphology
Modification mechanism
Primary explosive

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10.1016/j.cej.2025.161393

Cite this

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title = "Study on oriented induction/suppression modification of crystal morphology for primary explosives",

abstract = "The crystal morphology of energetic materials significantly affects their sensitivity, initiation capability, and flowability, which directly determine the performance of weapons and equipment. Despite great efforts having been devoted to the morphological control of primary explosives, the mechanism insights into morphological modification are still in infancy stage. Herein, combining experimental results with theoretical calculations, we elucidated the morphological control process of a novel environmentally friendly lead-free primary explosive named bis-(ethylenediamine) copper (II) 5-nitrotetrazolate [Cu(EDA)2(NT)2]. Through directional suppression/induction by different surfactants on crystal face growth, three completely different shaped crystals of Cu(EDA)2(NT)2 (lamellar, hollow rhombic toroidal, and uniform rhombic block) were prepared, ultimately achieving precise control over the crystal morphology. Among them, the block-shaped crystals of CMC-Cu(EDA)2(NT)2, modified with carboxymethyl cellulose, exhibited significantly improved stacking density, thermal stability, and initiation capability. This work not only significantly optimized the modification of Cu(EDA)2(NT)2, but also revealed the complex interaction mechanism between surfactants and crystal surfaces, laying an important scientific foundation for tailoring morphology, and enhancing performance of primary explosives crystals.",

keywords = "Crystal morphology, Modification mechanism, Primary explosive",

author = "Junda Huo and Dongxu Zhang and Debin Ni and Shan Wang and Qianyou Wang and Li Yang",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

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doi = "10.1016/j.cej.2025.161393",

language = "English",

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T1 - Study on oriented induction/suppression modification of crystal morphology for primary explosives

AU - Huo, Junda

AU - Zhang, Dongxu

AU - Ni, Debin

AU - Wang, Shan

AU - Wang, Qianyou

AU - Yang, Li

PY - 2025/4/1

Y1 - 2025/4/1

N2 - The crystal morphology of energetic materials significantly affects their sensitivity, initiation capability, and flowability, which directly determine the performance of weapons and equipment. Despite great efforts having been devoted to the morphological control of primary explosives, the mechanism insights into morphological modification are still in infancy stage. Herein, combining experimental results with theoretical calculations, we elucidated the morphological control process of a novel environmentally friendly lead-free primary explosive named bis-(ethylenediamine) copper (II) 5-nitrotetrazolate [Cu(EDA)2(NT)2]. Through directional suppression/induction by different surfactants on crystal face growth, three completely different shaped crystals of Cu(EDA)2(NT)2 (lamellar, hollow rhombic toroidal, and uniform rhombic block) were prepared, ultimately achieving precise control over the crystal morphology. Among them, the block-shaped crystals of CMC-Cu(EDA)2(NT)2, modified with carboxymethyl cellulose, exhibited significantly improved stacking density, thermal stability, and initiation capability. This work not only significantly optimized the modification of Cu(EDA)2(NT)2, but also revealed the complex interaction mechanism between surfactants and crystal surfaces, laying an important scientific foundation for tailoring morphology, and enhancing performance of primary explosives crystals.

AB - The crystal morphology of energetic materials significantly affects their sensitivity, initiation capability, and flowability, which directly determine the performance of weapons and equipment. Despite great efforts having been devoted to the morphological control of primary explosives, the mechanism insights into morphological modification are still in infancy stage. Herein, combining experimental results with theoretical calculations, we elucidated the morphological control process of a novel environmentally friendly lead-free primary explosive named bis-(ethylenediamine) copper (II) 5-nitrotetrazolate [Cu(EDA)2(NT)2]. Through directional suppression/induction by different surfactants on crystal face growth, three completely different shaped crystals of Cu(EDA)2(NT)2 (lamellar, hollow rhombic toroidal, and uniform rhombic block) were prepared, ultimately achieving precise control over the crystal morphology. Among them, the block-shaped crystals of CMC-Cu(EDA)2(NT)2, modified with carboxymethyl cellulose, exhibited significantly improved stacking density, thermal stability, and initiation capability. This work not only significantly optimized the modification of Cu(EDA)2(NT)2, but also revealed the complex interaction mechanism between surfactants and crystal surfaces, laying an important scientific foundation for tailoring morphology, and enhancing performance of primary explosives crystals.

KW - Crystal morphology

KW - Modification mechanism

KW - Primary explosive

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/86000565130

U2 - 10.1016/j.cej.2025.161393

DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2025.161393

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:86000565130

SN - 1385-8947

VL - 509

JO - Chemical Engineering Journal

JF - Chemical Engineering Journal

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ER -

Study on oriented induction/suppression modification of crystal morphology for primary explosives

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Keywords

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