Energetic materials are distinguished from other materials primarily by the fact that rapid, exothermic reactions can be induced with the release of gaseous products. This complex phenomenon cuts across many boundaries of chemistry (synthesis, kinetics, thermodynamics, spectroscopy, quantum and molecular dynamics calculations, etc.) and engineering physics (shock and detonation waves, hydrodynamics, fracture and solid mechanics, defects, etc.). This volume offers the latest chemistry advancements in understanding the complex dynamic processes in these materials in the condensed phase. The focus is on fundamental research into the rates and pathways of rapid exothermic reactions, product specification, diagnostic methods, molecular processes of energy transfer, and molecular processes at extreme pressure and temperature. Many novel materials are discussed.

This volume provides an overview of current research and recent advances in the area of energetic materials, focusing on explosives and propellants. The contents and format reflect the fact that theory, experiment and computation are closely linked in this field. The challenge of developing energetic materials that are less sensitive to accidental stimuli continues to be of critical importance. This volume opens with discussions of some determinants of sensitivity and its correlations with various molecular and crystal properties. The next several chapters deal in considerable detail with different aspects and mechanisms of the initiation of detonation, and its quantitative description. The second half of this volume focuses upon combustion. Extensive studies model ignition and combustion, with applications to different propellants. The final chapter is an exhaustive computational treatment of the mechanism and kinetics of combustion initiation reactions of ammonium perchlorate. Overall, this volume illustrates the progress that has been made in the field of energetic materials and some of the areas of current activity. It also indicates the challenges involved in characterizing and understanding the properties and behaviour of these compounds. The work is a unique state-of-the-art treatment of the subject, written by pre-eminent researchers in the field. - Overall emphasis is on theory and computation, presented in the context of relevant experimental work - Presents a unique state-of-the-art treatment of the subject - Contributors are preeminent researchers in the field

Few books cover experimental and theoretical methods to characterize decomposition, combustion and detonation of energetic materials. This volume, by internationally known and major contributors to the field, is unique because it summarizes the most important recent work, what we know with confidence, and what main areas remain to be investigated. Most chapters comprise summaries of work spanning decades and contain expert commentary available nowhere else. Although energetic materials are its focus, this book provides a guide to modern methods for investigations of condensed and gas-phase reactions. Although these energetic reactions are complex and difficult to study, the work discussed here provides readers with a substantial understanding of the behavior of materials now in use, and a predictive capability for the development of new materials based on target properties.

This book represents a collection of lectures presented at the NATO Advanced study Institute(ASI) on "Chemistry & Physics of the Molecular Processes in Energetic Materials", held at Hotel Torre Normanna, Altavilla Milicia, Sicily, Italy, September 3 to 15, 1989. The institute was attended by seventy participants including twenty lecturers, drawn from thirteen countries. The purpose of the institute was to review the major ad vances made in recent years in the theoretical and experi mental aspects of explosives and propellants. In accordance with the format of the NATO ASI, it was arranged to have a relatively small number of speakers to present in depth, re view type lectures emphasizing the basic research aspects of the subject, over a two week period. Most of the speakers gave two lectures, each in excess of one hour with addition al time for discussions. The scope of the meeting was limit ed to molecular and spectroscopic studies since the hydro dynamic aspects of detonation and various performance crite ria of energetic materials are often covered adequately in other international meetings. An attempt was made to have a coherent presentation of various theoretical, computational and spectroscopic approaches to help a better understanding of energetic materials from a molecular point of view. The progress already made in these areas is such that structure property (e. g.

This edited book contains state-of-the-art information associated with energetic material combustion. There are twelve topical areas, including: Reaction Kinetics of Energetic Materials (Solid, Liquid, and Gel Propellants); Recycling of Energetic Materials; Combustion Performance of Hybrid and Solid Rocket Motors; Ignition and Combustion of Energetic Materials; Energetic Material Defects and Rocket Engine Flowfields; Metal Combustion; Pyrolysis and Combustion Processes of New Ingredients and Applications; Theoretical Modeling and Numerical Simulation of Combustion Processes of Energetic Materials; Combustion Diagnostic Techniques; Propellant and Rocket Motor Stability; Commercial Applications of Energetic Materials (Airbags, Gas Generators, etc.); and Thermal Insulation and Ablation Processes.

This book discusses methods for the assessment of energetic compounds through heat of detonation, detonation pressure, velocity and temperature, Gurney energy and power. The authors focus on the detonation pressure and detonation velocity of non-ideal aluminized energetic compounds. This 2nd Edition includes an updated and improved presentation of simple, reliable methods for the design, synthesis and development of novel energetic compounds.