TY - GEN
T1 - Development of a ultra-high-pressure RESS system for synthesizing nano-sized energetic materials
AU - Cortopassi, Andrew C.
AU - Kuo, Kenneth K.
AU - Ferrara, Peter J.
AU - Wawiernia, Timothy M.
AU - Essel, Jonathan T.
PY - 2008/12/1
Y1 - 2008/12/1
N2 - It is advantageous to synthesize nano-sized energetic ingredients for the development of insensitive munitions [1]. The method currently used to produce nano-sized particles is the rapid expansion of a supercritical solution (RESS) process ([2], [3]). In this study, an ultra-highpressure (up to 207 MPa) RESS system with viewing windows was successfully designed, fabricated, assembled, and tested. During the course of development of this useful processing facility, several major obstacles were encountered. This paper describes various innovative techniques utilized to overcome the problems experienced. The developed system has many desirable features, including: 1) proper processing of both the initial micron-sized particles and the synthesized energetic nano-particles; 2) control of particle size distributions by selecting suitable pressure and temperature conditions before expanding the supercritical solution through the expansion nozzle; 3) achieving greater solubility of energetic materials in the supercritical carbon dioxide; 4) controlled thermodynamic process in the expansion of the supercritical fluid; 5) efficient collection of nano-sized energetic particles; and 6) filtering of nano-sized particles from exhaust gas. Finally, the possibility of scaling up to production levels with some additional components is addressed.
AB - It is advantageous to synthesize nano-sized energetic ingredients for the development of insensitive munitions [1]. The method currently used to produce nano-sized particles is the rapid expansion of a supercritical solution (RESS) process ([2], [3]). In this study, an ultra-highpressure (up to 207 MPa) RESS system with viewing windows was successfully designed, fabricated, assembled, and tested. During the course of development of this useful processing facility, several major obstacles were encountered. This paper describes various innovative techniques utilized to overcome the problems experienced. The developed system has many desirable features, including: 1) proper processing of both the initial micron-sized particles and the synthesized energetic nano-particles; 2) control of particle size distributions by selecting suitable pressure and temperature conditions before expanding the supercritical solution through the expansion nozzle; 3) achieving greater solubility of energetic materials in the supercritical carbon dioxide; 4) controlled thermodynamic process in the expansion of the supercritical fluid; 5) efficient collection of nano-sized energetic particles; and 6) filtering of nano-sized particles from exhaust gas. Finally, the possibility of scaling up to production levels with some additional components is addressed.
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M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:78249240592
SN - 9781934551042
T3 - International SAMPE Technical Conference
BT - SAMPE Fall Technical Conference and Exhibition - Multifunctional Materials
T2 - 2008 SAMPE Fall Technical Conference and Exhibition - Multifunctional Materials: Working Smarter Together, SAMPE '08
Y2 - 8 September 2008 through 11 September 2008
ER -