Preparation and Characterization of Energetic Crystals with Nanoparticle Inclusions

Energetic crystals with nanoparticle inclusions were preparated and characterized, focusing on the nano- sized iron(III) oxide-ammonium perchlorate system, gener- ated using an ethyl acetate/acetone antisolvent:solvent system. It is shown that capture is dependent on antisol- vent-to-solvent ratio; increased quantities of antisolvent lead to faster nucleation rates, smaller crystals, and im- proved capture. Additionally, the crystal habit formation is modified by the addition of nanoparticles, resulting in highly uniform rod-like crystal structures. Results with nanoaluminum-ammonium perchlorate and nanoalumi- num-cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) systems have shown similar capture behavior.