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Nanotechnology-Driven Explosives and Propellants

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Nanotechnology for Defence Applications

Abstract

The turning point in the history of armaments was the discovery and the realization that gun powder can be used in warfare. A variety of armaments, starting from small firearms, cannons, artillery guns, grenades to missiles, and propellants and explosives, have been developed and used in various small and big wars from different types of ground, aerial, and naval platforms over time. Propellants in solid, liquid, and gel forms have been developed to propel missiles, rockets as well as space crafts. Explosives, on the other hand, are mostly developed in a solid state exhibiting moderate to severe degree of devastation. Nanomaterials and nanotechnology are now finding a prominent space in the area of propellants and explosives, in both the cases to enhance their propulsion and devastation capabilities, respectively. Nanometals such as nano-Al and nano-B clusters have emerged as powerful explosive ingredients, whereas nanothermites have proven to act as very effective and safe nanoenergy materials (nEMs) for explosives and propellants. Furthermore, polymer-bonded nanoexplosives are considered for their safe handling including storage and transportation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Defence Laboratory Jodhpur (DRDO), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

    Narendra Kumar

  2. Department of Physics & Center for Solar Energy Department, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

    Ambesh Dixit

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  1. Narendra Kumar
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  2. Ambesh Dixit
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Kumar, N., Dixit, A. (2019). Nanotechnology-Driven Explosives and Propellants. In: Nanotechnology for Defence Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29880-7_3

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