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Structure-Sensitivity Relationships in Energetic Compounds

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Chemistry and Physics of Energetic Materials

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 309))

Abstract

Considerable progress has been made in understanding factors influencing the sensitivities of energetic molecules to outside stimuli such as shock, impact and heat. In this chapter, we discuss correlations between molecular properties and impact/shock sensitivity and also special cases that do not follow sensitivity relationships. For nitramines and nitroaliphatics, taken separately, we have shown that the strengths of all N-NO2 linkages in these systems, in conjunction with overall molecular size, are important factors in determining their shock sensitivities. For nitroaromatics (excluding hydroxy derivatives) we have found a relationship between impact sensitivity and the electrostatic potential at the midpoint of the C-NO2 bond, as approximated by atomic charges. We suggest that the high sensitivities of hydroxynitroaromatics may be due to the formation of small quantities of unstable nitronic acid tautomers.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, 70148, USA

    J. S. Murray & P. Politzer

Authors
  1. J. S. Murray
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  2. P. Politzer
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Energetic and Warheads Division, Armaments Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, USA

    Surya N. Bulusu

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© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Murray, J.S., Politzer, P. (1990). Structure-Sensitivity Relationships in Energetic Compounds. In: Bulusu, S.N. (eds) Chemistry and Physics of Energetic Materials. NATO ASI Series, vol 309. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2035-4_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2035-4_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7413-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2035-4

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