Radiolytic Degradation of Common Energetic Functional Groups

POSTER

Abstract

Understanding the radiolytic degradation of high explosives (HE) is of critical importance, but it is not possible to know which HEs or even which energetic functional groups (FGs) will be used in future applications. It is therefore necessary to understand how each energetic functional group degrades when exposed to ionizing radiation. This talk will discuss results pertaining to the radiolytic degradation of various energetic FGs including: azide (-N3), nitro (-NO2), and nitrate ester (-ONO2). Materials containing energetic FGs were irradiated with γ-rays and the irradiated materials were compared to the unirradiated materials using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and gas chromatography (GC) to assess trace chemical changes. Comparisons between the different energetic FGs will be discussed as well as their connections to photolytic calculations. Lastly, the effect of ionizing radiation on aromatic versus aliphatic backbones will be discussed.

*This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by Triad National Security, LLC, for the National Nuclear Security Administration of U.S. Department of Energy (Contract No. 89233218CNA000001). The authors would like to thank the LANL Aging and Lifetimes Program for funding. This contribution is LA-UR-22-21654 from Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Presenters

  • Patricia L Huestis

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

Authors

  • Patricia L Huestis

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Nicholas Lease

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Christopher E Freye

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Tammie R Nelson

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab

  • Virginia W Manner

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory