Nanostructuring of Pure and Composite‐Based K6 Formulations with Low Sensitivities

The aim of this work was to desensitize keto-RDX, respectively 2-oxo-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (K6). For this purpose, two different methods were employed. First, nano-K6 was produced by means of the Spray Flash Evaporation process. Particles with a median size of 74 nm were obtained. Sensitivity to friction and electrostatic discharge were reduced by downscaling particle size of K6. Second, due to their molecular analogy, the mixing of K6 and RDX was studied. For that reason, a physical nano-metric mixture of K6 and RDX was produced by the same technique. In the latter case, an inter-particular synergy between both compounds was noticed but without forming a cocrystal. The median particle size of the mixture is about 82 nm, and its sensitivity is between the ones of raw nanomaterials concerning friction and electrostatic discharge. Moreover, the mixture is less sensitive to impact (3.03 J) than nano-K6 (< 1.56 J) and nano-RDX (threshold is 2.0 J).