High Performance Energetic Propellant Ingredient Process Research and Development

CL-20 is the most powerful conventional explosive known, but its high cost has limited its adoption in a range of potential applications. Par of the challenge in making these materials is the complexity of the reaction used to prepare the polycyclic cage. The complexity of this reaction makes it difficult to have insight into the reaction and to improve it. Additionally, several of the intermediates and reaction byproducts are challenging to analyze with typical analytical techniques. In the research program proposed, we would apply cutting edge analytical techniques in combination with flow chemistry techniques to collect detailed data about the relevant chemical reactions, while also enabling access to process conditions that would not be accessible using batch conditions.