Design and Combustion Behaviour of Explosive Coordination Compounds.

Abstract

Explosive coordinationcompoundsare a subject of considerableinterest becausesome of them have found specific applications, in particular, as safe primary explosives or igniters. The present work focuses on general principles of designing explosive coordination compounds. Effect of the complex molecule's constituents on explosive and physicochemical properties is considered. The main classes of organic compoundswhich might be used as ligands of explosive complexes are discussed. Since the burning rate of an explosive compound is thought to he an important characteristic determining such properties as deflagration-to-detonation transition and initiating efficiency, the work deals with studying the relationship between chemical structure and burning rate characteristics of explosive complexes. The burning rate of optimal1y designed coordination compound depends mainly on two factors: nature of oxidizers and nature of the central metal atom. Changeover from nitrate ion to perchlorate one usual1y
raises the burning rate by a factor of 10 and more. Metal atom included in complexes can serve not only as a matrix, whichties up ligand-fuel and anion-oxidizer, but also as a catalyst of redox reactions occurring during combustion. It is found that each anion-oxidizer has its own set of metals that possess a catalytic activity. In the light of the experimental findings, a plausible combustion mechanism of coordination compounds has been suggested.