F1-A2 Investigation of Chemical & Phase Stabilities of Potential IEDs

View 2010 Progress Report

Abstract: The goal of this project is the development of chemical methods to characterize and mitigate explosive threats. Our approach is to investigate thermochemical properties of nonconventional energetic materials, such as H2O2, AP, IPN, AN, and mixtures of metal powders and fuels in high priority of DHS needs, in the relevant phase and composition space. This year we investigated the melting, phase transition and chemical decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and its mixtures with water (over a wide range of concentration from pure to 10%) under high pressures, using confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron x-ray diffraction. The focus of this study has been to explore phase stabilities and chemical sensitivities of a binary mixture with water, and a ternary with a potential adulterant. The success of the project will not only contribute to the understanding of fundamental properties of energetic materials channeled to high priority Department of Homeland Security (DHS) long-term needs, but will also lead to the development of novel chemical mitigation methods that make it difficult to distill detonable quantities of explosives.

Faculty and Staff Currently Involved in Project:

Choong-Shik Yoo
Professor
Washington State University

Jing-Yin Chen
PostDoc
Washington State University

Students Currently Involved in Project:

Mihindra Dunuwille, MS
Washington State University