F1-A1 Determining Vapor Liquid Equilibria & Phase Diagrams of Water Systems

View 2010 Progress Report

Abstract: The goal of this project is to synthesize and characterize improvised high explosives (IEs). Used as a baseline material, the first year material was silver azide, which is easily obtained and can be produced with no special skills or tools. In the second year, we extended this capability to include acetone tri-peroxide. Full analytical characterization of these materials (x-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), etc.) will be conducted. In addition, we developed methods to understand initiation and propagation of explosives at the nanoscale. This effort will be conducted in close collaboration with partners. For example, explosives will be provided to Washington State University (WSU) for high pressure experiments, and preliminary discussions are ongoing with Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INL) for Texas Tech University (TTU) to handle synthesis and characterization of primary explosives for their research programs. We are also closely coordinating with industrial contacts from the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Faculty and Staff Currently Involved in Project:

Brandon L. Weeks
Associate Professor
Texas Tech University

Louisa Hope-Weeks
Associate Professor
Texas Tech University

Students Currently Involved in Project:

Gengxin Zhang, PhD
Texas Tech University

Simerjeet Gill, PhD
Texas Tech University

Preston Brown, PhD
Texas Tech University

Brian Rohde, BS
Texas Tech University

Jason Abbott, BS
Texas Tech University

Sean Hannon, BS
Texas Tech University