New high nitrogen compounds azoxytriazolone (AZTO) and azotriazolone (azoTO) as insensitive energetic materials

The new, electrochemically-synthesised high nitrogen materials AZTO and azoTO have been characterised by a range of techniques and compared to existing insensitive high explosives (IHE). AZTO, produced via electrolysis of aqueous NTO solutions, shows similar sensitiveness to NTO in most tests, but has better thermal stability. AzoTO displays higher thermal and impact stability than AZTO but is more sensitive to electrostatic discharge. AZTO sensitiveness is not affected by the presence of azoTO (formed concomitantly during synthesis) at levels of <20%. Crude samples and recrystallised samples react similarly in the tests performed. The ease of synthesis, low sensitiveness and moderate energy output suggest AZTO may be an economical and environmentally-friendly addition to the existing range of IHE.