A Successive and Scalable Process for Preparing Spherical Submicrometer-Sized RDX by the SEDS Process

The preparation spherical and submicrometer-sized cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (RDX) is described through the process of solution-enhanced dispersion by supercritical fluids (SEDS). Because SEDS is a successive and scalable process, about 40.5 g RDX particles can be obtained within 70 min and the total yield is about 90.0% under optimized conditions. Submicrometer-sized RDX and original samples were characterized and confirmed by different analysis methods. The results revealed that submicrometer-sized RDX particles are spherical with a mean particle size of 767.7 nm, have high purity, show no crystal structure change, and decompose easily. Mechanical sensitivity tests of submicrometer-size RDX were decreased in comparison to the original RDX.