Preparation of Spherical Particles of 1,1-Diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7) Using a Micellar Nanoreactor

The need and preparation of spherical 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7) particles to meet certain special applications in high explosives and propellant formulation have been illustrated. Preparation of spherical FOX-7 particles by using a microemulsion technique has not been reported in the literature. In the present study, the preparation of spherical FOX-7 particles has been described using the novel concept of a micelle-based nanoreactor. Micelle-based nanoreactors have been prepared using a microemulsion of Triton X-100, cyclohexane, and water. Formation of spherical FOX-7 particles in the reverse micelle reactors have been described in the subsequent sections of this article. It is observed that spherical particles of FOX-7 are formed within 2 h in the microemulsion media. Analysis of the experimental results revealed that the particle size and shape of FOX-7 can be varied by changing the water/surfactant molar ratio in the microemulsion. Spherical particles synthesized by this method have diameters that are generally in the submicrometer to nanometer range. Impact sensitivity ( h 50 ) of the spherical particles obtained by the fall-hammer method is around 45 cm compared to regular synthesized FOX-7 (i.e., 50 ± 5 cm) without any change in friction sensitivity, i.e. 36 kg. Loadability of the explosive charges can be enhanced by using these spherical particles of FOX-7.