Method for processing explosives containing 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.05,903,11]-dodecane (CL-20) with naphthenic and paraffinic oils

Abstract

A method for processing explosives containing a high loading of CL-20 may advantageously include a binder system having naphthenic oil and/or paraffinic oil. Solid energetic ingredients are added into the binder system and mixed to form a free-flowing suspension in which the solid energetic ingredients are homogeneously mixed and coated with the binder system. The binder system is then cured and cast to form a cross-linked explosive.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for processing an explosive composition, comprising:
 mixing a binder system comprising at least one liquid polymeric binder and at least one processing oil selected from the group consisting of naphthenic oil and paraffinic oil; 
 adding solid energetic ingredients into the binder system, the solid energetic ingredients comprising 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.0 5,9  0 3,11 ]-dodecane (CL-20); and 
 mixing the binder system and the solid energetic ingredients at a temperature within a range of from about room temperature to about 65° C. to form a free-flowing suspension in which the solid energetic ingredients are homogeneously mixed and coated with the binder system, the solid energetic ingredients comprising at least 30% by weight of the explosive composition system; and 
 casting the free-flowing suspension. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein mixing a binder system comprising at least one liquid polymeric binder and at least one processing oil comprises selecting the polymeric binder and the at least one processing oil to be miscible in each other. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein mixing the binder system and the solid energetic ingredients at a temperature within a range of from about room temperature to about 65° C. to form a free-flowing suspension comprises mixing the binder system and the solid energetic ingredients to form the a free-flowing suspension having a Brookfield viscosity of no more than 30 kilopoise at a temperature of about 60° C. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein mixing a binder system comprising at least one liquid polymeric binder and at least one processing oil comprises mixing the at least one liquid polymeric binder and naphthenic oil. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein mixing a binder system comprising at least one liquid polymeric binder and at least one processing oil comprises mixing the at least one liquid polymeric binder and paraffinic oil. 
     
     
       6. A method for processing an explosive composition, comprising:
 mixing a binder system comprising at least one liquid polymeric binder and at least one processing oil selected from the group consisting of naphthenic oil and paraffinic oil; 
 adding solid energetic ingredients into the binder system at a temperature within a range of from about room temperature to about 65° C., the solid energetic ingredients comprising 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.0. 5,9 0 3,11 ]-dodecane (CL-20); 
 mixing the binder system and the solid energetic ingredients to form a free-flowing suspension in which the solid energetic ingredients are homogeneously mixed and coated with the binder system; 
 initiating cure of the at least one liquid polymeric binder in the free-flowing suspension with at least one curative and optionally and, optionally, at least one cure catalyst; 
 casting the free-flowing suspension; and 
 establishing cure of the free-flowing suspension to form the explosive composition, 
 wherein the solid energetic ingredients comprise at least about 85% by weight of the explosive composition. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein mixing a binder system comprising at least one liquid polymeric binder and at least one processing oil comprises selecting the polymeric binder and the at least one processing oil to be miscible in each other. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein mixing the binder system and the solid energetic ingredients to form a free-flowing suspension in which the solid energetic ingredients are homogeneously mixed and coated with the binder system comprises mixing the binder system and the solid energetic ingredients to form the a free-flowing suspension having a Brookfield viscosity of no more than 30 kilopoise at a temperature of about 60° C. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein mixing a binder system comprising at least one liquid polymeric binder and at least one processing oil comprises mixing the at least one liquid polymeric binder and naphthenic oil. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein mixing a binder system comprising at least one liquid polymeric binder and at least one processing oil comprises mixing the at least one liquid polymeric binder and paraffinic oil. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the solid energetic ingredients comprise from about 86% by weight to about 91% by weight of the explosive composition. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the CL-20 comprises from about 86% by weight to about 91% by weight of the explosive composition. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the solid energetic ingredients further comprise at least one nitramine selected from the group consisting of TEX (4,10-dinitro-2,6,8,12-tetraoxa-4,10-diazatetracyclo-[5.5.0.0. 5,9 0 3,11 ]-dodecane), RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triaza-cyclohexane), and HMX (1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraaza-cycloocatane). 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein mixing a binder system comprising at least one liquid polymeric binder and at least one processing oil comprises mixing the at least one liquid polymeric binder and the at least one processing oil at a ratio of substantially 1:1. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein adding the solid energetic ingredients into the binder system comprises adding greater than approximately 85% by weight of the solid energetic ingredients into the explosive composition. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein adding the solid energetic ingredients into the binder system comprises adding from approximately 86% by weight to approximately 91% by weight of the solid energetic ingredients into the explosive composition. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein mixing the binder system and the solid energetic ingredients at a temperature within a range of from about room temperature to about 65° C. to form a free-flowing suspension comprises mixing the binder system and the solid energetic ingredients without solvents. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid energetic ingredients comprise at least 30% by weight of the explosive composition. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 6, wherein the solid energetic ingredients comprise at least about 85% by weight of the explosive composition. 
     
     
       20. A method for processing an explosive composition, comprising:
 mixing a binder system comprising at least one liquid polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene, carboxy-terminated polybutadiene, and poly(butadiene-co-acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) and at least one processing oil selected from the group consisting of naphthenic oil and paraffinic oil;   adding solid energetic ingredients into the binder system, the solid energetic ingredients comprising 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.0. 5,9 0 3,11 ]-dodecane (CL-20);   mixing the binder system and the solid energetic ingredients at a temperature within a range of from about 45° C. to about 65° C. to form a free-flowing suspension in which the solid energetic ingredients are homogeneously mixed and coated with the binder system; and   casting the free-flowing suspension.