New insights from static high-pressure structural studies of energetic materials

This talk will describe static high-pressure experiments on a selection of energetic materials, including CL-20 and PETN, using X-ray and neutron diffraction to follow the structural evolution of these compounds as a function of pressure. The advantages of neutron diffraction as a gentler way of studying these materials will be highlighted. The effects of pressure on molecular conformations, intermolecular interactions, and polymorphism will be illustrated. In particular, the effects of structural changes on substantial increases in sensitivity to initiation will be highlighted. These effects will be correlated with energy-transfer mechanisms using a vibrational up-pumping model. The implications of these results on the properties and performance of energetic materials under extreme conditions will also be discussed.