Sample records for nitromethane

  1. Method for quantifying nitromethane in blood as a potential biomarker of halonitromethane exposure.

    PubMed

    Alwis, K Udeni; Blount, Benjamin C; Silva, Lalith K; Smith, Mitchell M; Loose, Karl-Hermann

    2008-04-01

    The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of nitromethane and its halogenated analogues in mammals raise concerns about potential toxicity to humans. This study shows that halonitromethanes are not stable in human blood and undergo dehalogenation to form nitromethane. We quantified nitromethane in human blood using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) headspace sampling coupled with gas chromatography (GC) and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The limit of detection was 0.01 microg/L with a linear calibration curve spanning 3 orders of magnitude. This method employs isotope dilution to precisely quantify trace amounts of nitromethane (coefficient of variation <6%). At three spiked concentrations of nitromethane, method accuracy ranged from 88 to 99%. We applied this method to blood samples collected from 632 people with no known occupational exposure to nitromethane or halonitromethanes. Nitromethane was detected in all blood samples tested (range: 0.28-3.79 microg/L, median: 0.66 microg/L). Time-course experiments with trichloronitromethane- and tribromonitromethane-spiked blood showed that nitromethane was the major product formed (1 nmole tribromonitromethane formed 0.59 nmole of nitromethane, whereas 1 nmole trichloronitromethane formed 0.77 nmole nitromethane). Nitromethane may form endogenously from peroxynitrite: nitromethane concentrations increased proportionately in blood samples spiked with peroxynitrite. Blood nitromethane can be a biomarker of exposure to both nitromethane and halonitromethanes. This sensitive, accurate, and precise analytical method can be used to determine baseline blood nitromethane level in the general population. It can also be used to study the health impact from exposure to nitromethane and halonitromethanes in occupational environments and to assess trichloronitromethane (chloropicrin) exposure in chemical terrorism investigations.

  2. Point of care testing provides an accurate measurement of creatinine, anion gap, and osmolal gap in ex-vivo whole blood samples with nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Cao, D; Maynard, S; Mitchell, A M; Kerns, W P; Beuhler, M

    2014-07-01

    Nitromethane interferes with Jaffé measurements of creatinine, potentially mimicking acute kidney injury. We determined the proportional contribution of nitromethane in blood samples to creatinine measured by the Jaffé colorimetric and the point-of-care (POC) reactions and determined whether the difference can reliably estimate the concentration of nitromethane. Additionally, we determined whether the presence of nitromethane interferes with anion/osmolal gaps and ascertained the stability of nitromethane in serum after 7 days. Nitromethane was added to whole blood from four healthy volunteers to achieve concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mmol/L. The following tests were performed: creatinine (Jaffé and POC), electrolytes (associated with Jaffé and POC), osmolality and nitromethane concentration (gas chromatography [GC]). Remaining samples were refrigerated and reanalyzed using GC at 7 days. Anion and osmolal gaps were calculated. Proportional recovery and degradation of nitromethane were measured using GC. Data were analyzed for agreement with single-factor ANOVA (p = 0.05). Mean creatinine for POC and Jaff methods were 0.93 vs. 0.76 mg/dL, respectively. Jaff creatinine concentrations increased linearly with increasing nitromethane concentrations (R(2) = 1, p = 0.01): measured creatinine (mg/dL) = 7.1*nitromethane (mmol/L) = 0.79. POC creatinine remained unchanged across the range of nitromethane concentrations (p = 0.99). Anion and osmolal gaps also remained unchanged. Nitromethane was reliably identified in all sample concentrations using GC on Day 0. Detection of 0.25 mmol/L nitromethane was not consistently recovered on Day 7. Nitromethane degradation was most pronounced at 2 mmol/L concentrations (81% recovery). Nitromethane alters apparent concentration of creatinine using the Jaffé reaction in a linear fashion but not when using the POC reaction. Measured difference between Jaffé and POC creatinine may identify the presence and estimate concentration of nitromethane. Presence of nitromethane did not alter the anion or osmolal gap; thus it would not potentially interfere with the diagnosis of co-exposure to a toxic alcohol.

  3. Photodissociation dynamics of nitromethane and methyl nitrite by infrared multiphoton dissociation imaging with quasiclassical trajectory calculations: signatures of the roaming pathway.

    PubMed

    Dey, Arghya; Fernando, Ravin; Abeysekera, Chamara; Homayoon, Zahra; Bowman, Joel M; Suits, Arthur G

    2014-02-07

    We combine the techniques of infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) with state selective ion imaging to probe roaming dynamics in the unimolecular dissociation of nitromethane and methyl nitrite. Recent theoretical calculations suggest a "roaming-mediated isomerization" pathway of nitromethane to methyl nitrite prior to decomposition. State-resolved imaging of the NO product coupled with infrared multiphoton dissociation was carried out to examine this unimolecular decomposition near threshold. The IRMPD images for the NO product from nitromethane are consistent with the earlier IRMPD studies that first suggested the importance of an isomerization pathway. A significant Λ-doublet propensity is seen in nitromethane IRMPD but not methyl nitrite. The experimental observations are augmented by quasiclassical trajectory calculations for nitromethane and methyl nitrite near threshold for each dissociation pathway. The observation of distinct methoxy vibrational excitation for trajectories from nitromethane and methyl nitrite dissociation at the same total energy show that the nitromethane dissociation bears a nonstatistical signature of the roaming isomerization pathway, and this is possibly responsible for the nitromethane Λ-doublet propensity as well.

  4. Palladium-Catalyzed α-Arylation of Aryl Nitromethanes

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    Catalytic conditions for the α-arylation of aryl nitromethanes have been discovered using parallel microscale experimentation, despite two prior reports of the lack of reactivity of these aryl nitromethane precursors. The method efficiently provides a variety of substituted, isolable diaryl nitromethanes. In addition, it is possible to sequentially append two different aryl groups to nitromethane. Mild oxidation conditions were identified to afford the corresponding benzophenones via the Nef reaction, and reduction conditions were optimized to afford several diaryl methylamines. PMID:26584680

  5. A mechanistical study on non-equilibrium reaction pathways in solid nitromethane (CH3NO2) and D3-nitromethane (CD3NO2) upon interaction with ionizing radiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kaiser, Ralf I.; Maksyutenko, Pavlo

    2015-07-01

    Thin films of homogeneously mixed nitromethane (CH3NO2) and D3-nitromethane (CD3NO2) ices were exposed to energetic electrons and Lyman α photons. The isotopically mixed reaction products were probed in situ via reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled with pulsed photoionization during temperature programmed desorption. This study provides compelling evidence on three high energy pathways, which have not been observed under collisionless conditions in the gas phase. These are decomposition of nitromethane (CH3NO2) via atomic oxygen loss to nitrosomethane (CH3NO), fragmentation of nitromethane (CH3NO2) and/or methylnitrite (CH3ONO) via carbene (CH2) loss, and carbonsbnd hydrogen bond rupture processes in nitromethane (CH3NO2) and/or methylnitrite (CH3ONO).

  6. Shock initiation of nitromethane

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yoo, C.S.; Holmes, N.C.

    1993-12-31

    The shock initiation processes of nitromethane have been examined by using a fast time-resolved emission spectroscopy at a two-stage gas gun. a broad, but strong emission has been observed in a spectral range between 350 and 700 nm from shocked nitromethane above 9 GPa. The temporal profile suggests that shocked nitromethane detonates through three characteristic periods, namely an induction period, a hock initiation period, and a thermal explosion period. This paper discusses temporal and chemical characteristics of these periods and present the temperature of the shock-detonating nitromethane at pressures between 9 and 15 GPa.

  7. Influence of nitromethane concentration on ignition energy and explosion parameters in gaseous nitromethane/air mixtures.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Qi; Li, Wei; Lin, Da-Chao; He, Ning; Duan, Yun

    2011-01-30

    The aim of this paper is to provide new experimental data of the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of gaseous nitromethane/air mixtures to discuss the explosion pressure and the flame temperature as a function of nitromethane concentration. Observations on the influence of nitromethane concentration on combustion pressure and temperature through the pressure and temperature measure system show that peak temperature (the peak of combustion temperature wave) is always behind peak pressure (the peak of the combustion pressure wave) in arrival time, the peak combustion pressure of nitromethane increases in the range of its volume fraction 10-40% as the concentration of nitromethane increases, and it slightly decreases in the range of 40-50%. The maximum peak pressure is equal to 0.94 MPa and the minimum peak pressure 0.58 MPa. Somewhat similar to the peak pressure, the peak combustion temperature increases with the volume fraction of nitromethane in the range of 10-40%, and slightly decreases in 40-50%. The maximum peak temperature is 1340 °C and the minimum 860 °C. The combustion temperature rise rate increases with the concentration of nitromethane in 10-30%, while decreases in 30-50% and its maximum value of combustion temperature rise rate in 10-50% is 4200 °C/s at the volume fraction of 30%. Influence of the concentration of nitromethane on the combustion pressure rise rate is relatively complicated, and the maximum value of rise rate of combustion pressure wave in 10-50% is 11 MPa/s at the concentration 20%. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Development of Metal Cluster-Based Energetic Materials at NSWC-IHD

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-01-01

    reactivity of NixAly + clusters with nitromethane was investigated using a gas-phase molecular beam system. Results indicate that nitromethane is highly...clusters make up the subunit of a molecular metal-based energetic material. The reactivity of NixAly+ clusters with nitromethane was investigated using...a gas-phase molecular beam system. Results indicate that nitromethane is highly reactive toward the NixAly+ clusters and suggests it would not make

  9. A Measurement Technique to Determine the Sensitivity of Trained Dogs to Explosive Vapor Concentration

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Reaugh, J E; Kury, J W

    2002-04-02

    Over the years canines have been used successfully to detect explosives. However, exactly what a canine detects in the many thousands of explosive formulations available is still not well understood. LLNL and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) studies over the past four years are beginning to provide better insight into this complex problem. One area that has been addressed is how low a molecular concentration of nitromethane explosive can a canine detect. Forty-one canine/handler teams were used in four test series with arrays containing dilute nitromethane-in-water solutions. (The canines had been trained on the amount of nitromethane vapormore » in equilibrium with the undiluted liquid explosive.) By diluting liquid nitromethane with water, the amount of explosive vapor can be reduced many orders of magnitude to test the lower limit of the canine's nitromethane vapor detection response. The results are summarized in the table in Appendix A. The probability of detecting nitromethane remained high until the vapor pressure fell below {approx} 1 x 10{sup 6} microns (one nitromethane molecule in a trillion nitrogen, oxygen and water molecules). This report describes a new approach to measuring this lower limit of detection using the diffusion of nitromethane in various length tubes containing air.« less

  10. Shock initiation of nitromethane

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yoo, C.S.; Holmes, N.C.

    1994-07-10

    The shock initiation processes of nitromethane have been examined by using a fast time-resolved emission spectroscopy at a two-stage gas gun. A broad, but strong emission has been observed in a spectral range between 350 nm and 700 nm from the shocked nitromethane above 9 GPa. The temporal profile suggests that the shocked nitromethane detonates through three characteristic periods, namely an induction period, a shock initiation period, and a thermal explosion period. In this paper we will discuss the temporal and chemical characteristics of these periods and present the temperature of the shock-detonating nitromethane at pressures between 9 and 15more » GPa. [copyright]American Institute of Physics« less

  11. Molecular dynamics simulations of melting and the glass transition of nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Zheng, Lianqing; Luo, Sheng-Nian; Thompson, Donald L

    2006-04-21

    Molecular dynamics simulations have been used to investigate the thermodynamic melting point of the crystalline nitromethane, the melting mechanism of superheated crystalline nitromethane, and the physical properties of crystalline and glassy nitromethane. The maximum superheating and glass transition temperatures of nitromethane are calculated to be 316 and 160 K, respectively, for heating and cooling rates of 8.9 x 10(9) Ks. Using the hysteresis method [Luo et al., J. Chem. Phys. 120, 11640 (2004)] and by taking the glass transition temperature as the supercooling temperature, we calculate a value of 251.1 K for the thermodynamic melting point, which is in excellent agreement with the two-phase result [Agrawal et al., J. Chem. Phys. 119, 9617 (2003)] of 255.5 K and measured value of 244.73 K. In the melting process, the nitromethane molecules begin to rotate about their lattice positions in the crystal, followed by translational freedom of the molecules. A nucleation mechanism for the melting is illustrated by the distribution of the local translational order parameter. The critical values of the Lindemann index for the C and N atoms immediately prior to melting (the Lindemann criterion) are found to be around 0.155 at 1 atm. The intramolecular motions and molecular structure of nitromethane undergo no abrupt changes upon melting, indicating that the intramolecular degrees of freedom have little effect on the melting. The thermal expansion coefficient and bulk modulus are predicted to be about two or three times larger in crystalline nitromethane than in glassy nitromethane. The vibrational density of states is almost identical in both phases.

  12. Thermal Decomposition of Condensed-Phase Nitromethane from Molecular Dynamics from ReaxFF Reactive Dynamics

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-05-04

    pubs.acs.org/JPCB Thermal Decomposition of Condensed-Phase Nitromethane from Molecular Dynamics from ReaxFF Reactive Dynamics Si-ping Han,†,‡ Adri C. T. van...ABSTRACT: We studied the thermal decomposition and subsequent reaction of the energetic material nitromethane (CH3NO2) using molec- ular dynamics...with ReaxFF, a first principles-based reactive force field. We characterize the chemistry of liquid and solid nitromethane at high temperatures (2000

  13. Microscopic evidence that the nitromethane aci ion is a rate controlling species in the detonation of liquid nitromethane

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Engelke, R.; Earl, W.L.; Rohlfing, C.M.

    1986-01-01

    We present microscopic evidence that the aci ion (H/sub 2/CNO/sup -//sub 2/) of nitromethane (H/sub 3/CNO/sub 2/) plays an important role in the detonation kinetics of liquid-phase nitromethane. It is known from previous detonation experiments that very minute additions of organic bases (e.g., amines) have a profound effect on the detonation properties of nitromethane; i.e., the explosive is strongly sensitized. Here we show that, under conditions similar to the detonation experiments, the only new chemical species generated in nitromethane by the bases sodium hydroxide (NaOH), diethylenetriamine (NH/sub 2/CH/sub 2/CH/sub 2/NHCH/sub 2/CH/sub 2/NH/sub 2/), and pyridine (C/sub 5/H/sub 5/N) is themore » aci ion, within the sensitivity of the experiments. The primary tool used to demonstrate this is /sup 13/C NMR spectroscopy. Ab initio quantum-mechanical calculations of the chemical shifts are used to support the experimental interpretation. Qualitative arguments concerning the increased reactivity of the aci ion, relative to normal nitromethane, are given. We review earlier work and relate it to the current findings.« less

  14. Nanotailored Carbon Fibers

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-04-27

    PMMA) was removed by soaking the fiber in nitromethane for about 10 min. It can be noted that cold drawing step improved precursor fiber properties...During cold drawing, sheath component (PMMA) was removed using nitromethane . After cold drawing, fiber spool was placed in nitromethane bath for about

  15. Minimizing the amount of nitromethane in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling with aryl halides.

    PubMed

    Walvoord, Ryan R; Kozlowski, Marisa C

    2013-09-06

    A method for the formation of arylnitromethanes is described that employs readily available aryl halides or triflates and small amounts of nitromethane in a dioxane solvent, thereby reducing the hazards associated with this reagent. Specifically, 2-10 equiv (1-5% v/v) of nitromethane can be employed in comparison to prior work that used nitromethane as solvent (185 equiv). The present transformation provides high yields at relatively low temperatures and tolerates an array of functionality, including heterocycles and substantial steric encumbrance.

  16. Photoelectron spectroscopy of nitromethane anion clusters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pruitt, Carrie Jo M.; Albury, Rachael M.; Goebbert, Daniel J.

    2016-08-01

    Nitromethane anion and nitromethane dimer, trimer, and hydrated cluster anions were studied by photoelectron spectroscopy. Vertical detachment energies, estimated electron affinities, and solvation energies were obtained from the photoelectron spectra. Cluster structures were investigated using theoretical calculations. Predicted detachment energies agreed with experiment. Calculations show water binds to nitromethane anion through two hydrogen bonds. The dimer has a non-linear structure with a single ionic Csbnd H⋯O hydrogen bond. The trimer has two different solvent interactions, but both involve the weak Csbnd H⋯O hydrogen bond.

  17. An ab initio study of intermolecular interactions of nitromethane dimer and nitromethane trimer.

    PubMed

    Li, Jinshan; Zhao, Feng; Jing, Fuqian

    2003-02-01

    Different geometries of nitromethane dimer and nitromethane trimer have been fully optimized employing the density functional theory B3LYP method and the 6-31++G** basis set. Three-body interaction energy has been obtained with the ab initio supermolecular approach at the levels of MP2/6-31++G**//B3LYP/6-31++G** and MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31++G**. The internal rotation of methyl group induced by intermolecular interaction has been observed theoretically. For the optimized structures of nitromethane dimer, the strength of C--H...O--N H-bond ranges from -9.0 to -12.4 kJ mol(-1) at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31++G** level, and the B3LYP method underestimates the interaction strength compared with the MP2 method, while MP2/6-31++G**//B3LYP/6-31++G** calculated DeltaE(C) is within 2.5 kJ mol(-1) of the corresponding value at the MP4(SDTQ)/6-31G**//B3LYP/6-31++G** level. The analytic atom-atom intermolecular potential has been successfully regressed by using the MP2/6-31++G**//B3LYP/6-31++G** calculated interaction energies of nitromethane dimer. For the optimized structures of nitromethane trimer the three-body interaction energies occupy small percentage of corresponding total binding energies, but become important for the compressed nitromethane explosive. In addition, it has been discovered that the three-body interaction energy in the cyclic nitromethane trimer is more and more negative as intermolecular distances decrease from 2.2 to 1.7 A. Copyright 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 24: 345-352, 2003

  18. Negative ion formation in potassium-nitromethane collisions.

    PubMed

    Antunes, R; Almeida, D; Martins, G; Mason, N J; Garcia, G; Maneira, M J P; Nunes, Y; Limão-Vieira, P

    2010-10-21

    Ion-pair formation in gaseous nitromethane (CH(3)NO(2)) induced by electron transfer has been studied by investigating the products of collisions between fast potassium atoms and nitromethane molecules using a crossed molecular-beam technique. The negative ions formed in such collisions were analysed using time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. The six most dominant product anions are NO(2)(-), O(-), CH(3)NO(2)(-), OH(-), CH(2)NO(2)(-) and CNO(-). By using nitromethane-d(3) (CD(3)NO(2)), we found that previous mass 17 amu assignment to O(-) delayed fragment, is in the present experiment may be unambiguously assigned to OH(-). The formation of CH(2)NO(2)(-) may be explained in terms of dissociative electron attachment to highly vibrationally excited molecules.

  19. Reactive molecular dynamics simulation of solid nitromethane impact on (010) surfaces induced and nonimpact thermal decomposition.

    PubMed

    Guo, Feng; Cheng, Xin-lu; Zhang, Hong

    2012-04-12

    Which is the first step in the decomposition process of nitromethane is a controversial issue, proton dissociation or C-N bond scission. We applied reactive force field (ReaxFF) molecular dynamics to probe the initial decomposition mechanisms of nitromethane. By comparing the impact on (010) surfaces and without impact (only heating) for nitromethane simulations, we found that proton dissociation is the first step of the pyrolysis of nitromethane, and the C-N bond decomposes in the same time scale as in impact simulations, but in the nonimpact simulation, C-N bond dissociation takes place at a later time. At the end of these simulations, a large number of clusters are formed. By analyzing the trajectories, we discussed the role of the hydrogen bond in the initial process of nitromethane decompositions, the intermediates observed in the early time of the simulations, and the formation of clusters that consisted of C-N-C-N chain/ring structures.

  20. Field measurement of nitromethane from automotive emissions at a busy intersection using proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Inomata, Satoshi; Fujitani, Yuji; Fushimi, Akihiro; Tanimoto, Hiroshi; Sekimoto, Kanako; Yamada, Hiroyuki

    2014-10-01

    Field measurements of seven nitro-organic compounds including nitromethane and ten related volatile organic compounds were carried out using proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry at a busy intersection of an urban city, Kawasaki, Japan from 26th February to 6th March, 2011. Among the nitro-organic compounds, nitromethane was usually observed along with air pollutants emitted from automobiles. The mixing ratios of nitromethane varied substantially and sometimes clearly varied at an approximately constant interval. The interval corresponded to the cycle of the traffic signals at the intersection and the regular peaks of nitromethane concentrations were caused by emissions from diesel trucks running with high speed. In addition to the regular peaks, sharp increases of nitromethane concentrations were often observed irregularly from diesel trucks accelerating in front of the measurement site. For other nitro-organic compounds such as nitrophenol, nitrocresol, dihydroxynitrobenzene, nitrobenzene, nitrotoluene, and nitronaphthalene, most of the data fluctuated within the detection limits.

  1. Minimizing the Amount of Nitromethane in Palladium Catalyzed Cross Coupling with Aryl Halides

    PubMed Central

    Walvoord, Ryan R.; Kozlowski, Marisa C.

    2013-01-01

    A method for the formation of arylnitromethanes is described that employs readily available aryl halides or triflates and small amounts of nitromethane in a dioxane solvent, thereby reducing the hazards associated with this reagent. Specifically, 2–10 equivalents (1–5% v/v) of nitromethane can be employed in comparison to prior work that used nitromethane as solvent (185 equivalents). The present transformation provides high yields at relatively low temperatures and tolerates an array of functionality, including heterocycles and substantial steric encumbrance. PMID:23895411

  2. Structural and vibrational properties of solid nitromethane under high pressure by density functional theory.

    PubMed

    Liu, Hong; Zhao, Jijun; Wei, Dongqing; Gong, Zizheng

    2006-03-28

    The structural, vibrational, and electronic properties of solid nitromethane under hydrostatic pressure of up to 20 GPa have been studied using density functional theory. The changes of cell volume, the lattice constants, and the molecular geometry of solid nitromethane under hydrostatic loading are examined, and the bulk modulus B0 and its pressure derivative B0' are fitted from the volume-pressure relation. Our theoretical results are compared with available experiments. The change of electron band gap of nitromethane under high pressure is also discussed. Based on the optimized crystal structures, the vibrational frequencies for the internal and lattice modes of the nitromethane crystal at ambient and high pressures are computed, and the pressure-induced frequency shifts of these modes are discussed.

  3. Electrosynthesis of enaminones directly from methyl ketones and amines with nitromethane as a carbon source.

    PubMed

    Xu, Kun; Zhang, Zhenlei; Qian, Peng; Zha, Zhenggen; Wang, Zhiyong

    2015-07-14

    An efficient and mechanistically different method for the electrosynthesis of enaminone directly from methyl ketones, amines and nitromethane was developed. This transition-metal-free method proceeded at room temperature to give a wide array of enaminones in one step, utilizing nitromethane as the carbon source.

  4. Co-ingestion of methanol and nitromethane: using falsely elevated creatinine as indicator for methanol antidote use.

    PubMed

    Leonard, Charlene P; Akhtar, Javed

    2007-07-01

    To report a case of co-ingestion of methanol and nitromethane in a child in order to heighten the awareness of false elevation of serum creatinine from nitromethane ingestion. Case report. Pediatric intensive care unit. A 4-yr-old previously healthy girl ingested an unknown quantity of "Blue Thunder" model-engine fuel, which consisted of methanol and nitromethane. The patient was treated with fomepizole for methanol ingestion using elevated creatinine level as a reason for treatment. The patient was asymptomatic but her creatinine level increased ten-fold (from 0.4 mg/dL to 4 mg/dL) within 6 hrs. Blood urea nitrogen, anion gap, and osmolar gap remained within normal limits. When the serum creatinine level was measured with enzymatic method instead of Jaffe's method, a normal creatinine level was obtained. The falsely elevated creatinine level was due to nitromethane. The falsely elevated serum creatinine levels due to nitromethane ingestion can lead to unnecessary therapeutic interventions. We intend to heighten awareness of this potential misstep by reporting this case.

  5. An isomer-specific study of solid nitromethane decomposition pathways - Detection of aci-nitromethane (H2CNO(OH)) and nitrosomethanol (HOCH2NO) intermediates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maksyutenko, Pavlo; Förstel, Marko; Crandall, Parker; Sun, Bing-Jian; Wu, Mei-Hung; Chang, Agnes H. H.; Kaiser, Ralf I.

    2016-08-01

    An isomer specific study of energetic electron exposed nitromethane ices was performed via photoionization - reflectron time of flight mass spectrometry (PI-ReTOF-MS) of the subliming products employing tunable vacuum ultraviolet light for ionization. Supported by electronic structure calculations, nitromethane (CH3NO2) was found to isomerize to methyl nitrite (CH3ONO) and also via hydrogen migration to the hitherto elusive aci-nitromethane isomer (H2CNO(OH)). The latter isomerizes to nitrosomethanol (HOCH2NO) through hydroxyl group (OH) migration, and, probably, ring closure to the cyclic 2-hydroxy-oxaziridine isomer (c-H2CON(OH)) as well. The importance of hydrogen migrations was also verified via the nitrosomethane (CH3NO) - formaldehyde oxime isomer (CH2NOH) pair.

  6. Analysis of nitromethane from samples exposed in vitro to chloropicrin by stable isotope dilution headspace gas chromatography with mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Halme, Mia; Pesonen, Maija; Grandell, Toni; Kuula, Matti; Pasanen, Markku; Vähäkangas, Kirsi; Vanninen, Paula

    2015-10-01

    Chloropicrin (trichloronitromethane) is a widely used soil fumigant and an old chemical warfare agent. The metabolism of chloropicrin is not well known in mammals but nitromethane has been shown to be one of its main metabolites. Here, a fast and simple headspace gas chromatography with mass spectrometry method was applied for the measurement of nitromethane from aqueous samples. The analytical method was validated using stable isotope labeled internal standard and a small sample volume of 260 μL. No conventional sample preparation steps were needed. The method was accurate (relative standard deviations ≤1.5%) and linear (R(2) = 0.9996) within the concentration range of 0.1-6.0 μg/mL. This method was used to measure nitromethane in in vitro incubations with human and pig liver cell fractions containing enzymes for xenobiotic metabolism, exposed to chloropicrin. The results indicate that the presence of glutathione is necessary for the formation of nitromethane from chloropicrin. Also, nitromethane was formed mostly in liver cytosol fractions, but not in microsomal fractions after the incubation with chloropicrin. Our results suggest that although nitromethane is not the unequivocal biomarker of chloropicrin exposure, this method could be applied for screening the elevated levels in humans after chloropicrin exposure. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  7. Investigation of laser induced breakdown in liquid nitromethane using nanosecond shadowgraphy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Wencan; Zheng, Xianxu; Yu, Guoyang; Zhao, Jun; Zeng, Yangyang; Liu, Cangli

    2016-09-01

    A nanosecond time-resolved shadowgraphy is performed to observe a laser-induced breakdown in nitromethane. The digital delays are introduced between a pump beam and an illumination light to achieve a measuring range from 40 ns to 100 ms, which enable us to study the shock wave propagation, bubble dynamics, and other process of the laser-induced breakdown. Compared with distilled water, there are two obvious differences observed in nitromethane: (1) the production of a non-evaporative gas at the final stage, and (2) an absence of the secondary shock wave after the first collapse of the bubble. We also calculated the bubble energy in nitromethane and distilled water under a different incident energy. The results indicate that the bubble energy in nitromethane is more than twice as large as that in water. It is suggested that chemical reactions contribute to the releasing of energy.

  8. High dynamic range spectroscopic studies of shocked nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhowmick, Mithun; Nissen, Erin J.; Dlott, Dana D.

    In this talk we describe a tabletop apparatus that can reproducibly drive shocks through tiny cells containing liquid arranged in an array for high-throughput shock compression studies. This talk will focus on nitromethane, a liquid reactive to shocks and capable of detonation. In our studies, a laser-driven flyer plate was used to shock nitromethane, and a spectrometer with high dynamic range was employed to measure emission spectra from nanosecond to millisecond time scales. Typically, 50 single-shock experiments were performed per day with precisely controllable shock speeds below, above, or equal to the detonation shock speed. The emission spectra provide temperature histories using the graybody approximation. The ability to conveniently shock nitromethane on a benchtop will be used with isotopically substituted and amine-sensitized nitromethane and in future will be combined with other spectroscopies such as infrared absorption. Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), Office of Naval Research.

  9. Studies in shocked nitromethane through High dynamic range spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhowmick, Mithun; Nissen, Erin; Matveev, Sergey; Dlott, Dana

    2017-06-01

    In this talk we describe a tabletop apparatus that can reproducibly drive shocks through tiny cells containing liquid arranged in an array for high-throughput shock compression studies. This talk will focus on nitromethane, a liquid reactive to shocks and capable of detonation. In our studies, a laser-driven ?yer plate was used to shock nitromethane, and a spectrometer with high dynamic range was employed to measure emission spectra from nanosecond to millisecond time scales. Typically, 50 single-shock experiments were performed per day with precisely controllable shock speeds below, above, or equal to the detonation shock speed. The emission spectra provide temperature histories using the grey body approximation. The ability to conveniently shock nitromethane on a benchtop was used with isotopically substituted and amine-sensitized nitromethane and in future will be combined with other spectroscopies such as infrared absorption. Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), Office of Naval Research.

  10. Optimal Dynamic Detection of Explosives (ODD-EX)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-12-29

    2. Control of nitromethane photoionization efficiency with shaped femtosecond pulses, J. Roslund, O. Shir, A. Dogariu, R. Miles, H. Rabitz, J. Chem...feedback loop. 2. Control of nitromethane photoionization efficiency with shaped femtosecond pulses, J. Roslund, O. Shir, A. Dogariu, R. Miles, H. Rabitz...resonances that allow a significant increase in the photoionization efficiency of nitromethane with shaped near-infrared femtosecond pulses. The

  11. Gold/copper-catalyzed activation of the aci-form of nitromethane in the synthesis of methylene-bridged bis-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.

    PubMed

    Balamurugan, Rengarajan; Manojveer, Seetharaman

    2011-10-21

    Activation of the aci-form of nitromethane using Lewis acids for the attack of carbon nucleophiles was studied. 1,3-Dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of catalytic amounts of AuCl(3) or Cu(OTf)(2) in nitromethane solvent could be converted into methylene-bridged bis-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.

  12. Dynamics of an Overdriven Nitromethane Initiation System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hároz, E. H.; Rae, P. J.; Armstrong, C. L.; Baca, E. V.; Campbell, C.; Gunderson, J. A.; Holmes, M.; Lopez-Pulliam, I.; Vaughan, L. D.; Dickson, P. M.

    2017-06-01

    For upcoming large-scale HE experiments, an initiation system is needed to ensure uniform and simultaneous burn. To that end, we developed an initiation system based on nitromethane. Initial, small-scale tests characterized the response of the nitromethane in the proposed cylindrical initiator geometry, indicating robust detonation under a variety of conditions such as a plane wave lenses & cylinders of PBX 9501 into a flyer plate or direct-drive. Detonation velocity, as measured by piezoelectric pin time-of-arrival measurements along the length and at bottom of vessel, shows an overdriven response. All cases show a detonation velocity faster than the literature value of 7.3 km s-1 for nitromethane, with the fastest velocity occurring for the 8-detonator, 8'' cylinder case with a velocity = 7.7 km s-1. Streak camera imaging characterized the curvature of the shock front as it arrived at the bottom of the vessel via spark gap. A final test of the initiator system looked at the expansion of the initiator vessel walls via PDV, showing velocities up to 3.5 km s-1. Finally, our initiator was placed inside a secondary vessel containing 1000 lbs of nitromethane. High-speed photography & pin data indicate complete symmetrical burn of the secondary nitromethane.

  13. Decay dynamics of nascent acetonitrile and nitromethane dipole-bound anions produced by intracluster charge-transfer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yandell, Margaret A.; King, Sarah B.; Neumark, Daniel M., E-mail: dneumark@berkeley.edu

    2014-05-14

    Decay dynamics of nascent dipole bound states of acetonitrile and nitromethane are examined using time-resolved photoelectron imaging of iodide-acetonitrile (I{sup −}·CH{sub 3}CN) and iodide-nitromethane (I{sup −}·CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}) complexes. Dipole-bound anions are created by UV-initiated electron transfer to the molecule of interest from the associated iodide ion at energies just below the vertical detachment energy of the halide-molecule complex. The acetonitrile anion is observed to decay biexponentially with time constants in the range of 4–900 ps. In contrast, the dipole bound state of nitromethane decays rapidly over 400 fs to form the valence bound anion. The nitromethane valence anion speciesmore » then decays biexponentially with time constants of 2 ps and 1200 ps. The biexponential decay dynamics in acetonitrile are interpreted as iodine atom loss and autodetachment from the excited dipole-bound anion, followed by slower autodetachment of the relaxed metastable ion, while the dynamics of the nitromethane system suggest that a dipole-bound anion to valence anion transition proceeds via intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution to nitro group modes in the vicinity of the iodine atom.« less

  14. Decay dynamics of nascent acetonitrile and nitromethane dipole-bound anions produced by intracluster charge-transfer.

    PubMed

    Yandell, Margaret A; King, Sarah B; Neumark, Daniel M

    2014-05-14

    Decay dynamics of nascent dipole bound states of acetonitrile and nitromethane are examined using time-resolved photoelectron imaging of iodide-acetonitrile (I(-)·CH3CN) and iodide-nitromethane (I(-)·CH3NO2) complexes. Dipole-bound anions are created by UV-initiated electron transfer to the molecule of interest from the associated iodide ion at energies just below the vertical detachment energy of the halide-molecule complex. The acetonitrile anion is observed to decay biexponentially with time constants in the range of 4-900 ps. In contrast, the dipole bound state of nitromethane decays rapidly over 400 fs to form the valence bound anion. The nitromethane valence anion species then decays biexponentially with time constants of 2 ps and 1200 ps. The biexponential decay dynamics in acetonitrile are interpreted as iodine atom loss and autodetachment from the excited dipole-bound anion, followed by slower autodetachment of the relaxed metastable ion, while the dynamics of the nitromethane system suggest that a dipole-bound anion to valence anion transition proceeds via intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution to nitro group modes in the vicinity of the iodine atom.

  15. The Miniaturization and Reproducibilty of the Cylinder Expansion Test

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-10-01

    new miniaturized and the standard one-inch test has been performed using the liquid explosive PLX ( nitromethane sensitized with ethylene diamine). The...explosive PLX ( nitromethane sensitized with ethylene diamine). The resulting velocity and displacement profiles obtained from the streak records...performing a measurement systems analysis on both the half- and one-inch tests using the liquid explosive PLX ( nitromethane sensitized with 5% (by wt

  16. The Fundamental Chemistry and Physics of Munitions under Extreme Conditions

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-02-01

    I. I. Oleynik, S. V. Zybin, and C. T. White, “Density Functional Theory Calculations of Solid Nitromethane under Hydrostatic and Uniaxial...White (NRL), Ivan Oleynik (USF): anisotropic nonlinear elasticity and equations of states of crystalline EM (PETN, RDX, HMX, TATB, nitromethane ...and nitromethane ;  Aidan Thompson (SNL): shock-to-detonation transition in PETN and CL-20;  Ronnie Kosloff (Hebrew University of Jerusalem

  17. a Transient Semi-Metallic Layer in Detonating Nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reed, Evan J.; Manaa, M. Riad; Fried, Laurence E.; Glaesemann, Kurt; Joannopoulos, John D.

    2007-12-01

    We present the first ever glimpse behind a detonation shock front in a chemically reactive quantum molecular dynamics simulation of the explosive nitromethane (CH3NO2). We discover that the wide-bandgap insulator nitromethane undergoes chemical decomposition and a transformation into a semi-metallic state for a limited distance behind the detonation front. We find this transformation is associated with the production of charged decomposition species.

  18. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis to nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Webb, Kelli G; Fowler, Joseph F

    2002-12-01

    Nitromethane has wide industrial and commercial application as a polar solvent for adhesives and acrylics as well as explosive fuel. Allergic contact dermatitis to this chemical has not been described previously. The authors documented allergic contact hand dermatitis in 4 coworkers who similarly handled an adhesive solvent containing nitromethane. All 4 cases were confirmed by patch testing and resolved after allergen avoidance. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA)

  19. A gold cyano complex in nitromethane: MD simulation and X-ray diffraction.

    PubMed

    Probst, Michael; Injan, Natcha; Megyes, Tünde; Bako, Imre; Balint, Szabolcz; Limtrakul, Jumras; Nazmutdinov, Renat; Mitev, Pavlin D; Hermansson, Kersti

    2012-06-29

    The solvation structure around the dicyanoaurate(I) anion (Au(CN) 2 - ) in a dilute nitromethane (CH 3 NO 2 ) solution is presented from X-ray diffraction measurements and molecular dynamics simulation (NVT ensemble, 460 nitromethane molecules at room temperature). The simulations are based on a new solute-solvent force-field fitted to a training set of quantum-chemically derived interaction energies. Radial distribution functions from experiment and simulation are in good agreement. The solvation structure has been further elucidated from MD data. Several shells can be identified. We obtain a solvation number of 13-17 nitromethane molecules with a strong preference to be oriented with their methyl groups towards the solute.

  20. A gold cyano complex in nitromethane: MD simulation and X-ray diffraction

    PubMed Central

    Probst, Michael; Injan, Natcha; Megyes, Tünde; Bako, Imre; Balint, Szabolcz; Limtrakul, Jumras; Nazmutdinov, Renat; Mitev, Pavlin D.; Hermansson, Kersti

    2012-01-01

    The solvation structure around the dicyanoaurate(I) anion (Au(CN)2−) in a dilute nitromethane (CH3NO2) solution is presented from X-ray diffraction measurements and molecular dynamics simulation (NVT ensemble, 460 nitromethane molecules at room temperature). The simulations are based on a new solute–solvent force-field fitted to a training set of quantum-chemically derived interaction energies. Radial distribution functions from experiment and simulation are in good agreement. The solvation structure has been further elucidated from MD data. Several shells can be identified. We obtain a solvation number of 13–17 nitromethane molecules with a strong preference to be oriented with their methyl groups towards the solute. PMID:25540462

  1. High Speed Observation of Fragment Impact Initiation of Nitromethane Charges

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cook, M. D.; Briggs, R. I.; Haskins, P. J.; Stennett, C.

    1999-06-01

    Ultra high speed digital photography has been used to record the onset and build-up of reaction in nitromethane charges that have been impacted by steel fragments. The nitromethane charges were housed in perspex cylinders and back-lit using conventional flash bulbs. Flat plates of aluminium of varying thicknesses were glued to one end of the cylinder and perspex plates to the other. The completed charge was positioned to allow normal impact of the projectiles. The events were filmed using and Imacon 468, ultra high speed digital image system capable of framing at up to 100 million pictures per second, with a minimum interframe time of 10 nanoseconds, and exposure time of between 10ns and 1 millisecond. Using this system it was possible to record detailed photographic information concerning the onset and growth of reaction due to shock initiation of the nitromethane charges. The implications of these results for the ignition and growth process in nitromethane are discussed.

  2. Electron interaction with nitromethane embedded in helium droplets: attachment and ionization measurements.

    PubMed

    Ferreira da Silva, F; Ptasińska, S; Denifl, S; Gschliesser, D; Postler, J; Matias, C; Märk, T D; Limão-Vieira, P; Scheier, P

    2011-11-07

    Results of a detailed study on electron interactions with nitromethane (CH(3)NO(2)) embedded in helium nanodroplets are reported. Anionic and cationic products formed are analysed by mass spectrometry. When the doped helium droplets are irradiated with low-energy electrons of about 2 eV kinetic energy, exclusively parent cluster anions (CH(3)NO(2))(n)(-) are formed. At 8.5 eV, three anion cluster series are observed, i.e., (CH(3)NO(2))(n)(-), [(CH(3)NO(2))(n)-H](-), and (CH(3)NO(2))(n)NO(2)(-), the latter being the most abundant. The results obtained for anions are compared with previous electron attachment studies with bare nitromethane and nitromethane condensed on a surface. The cation chemistry (induced by electron ionization of the helium matrix at 70 eV and subsequent charge transfer from He(+) to the dopant cluster) is dominated by production of methylated and protonated nitromethane clusters, (CH(3)NO(2))(n)CH(3)(+) and (CH(3)NO(2))(n)H(+).

  3. Synthesis and stereochemical analysis of β-nitromethane substituted γ-amino acids and peptides.

    PubMed

    Ganesh Kumar, Mothukuri; Mali, Sachitanand M; Gopi, Hosahudya N

    2013-02-07

    The high diastereoselectivity in the Michael addition of nitromethane to α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters, crystal conformations of β-nitromethane substituted γ-amino acids and peptides are studied. Results suggest that the N-Boc protected amide NH, conformations of α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters and alkyl side chains play a crucial role in dictating the high diastereoselectivity of nitromethane addition to E-vinylogous amino esters. Investigation of the crystal conformations of both α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters and the Michael addition products suggests that an H-C(γ)-C(β)=C(α) eclipsed conformer of the unsaturated amino ester leads to the major (anti) product compared to that of an N-C(γ)-C(β)=C(α) eclipsed conformer. The major diastereomers were separated and subjected to the peptide synthesis. The single crystal analysis of the dipeptide containing β-nitromethane substituted γ-amino acids reveals a helical type of folded conformation with an isolated H-bond involving a nine-atom pseudocycle.

  4. Nitromethane K-9 Detection Limit

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Strobel, R; Kury, J

    2003-08-29

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) trains canine/handler teams to detect explosives for government and other agencies worldwide. After completing the training program the teams are tested on an array containing explosives and numerous other samples designed to distract a canine. Passing this test results in a team's certification. These teams can be considered as ''detection instruments'' freshly calibrated just before leaving the ''factory''. Using these teams to examine special experimental arrays immediately following certification can lead to a better understanding of a canine's detection capabilities. Forty-one of these ''detection instruments'' were used in four test series withmore » arrays containing dilute nitromethane-in-water solutions. (The canines had been trained on the amount of nitromethane vapor in equilibrium with the undiluted liquid explosive.) By diluting liquid nitromethane with water, the amount of explosive vapor can be reduced many orders of magnitude to test the lower limit of the canine's nitromethane vapor detection response. The results are presented in this paper.« less

  5. Hot spot-derived shock initiation phenomena in heterogeneous nitromethane

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dattelbaum, Dana M; Sheffield, Stephen A; Stahl, David B

    2009-01-01

    The addition of solid silica particles to gelled nitromethane offers a tractable model system for interrogating the role of impedance mismatches as one type of hot spot 'seed' on the initiation behaviors of explosive formulations. Gas gun-driven plate impact experiments are used to produce well-defined shock inputs into nitromethane-silica mixtures containing size-selected silica beads at 6 wt%. The Pop-plots or relationships between shock input pressure and rundistance (or time)-to-detonation for mixtures containing small (1-4 {micro}m) and large (40 {micro}m) beads are presented. Overall, the addition of beads was found to influence the shock sensitivity of the mixtures, with the smallermore » beads being more sensitizing than the larger beads, lowering the shock initiation threshold for the same run distance to detonation compared with neat nitromethane. In addition, the use of embedded electromagnetic gauges provides detailed information pertaining to the mechanism of the build-up to detonation and associated reactive flow. Of note, an initiation mechanism characteristic of homogeneous liquid explosives, such as nitromethane, was observed in the nitromethane-40 {micro}m diameter silica samples at high shock input pressures, indicating that the influence of hot spots on the initiation process was minimal under these conditions.« less

  6. Quantum Mechanical Predictions Of Energetic Materials: When Good Theories Go Bad

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-12-01

    pressures. The systems studied were nitromethane, 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraazacyclooctane ( HMX ), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine ( RDX ...degrees of compression. The systems are RDX , HMX , CL-20, nitromethane, PETN, and TATB. The GGA DFT Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) [Perdew et al., 1996...nitromethane, HMX , RDX and CL-20). At higher degrees of compression, planewave kinetic energy cut- offs (Ecut) were restricted to either 396 eV and/or

  7. Electronic State Decomposition of Energetic Materials and Model Systems

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-11-17

    Nitromethane at 226 nm and 271 nm at both Nanosecond and Femtosecond Temporal Scales," J. Phys. Chem. A 113, 85 (2009). Y. Q. Guo, A. Bhattacharya and E...less "energetic". 8. Photodissociation Dynamics of Nitromethane at 226 and 271 nm at Both Nanosecond and Femtosecond Time Scales Photodissociation...of nitromethane has been investigated for decades both theoretically and experimentally; however, as a whole picture, the dissociation dynamics for

  8. Molecular based equation of state for shocked liquid nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Desbiens, Nicolas; Bourasseau, Emeric; Maillet, Jean-Bernard; Soulard, Laurent

    2009-07-30

    An approach is proposed to obtain the equation of state of unreactive shocked liquid nitromethane. Unlike previous major works, this equation of state is not based on extended integration schemes [P.C. Lysne, D.R. Hardesty, Fundamental equation of state of liquid nitromethane to 100 kbar, J. Chem. Phys. 59 (1973) 6512]. It does not follow the way proposed by Winey et al. [J.M. Winey, G.E. Duvall, M.D. Knudson, Y.M. Gupta, Equation of state and temperature measurements for shocked nitromethane, J. Chem. Phys. 113 (2000) 7492] where the specific heat C(v), the isothermal bulk modulus B(T) and the coefficient of thermal pressure (deltaP/deltaT)(v) are modeled as functions of temperature and volume using experimental data. In this work, we compute the complete equation of state by microscopic calculations. Indeed, by means of Monte Carlo molecular simulations, we have proposed a new force field for nitromethane that lead to a good description of shock properties [N. Desbiens, E. Bourasseau, J.-B. Maillet, Potential optimization for the calculation of shocked liquid nitromethane properties, Mol. Sim. 33 (2007) 1061; A. Hervouët, N. Desbiens, E. Bourasseau, J.-B. Maillet, Microscopic approaches to liquid nitromethane detonation properties, J. Phys. Chem. B 112 (2008) 5070]. Particularly, it has been shown that shock temperatures and second shock temperatures are accurately reproduced which is significative of the quality of the potential. Here, thermodynamic derivative properties are computed: specific heats, Grüneisen parameter, sound velocity among others, along the Hugoniot curve. This work constitutes to our knowledge the first determination of the equation of state of an unreactive shocked explosive by molecular simulations.

  9. Microscopic Characterization of Defect Structure in RDX Crystals

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-10-09

    of mixtures of nitromethane and silica beads of 1–4 μm and 40 μm, with the smaller beads being more sensitizing than the larger beads (Dattelbaum et...al., 2010). Furthermore, the authors men- tioned that also the number density of hot spots plays a role in sensitizing mixtures of nitromethane and... nitromethane . In Proceedings of 14th International Detonation Symposium, Office of Naval Research. Doherty, R.M., Watt, D.S. & Nock, L. (2006) Reduced

  10. Detection of ingested nitromethane and reliable creatinine assessment using multiple common analytical methods.

    PubMed

    Murphy, Christine M; Devlin, John J; Beuhler, Michael C; Cheifetz, Paul; Maynard, Susan; Schwartz, Michael D; Kacinko, Sherri

    2018-04-01

    Nitromethane, found in fuels used for short distance racing, model cars, and model airplanes, produces a falsely elevated serum creatinine with standard creatinine analysis via the Jaffé method. Erroneous creatinine elevation often triggers extensive testing, leads to inaccurate diagnoses, and delayed or inappropriate medical interventions. Multiple reports in the literature identify "enzymatic assays" as an alternative method to detect the true value of creatinine, but this ambiguity does not help providers translate what type of enzymatic assay testing can be done in real time to determine if there is indeed false elevation. We report seven cases of ingested nitromethane where creatinine was determined via Beckman Coulter ® analyser using the Jaffé method, Vitros ® analyser, or i-Stat ® point-of-care testing. Nitromethane was detected and semi-quantified using a common clinical toxic alcohol analysis method, and quantified by headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. When creatinine was determined using i-Stat ® point-of-care testing or a Vitros ® analyser, levels were within the normal range. Comparatively, all initial creatinine levels obtained via the Jaffé method were elevated. Nitromethane concentrations ranged from 42 to 310 μg/mL. These cases demonstrate reliable assessment of creatinine through other enzymatic methods using a Vitros ® analyser or i-STAT ® . Additionally, nitromethane is detectable and quantifiable using routine alcohols gas chromatography analysis and by headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

  11. Exploding wires initiation of nitromethane sensitized by diethylenetriamine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ushnurtsev, A. E.; Shilkin, N. S.; Utkin, A. V.; Mintsev, V. B.

    2018-01-01

    Experiments on initiation of nitromethane sensitized by diethylenetriamine in weight proportion 98/2 by exploding wires were conducted. Several conditions of initiation of low speed detonation were determined.

  12. Photodissociation dynamics of nitromethane at 226 and 271 nm at both nanosecond and femtosecond time scales.

    PubMed

    Guo, Y Q; Bhattacharya, A; Bernstein, E R

    2009-01-08

    Photodissociation of nitromethane has been investigated for decades both theoretically and experimentally; however, as a whole picture, the dissociation dynamics for nitromethane are still not clear, although many different mechanisms have been proposed. To make a complete interpretation of these different mechanisms, photolysis of nitromethane at 226 and 271 nm under both collisional and collisionless conditions is investigated at nanosecond and femtosecond time scales. These two laser wavelengths correspond to the pi* <-- pi and pi* <-- n excitations of nitromethane, respectively. In nanosecond 226 nm (pi* <-- pi) photolysis experiments, CH(3) and NO radicals are observed as major products employing resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization techniques and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Additionally, OH and CH(3)O radicals are weakly observed as dissociation products employing laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy; the CH(3)O product is only observed under collisional conditions. In femtosecond 226 nm experiments, CH(3), NO(2), and NO products are observed. These results confirm that rupture of C-N bond should be the main primary process for the photolysis of nitromethane after the pi* <-- pi excitation at 226 nm, and the NO(2) molecule should be the precursor of the observed NO product. Formation of the CH(3)O radical after the recombination of CH(3) and NO(2) species under collisional conditions rules out a nitro-nitrite isomerization mechanism for the generation of CH(3)O and NO from pi pi* CH(3)NO(2). The OH radical formation for pi pi* CH(3)NO(2) should be a minor dissociation channel because of the weak OH signal in both nanosecond and femtosecond (nonobservable) experiments. Single color femtosecond pump-probe experiments at 226 nm are also employed to monitor the dynamics of the dissociation of nitromethane after the pi* <-- pi excitation. Because of the ultrafast dynamics of product formation at 226 nm, the pump-probe transients for the three dissociation products are measured as an autocorrelation of the laser pulse, indicating the dissociation of nitromethane in the pi pi* excited state is faster than the laser pulse duration (180 fs). In nanosecond 271 nm (pi* <-- n) photolysis experiments, pump-probe experiments are performed to detect potential dissociation products, such as CH(3), NO(2), CH(3)O, and OH; however, none of them is observed. In femtosecond 271 nm laser experiments, the nitromethane parent ion is observed with major intensity, together with CH(3), NO(2), and NO fragment ions with only minor intensities. Pump-probe transients for both nitromethane parent and fragment ions at 271 nm excitation and 406.5 nm ionization display a fast exponential decay with a constant time of 36 fs, which we suggest to be the lifetime of the excited n pi* state of nitromethane. Combined with the 271 nm nanosecond pump-probe experiments, in which none of the CH(3), NO(2), CH(3)O, or OH fragment is observed, we suggest that all the fragment ions generated in 271 nm femtosecond laser experiments are derived from the parent ion, and dissociation of nitromethane from the n pi* excited electronic state does not occur in a supersonic molecular beam under collisionless conditions.

  13. Triple Nucleophilic Attack of Nitromethane on (2-Iminoaryl)divinyl Ketones: A Domino Synthetic Strategy for Hexahydrophenanthridinones.

    PubMed

    Feng, Chengjie; Li, Yifei; Xu, Qi; Pan, Ling; Liu, Qun; Xu, Xianxiu

    2018-02-02

    A novel domino reaction of (2-iminoaryl)divinyl ketones with nitromethane was developed for the efficient synthesis of hexahydrophenanthridin-9(5H)-ones. The reaction proceeded smoothly from readily available starting materials under mild reaction conditions to construct three new bonds and two rings with high diastereoselectivities in good to excellent yields in a single step. A mechanism is proposed, involving a stepwise double Michael addition/aza-Henry reaction cascade, and in this transformation, nitromethane acts as a trinucleophile.

  14. A Benign, Low Z Electron Capture Agent for Negative Ion TPCs

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Martoff, C. J.; Dion, M. P.; Hosack, M.; Barton, D.; Black, J. K.

    2008-01-01

    We have identified nitromethane (CH3NO2) as an effective electron capture agent for negative ion TPCs (NITPCs). We present drift velocity and longitudinal diffusion measurements for negative ion gas mixtures using nitromethane as the capture agent. Not only is nitromethane substantially more benign than the only other identified capture agent, CS2, but its low atomic number will enable the use of the NITPC as a photoelectric X-ray polarimeter in the 1-10 keV band.

  15. Time-dependent infrared emission following photodissociation of nitromethane and chloropicrin.

    PubMed

    Wade, Elisabeth A; Reak, Kristina E; Li, Sissi L; Clegg, Samuel M; Zou, Peng; Osborn, David L

    2006-04-06

    Nitromethane (CH(3)NO(2)) and its chlorinated analogue, chloropicrin (CCl(3)NO(2)), were photolyzed at 193, 248, and 266 nm, and the products were observed by time-dependent Fourier transform infrared emission spectroscopy. At 193 and 248 nm, the primary photodissociation pathway for nitromethane was cleavage of the C-N bond to produce CH(3) + NO(2)(A (2)B(2)). At 266 nm, weak emission was observed following photodissociation of nitromethane, but an infrared spectrum could not be obtained. The photodissociation of chloropicrin at 193 nm produced the analogous product channel CCl(3) + NO(2)(A (2)B(2)) in addition to several other product channels. At 248 and 266 nm, only CCl(3) + NO(2)(A (2)B(2)) was observed. The production of phosgene (CCl(2)O) from chloropicrin photodissociation was not observed in this study.

  16. Electrochemical detection of nitromethane vapors combined with a solubilization device.

    PubMed

    Delile, Sébastien; Aussage, Adeline; Maillou, Thierry; Palmas, Pascal; Lair, Virginie; Cassir, Michel

    2015-01-01

    During the past decade, the number of terrorism acts has increased and the need for efficient explosive detectors has become an urgent worldwide necessity. A prototype, Nebulex™, was recently developed in our laboratory. Basically, it couples the solubilization of an analyte from the atmosphere by a nebulization process and in-situ detection. This article presents the development and integration of an electrochemical sensor for the detection of nitromethane, a common chemical product that can be used to make an improvised explosive device. A gold screen-printed electrode was used in a flow-cell and a detection limit of 4.5 µM was achieved by square wave voltammetry. The detection method was also determined to be selective toward nitromethane over a large panel of interfering compounds. Detection tests with the Nebulex™ were thus carried out using a custom-made calibrated nitromethane vapor generator. Detection times of less than one minute were obtained for nitromethane contents of 8 and 90 ppmv. Further measurements were performed in a room-measurement configuration leading to detection times in the range of 1-2 min, clearly demonstrating the system's efficiency under quasi-real conditions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Thermal Decomposition of Nitromethane and Reaction between CH3 and NO2.

    PubMed

    Matsugi, Akira; Shiina, Hiroumi

    2017-06-08

    The thermal decomposition of gaseous nitromethane and the subsequent bimolecular reaction between CH 3 and NO 2 have been experimentally studied using time-resolved cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy behind reflected shock waves in the temperature range 1336-1827 K and at a pressure of 100 kPa. Temporal evolution of NO 2 was observed following the pyrolysis of nitromethane (diluted to 80-140 ppm in argon) by monitoring the absorption around 400 nm. The primary objectives of the current work were to evaluate the rate constant for the CH 3 + NO 2 reaction (k 2 ) and to examine the contribution of the roaming isomerization pathway in nitromethane decomposition. The resultant rate constant can be expressed as k 2 = (9.3 ± 1.8) × 10 -10 (T/K) -0.5 cm 3 molecule -1 s -1 , which is in reasonable agreement with available literature data. The decomposition of nitromethane was found to predominantly proceed with the C-N bond fission process with the branching fraction of 0.97 ± 0.06. Therefore, the upper limit of the branching fraction for the roaming pathway was evaluated to be 0.09.

  18. On-line measurements of nitro organic compounds emitted from automobiles by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry: Laboratory experiments and a field measurement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Inomata, S.; Tanimoto, H.; Fujitani, Y.; Fushimi, A.; Sato, K.; Sekimoto, K.; Yamada, H.; Hori, S.; Shimono, A.; Hikida, T.

    2011-12-01

    On-line measurements of nitro organic compounds in automobile exhaust were carried out by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) with a chassis dynamometer. Diesel vehicles with oxidation catalyst system (diesel vehicle A) and with diesel PM-NOx reduction system ((diesel vehicle B) and a gasoline vehicle were used as a test vehicle. In the case of the diesel vehicle A, the emissions of nitromethane, nitrophenol (NPh), C7-, C8-, C9-, and C10-nitrophenols, and dihydroxynitrobenzenes (DHNB) were observed in the diesel exhaust from the experiment under the constant driving at 60 km hr-1. Temporal variations of mixing ratios for nitromethane, NPh, and DHNB along with related volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured during a transient driving cycle. The time-resolved measurement revealed that the nitromethane emission was strongly correlated with the emissions of CO, benzene, and acetone, which are relatively quickly produced in acceleration processes and appeared as sharp peaks. On the other hand, the NPh emission was moderately correlated with the emissions of acetic acid and phenol, which peaks were broad. The emission of nitromethane was observed from the exhaust of the diesel vehicle B but the emission of other nitro organic compounds was not observed. This suggests that the emission of nitro organic compounds besides nitromethane may depend on the diesel exhaust aftertreatment devices. The emission of nitromethane was also observed from the exhaust of the gasoline vehicle with cold start. An in-situ measurement of nitro organic compounds and their related VOCs was carried out at the crossing of an urban city, Kawasaki. Nitromethane was observed at the crossing and we found that the concentration of nitrometane varied rapidly. During the measurement, the maximum of the concentration of nitrometane reached 5 ppbv. Not only nitrophenols but also nitroaromatics were sometimes detected in the field measurement.

  19. High speed observation of fragment impact initiation of nitromethane charges

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cook, M. D.; Haskins, P. J.; Briggs, R. I.; Cheese, P.; Stennett, C.; Fellows, J.

    2000-04-01

    Ultra high-speed digital photography has been used to record the onset and build-up of reaction in nitromethane charges that have been impacted by steel fragments. The nitromethane charges were housed in PMMA cylinders and back-lit using conventional flash bulbs. Flat plates of aluminum were glued to one end of the cylinder and PMMA plates to the other. The completed charge was positioned to allow normal impact of the projectiles through the aluminum barrier plate. The events were filmed using an Imacon 468, ultra high-speed digital image system, capable of framing at up to 100 million pictures per second. Using this system it was possible to record detailed photographic information concerning the onset and growth of reaction due to shock initiation of the nitromethane charges. The results obtained to date are consistent with the established concepts for initiation of homogeneous and heterogeneous materials.

  20. Hugoniot curve calculation of nitromethane decomposition mixtures: A reactive force field molecular dynamics approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Feng; Zhang, Hong; Hu, Hai-Quan; Cheng, Xin-Lu; Zhang, Li-Yan

    2015-11-01

    We investigate the Hugoniot curve, shock-particle velocity relations, and Chapman-Jouguet conditions of the hot dense system through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The detailed pathways from crystal nitromethane to reacted state by shock compression are simulated. The phase transition of N2 and CO mixture is found at about 10 GPa, and the main reason is that the dissociation of the C-O bond and the formation of C-C bond start at 10.0-11.0 GPa. The unreacted state simulations of nitromethane are consistent with shock Hugoniot data. The complete pathway from unreacted to reacted state is discussed. Through chemical species analysis, we find that the C-N bond breaking is the main event of the shock-induced nitromethane decomposition. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11374217) and the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China (Grant No. ZR2014BQ008).

  1. Development of a New X-Ray Polarization Detection Device

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thompson, Jahreem R.; Hill, Joanne E.; Jahoda, Keith; Black, Kevin; Querrard, Rodney

    2018-01-01

    The aim of this research is to confirm the functionality of a Gas Electron Multiplier made of stainless steel in a detection medium of carbon dioxide and nitromethane through a series of X-ray tests in a vacuum chamber. Utilizing the photoelectric effect with carbon dioxide and nitromethane, we can confirm polarization of X-rays emitted from the most extreme astronomical conditions. We chose to use CO2 because we can confirm that it works well with the stainless-steel detector based on previous tests and nitromethane because we suspect that the ionization electrons created by the photoelectron during the photoelectric effect will experience less diffusion if they are bonded to a large molecule such as nitromethane as they diffuse towards the drift plate. The development of these new X-ray polarimeters will help to further the study of gravitational fields near black holes, their effects on matter they encounter, and the magnetic fields of neutron stars.

  2. Lasagna-type arrays with halide-nitromethane cluster filling. The first recognition of the Hal(-)···HCH2NO2 (Hal = Cl, Br, I) hydrogen bonding.

    PubMed

    Gushchin, Pavel V; Kuznetsov, Maxim L; Wang, Qian; Karasik, Andrey A; Haukka, Matti; Starova, Galina L; Kukushkin, Vadim Yu

    2012-06-21

    The previously predicted ability of the methyl group of nitromethane to form hydrogen bonding with halides is now confirmed experimentally based on X-ray data of novel nitromethane solvates followed by theoretical ab initio calculations at the MP2 level of theory. The cationic (1,3,5-triazapentadiene)Pt(II) complexes [Pt{HN=C(NC(5)H(10))N(Ph)C(NH(2))=NPh}(2)](Cl)(2), [1](Hal)(2) (Hal = Cl, Br, I), and [Pt{HN=C(NC(4)H(8)O)N(Ph)C(NH(2))=NPh}(2)](Cl)(2), [2](Cl)(2), were crystallized from MeNO(2)-containing systems providing nitromethane solvates studied by X-ray diffraction. In the crystal structure of [1][(Hal)(2)(MeNO(2))(2)] (Hal = Cl, Br, I) and [2][(Cl)(2)(MeNO(2))(2)], the solvated MeNO(2) molecules occupy vacant spaces between lasagna-type layers and connect to the Hal(-) ion through a weak hydrogen bridge via the H atom of the methyl thus forming, by means of the Hal(-)···HCH(2)NO(2) contact, the halide-nitromethane cluster "filling". The quantum-chemical calculations demonstrated that the short distance between the Hal(-) anion and the hydrogen atom of nitromethane in clusters [1][(Hal)(2)(MeNO(2))(2)] and [2][(Cl)(2)(MeNO(2))(2)] is not just a consequence of the packing effect but a result of the moderately strong hydrogen bonding.

  3. Electrochemical synthesis of azanucleoside derivatives using a lithium perchlorate-nitromethane system.

    PubMed

    Kim, Shokaku; Shoji, Takao; Kitano, Yoshikazu; Chiba, Kazuhiro

    2013-07-25

    We have developed a highly efficient synthetic method for azanucleosides using a lithium perchlorate-nitromethane reaction medium, allowing direct and exclusive installation of various nucleophiles, including protected nucleobases into prolinol derivatives at the preferred 5-position.

  4. Nitromethane with IBX/TBAF as a nitrosating agent: synthesis of nitrosamines from secondary or tertiary amines under mild conditions.

    PubMed

    Potturi, Hima K; Gurung, Ras K; Hou, Yuqing

    2012-01-06

    Aliphatic or aromatic N,N-disubstituted nitrosamine was generated in fair to excellent yield from the reaction of a secondary or tertiary amine with o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) or o-iodosylbenzoic acid (IBA)/R(4)NX (X = halide) and nitromethane. The product yield was strongly influenced by both the halide of R(4)NX and iodanes. IBX gave a higher yield than IBA, while the halides follow F(-) > Cl(-) > Br(-) ∼ I(-). Nitrous acid formed in situ from nitromethane and IBX (or IBA)/halides is likely responsible for the observed reaction.

  5. Very high pressure combustion; Reaction propagation rates of nitromethane within a diamond anvil cell

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rice, S.F.; Foltz, M.F.

    1991-11-01

    This paper reports on the combustion-front propagation rate of nitromethane that has been examined to pressures of 40 GPa. A new and general technique involving pulsed laser ignition of an energetic material within a diamond anvil cell and a method for monitoring the rapid decomposition of nitromethane and other explosives to more stable chemical products is described in detail. Nitromethane is shown to exhibit a flame propagation rate that increases smoothly to 100 m/s at 30 GPa as a function of pressure. Above 30 GPa, the final solid-state combustion products change dramatically and the flame propagation rate begins to decrease.more » The combustion-front propagation rate is analyzed in terms of an existing condensed-phase model that predicts a relationship between the front propagation rate, U, and the pressure derivative of the chemical kinetic activation energy, dE{sub a}/dP, such that a plot of logU{sup 2} vs. P should be linear. The activation energy is analyzed to yield an effective volume of activation, {Delta}V, of {minus}3.4 ml/mol. The chemical kinetic parameters determined from the combustion-front propagation rate analysis of solid high-pressure nitromethane is compared with results from other thermal decomposition studies of this prototypic molecular explosive.« less

  6. Lyman α photolysis of solid nitromethane (CH3NO2) and D3-nitromethane (CD3NO2)--untangling the reaction mechanisms involved in the decomposition of model energetic materials.

    PubMed

    Maksyutenko, Pavlo; Muzangwa, Lloyd G; Jones, Brant M; Kaiser, Ralf I

    2015-03-21

    Solid nitromethane (CH3NO2) along with its isotopically labelled counterpart D3-nitromethane (CD3NO2) ices were exposed to Lyman α photons to investigate the mechanism involved in the decomposition of energetic materials in the condensed phase. The chemical processes in the ices were monitored online and in situ via infrared spectroscopy complimented by temperature programmed desorption studies utilizing highly sensitive reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled with pulsed photoionization (ReTOF-PI) at 10.49 eV. The infrared data revealed the formation of cis-methylnitrite (CH3ONO), formaldehyde (H2CO), water (H2O), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Upon sublimation of the irradiated samples, three classes of higher molecular weight products, which are uniquely formed in the condensed phase, were identified via ReTOF-PI: (i) nitroso compounds [nitrosomethane (CH3NO), nitrosoethane (C2H5NO), nitrosopropane (C3H7NO)], (ii) nitrite compounds [methylnitrite (CH3ONO), ethylnitrite (C2H5ONO), propylnitrite (C3H7ONO)], and (iii) higher molecular weight molecules [CH3NONOCH3, CH3NONO2CH3, CH3OCH2NO2, ONCH2CH2NO2]. The mechanistical information obtained in the present study suggest that the decomposition of nitromethane in the condensed phase is more complex compared to the gas phase under collision-free conditions opening up not only hitherto unobserved decomposition pathways of nitromethane (hydrogen atom loss, oxygen atom loss, retro carbene insertion), but also the blocking of several initial decomposition steps due to the 'matrix cage effect'.

  7. Next Generation Spectrometers for Rapid Analysis of Complex Mixtures

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-05-29

    digitizer by collecting 1 and 100 million averages of a molecular sample ( nitromethane ) and verifying the expected factor of 10 improvement in signal-to...spectra of nitromethane . The positive-going spectrum represents 100 million averages while the negative-going spectrum represents 1 million averages

  8. Stabilization of Quinapril by Incorporating Hydrogen Bonding Interactions

    PubMed Central

    Roy, B. N.; Singh, G. P.; Godbole, H. M.; Nehate, S. P.

    2009-01-01

    In the present study stability of various known solvates of quinapril hydrochloride has been compared with nitromethane solvate. Nitromethane solvate was found to be more stable compared to other known solvates. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of quinapril nitromethane solvate shows intermolecular hydrogen bonding between quinapril molecule and nitromethane. Stabilization of quinapril by forming strong hydrogen bonding network as in case of co-crystals was further studied by forming co-crystal with tris(hydroxymethyl)amino methane. Quinapril free base forms a stable salt with tris(hydroxymethyl)amino methane not reported earlier. Quinapril tris(hydroxymethyl)amino methane salt found to be stable even at 80° for 72 h i.e. hardly any formation of diketopiperazine and diacid impurity. As expected single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals tris(hydroxymethyl)amino methane salt of quinapril shows complex hydrogen bonding network between the two entities along with ionic bond. The properties of this stable salt - stable in solid as well as solution phase, might lead to an alternate highly stable formulation. PMID:20502545

  9. Deflagration Rates and Molecular Bonding Trends of Statically Compressed Secondary Explosives

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zaug, J M; Foltz, M F; Hart, E

    2010-03-09

    We discuss our measurements of the chemical reaction propagation rate as a function of pressure. Materials investigated have included CL-20, HMX, TATB, and RDX crystalline powders, LX-04, Comp B, and nitromethane. The anomalous correspondence between crystal structure, including in some instances isostructural phase transitions, on pressure-dependant RPRs of TATB, HMX, Nitromethane, CL-20, and PETN have been elucidated using micro-IR and -Raman spectroscopies. Here we specifically highlight pressure-dependent physicochemical mechanisms affecting the deflagration rate of nitromethane and epsilon-CL-20. We find that pressure induced splitting of symmetric stretch NO{sub 2} vibrations can signal the onset of increasingly more rapid combustion reactions.

  10. Heavy atom vibrational modes and low-energy vibrational autodetachment in nitromethane anions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thompson, Michael C.; Baraban, Joshua H.; Matthews, Devin A.; Stanton, John F.; Weber, J. Mathias

    2015-06-01

    We report infrared spectra of nitromethane anion, CH3NO2-, in the region 700-2150 cm-1, obtained by Ar predissociation spectroscopy and electron detachment spectroscopy. The data are interpreted in the framework of second-order vibrational perturbation theory based on coupled-cluster electronic structure calculations. The modes in the spectroscopic region studied here are mainly based on vibrations involving the heavier atoms; this work complements earlier studies on nitromethane anion that focused on the CH stretching region of the spectrum. Electron detachment begins at photon energies far below the adiabatic electron affinity due to thermal population of excited vibrational states.

  11. Heavy atom vibrational modes and low-energy vibrational autodetachment in nitromethane anions.

    PubMed

    Thompson, Michael C; Baraban, Joshua H; Matthews, Devin A; Stanton, John F; Weber, J Mathias

    2015-06-21

    We report infrared spectra of nitromethane anion, CH3NO2 (-), in the region 700-2150 cm(-1), obtained by Ar predissociation spectroscopy and electron detachment spectroscopy. The data are interpreted in the framework of second-order vibrational perturbation theory based on coupled-cluster electronic structure calculations. The modes in the spectroscopic region studied here are mainly based on vibrations involving the heavier atoms; this work complements earlier studies on nitromethane anion that focused on the CH stretching region of the spectrum. Electron detachment begins at photon energies far below the adiabatic electron affinity due to thermal population of excited vibrational states.

  12. Microscopic approaches to liquid nitromethane detonation properties.

    PubMed

    Hervouët, Anaïs; Desbiens, Nicolas; Bourasseau, Emeric; Maillet, Jean-Bernard

    2008-04-24

    In this paper, thermodynamic and chemical properties of nitromethane are investigated using microscopic simulations. The Hugoniot curve of the inert explosive is computed using Monte Carlo simulations with a modified version of the adaptative Erpenbeck equation of state and a recently developed intermolecular potential. Molecular dynamic simulations of nitromethane decomposition have been performed using a reactive potential, allowing the calculation of kinetic rate constants and activation energies. Finally, the Crussard curve of detonation products as well as thermodynamic properties at the Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) point are computed using reactive ensemble Monte Carlo simulations. Results are in good agreement with both thermochemical calculations and experimental measurements.

  13. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Study on Nonequilibrium Reaction Pathways in the Photolysis of Solid Nitromethane (CH3NO2) and D3-Nitromethane (CD3NO2).

    PubMed

    Tsegaw, Yetsedaw Andargie; Sander, Wolfram; Kaiser, Ralf I

    2016-03-10

    Thin films of nitromethane (CH3NO2) along with its isotopically labeled counterpart D3-nitromethane (CD3NO2) were photolyzed at discrete wavelength between 266 nm (4.7 eV) and 121 nm (10.2 eV) to explore the underlying mechanisms involved in the decomposition of model compounds of energetic materials in the condensed phase at 5 K. The chemical modifications of the ices were traced in situ via electron paramagnetic resonance, thus focusing on the detection of (hitherto elusive) reaction intermediates and products with unpaired electrons. These studies revealed the formation of two carbon-centered radicals [methyl (CH3), nitromethyl (CH2NO2)], one oxygen-centered radical [methoxy (CH3O)], two nitrogen-centered radicals [nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2)], as well as atomic hydrogen (H). The decomposition products of these channels and the carbon-centered nitromethyl (CH2NO2) radical in particular represent crucial reaction intermediates leading via sequential molecular mass growth processes in the exposed nitromethane samples to complex organic molecules as predicted previously by dynamics calculations. The detection of the nitromethyl (CH2NO2) radical along with atomic hydrogen (H) demonstrated the existence of a high-energy decomposition pathway, which is closed under collisionless conditions in the gas phase.

  14. Source Physics Experiment Phase II, Dry Alluvium Geology (DAG) Experiments Using Nitromethane

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Traeger, Scott R.

    Need to provide briefing to the State of Nevada as part of the Permitting process for the Nevada Chemical Accident Prevention Program (CAPP) for use of nitromethane at the NNSS. This document will be accessible to the public as part of the CAPP program.

  15. Iodide-catalyzed synthesis of N-nitrosamines via C-N cleavage of nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Jie; Jiang, Jiewen; Li, Yuling; Wan, Xiaobing

    2013-11-15

    An iodide-catalyzed process to synthesize N-nitrosamines has been developed using TBHP as the oxidant. The mild catalytic system succeeded in cleaving the carbon-nitrogen bond in nitromethane. This methodology uses commercially available, inexpensive catalysts and oxidants and has a wide substrate scope and operational simplicity.

  16. The stabilization of unstable detonation waves for the mixture of nitromethane/methanol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Utkin, A. V.; Koldunov, S. A.; Mochalova, V. M.; Torunov, S. I.; Lapin, S. M.

    2015-11-01

    Using a laser interferometer VISAR the measurements of the particle velocity profiles in detonation waves for nitromethane/methanol mixtures with additions of a sensitizer diethylenetriamine were conducted. It is shown that the detonation front in a mixture of nitromethane/methanol is unstable and sensitizer is an effective method for the flow stabilization. If the diluent concentration is less than 10%, the detonation front is stabilized by adding of 1% diethylenetriamine. At higher concentrations of methanol, the sensitizer does not reject instability, but the amplitude of oscillations decreases in several times. An increase of the limit concentration of methanol at the addition of diethylenetriamine to the mixture was found.

  17. Heavy atom vibrational modes and low-energy vibrational autodetachment in nitromethane anions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Thompson, Michael C.; Weber, J. Mathias, E-mail: weberjm@jila.colorado.edu; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado at Boulder, 215UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215

    2015-06-21

    We report infrared spectra of nitromethane anion, CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}{sup −}, in the region 700–2150 cm{sup −1}, obtained by Ar predissociation spectroscopy and electron detachment spectroscopy. The data are interpreted in the framework of second-order vibrational perturbation theory based on coupled-cluster electronic structure calculations. The modes in the spectroscopic region studied here are mainly based on vibrations involving the heavier atoms; this work complements earlier studies on nitromethane anion that focused on the CH stretching region of the spectrum. Electron detachment begins at photon energies far below the adiabatic electron affinity due to thermal population of excited vibrational states.

  18. A molecular dynamics study of the relaxation of an excited molecule in crystalline nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rivera-Rivera, Luis A.; Siavosh-Haghighi, Ali; Sewell, Thomas D.; Thompson, Donald L.

    2014-07-01

    Classical molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the relaxation of an excited nitromethane molecule in perfect crystalline nitromethane at 250 K and 1 atm pressure. The molecule was instantaneously excited by statistically distributing energy E∗ between 25.0 kcal/mol and 125.0 kcal/mol among the 21 degrees of freedom of the molecule. The relaxation occurs exponentially with time constants between 11.58 ps and 13.57 ps. Energy transfer from the excited molecule to surrounding quasi-spherical shells of molecules occurs concurrently to both the nearest and next-nearest neighbor shells, but with more energy per molecule transferred more rapidly to the first shell.

  19. Explosively Driven Particle Fields Imaged Using a High-Speed Framing Camera and Particle Image Velocimetry

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-08-01

    inert steel particles and by Frost et al. (2005, 2007) with reactive aluminum and magnesium particles. All used sensitized nitromethane and were...particles in a spherical or cylindrical charge case was used with sensitized nitromethane . Frost et al. (2002), determined that for a given charge

  20. Excited Electronic and Vibrational State Decomposition of Energetic Materials and Model Systems on Both Nanosecond and Femtosecond Time Scales

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-07-22

    differences among electronically excited nitro-containing molecules with different X–NO2 (X = C, N, O) bond connections. Nitromethane (NM...Dynamics of Nitromethane at 226 nm and 271 nm at both Nanosecond and Femtosecond Temporal Scales," J. Phys. Chem. A 113, 85 (2009).

  1. Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of dienyl carbonates with nitromethane with high C-5 regioselectivity.

    PubMed

    Yang, Xiao-Fei; Li, Xiao-Hui; Ding, Chang-Hua; Xu, Chao-Fan; Dai, Li-Xin; Hou, Xue-Long

    2014-01-14

    A highly regioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of dienyl esters with nitromethane has been developed, providing selective access to the C-5 attacked products. The structures of the ligands as well as the steric effect of the substrates are important factors in determining the regiochemical outcome of the reaction.

  2. Efficient synthesis of optically active 4-nitro-cyclohexanones via bifunctional thiourea-base catalyzed double-Michael addition of nitromethane to dienones.

    PubMed

    Wu, Bin; Liu, Guo-Gui; Li, Mei-Qiu; Zhang, Yong; Zhang, Shao-Yun; Qiu, Jun-Ru; Xu, Xiao-Ping; Ji, Shun-Jun; Wang, Xing-Wang

    2011-04-07

    Thiourea-modified cinchona alkaloids as bifunctional catalysts and a base could catalyze a stepwise [5+1] cyclization of divinyl ketones with nitromethane via double Michael additions, furnishing optically active 4-nitro-cyclohexanones with good yields, excellent diastereoselectivities (>20 : 1) and high enantiomeric ratios (up to 97 : 3).

  3. Regio- and enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of nitromethane with monosubstituted allyl substrates: synthesis of (R)-rolipram and (R)-baclofen.

    PubMed

    Yang, Xiao-Fei; Ding, Chang-Hua; Li, Xiao-Hui; Huang, Jian-Qiang; Hou, Xue-Long; Dai, Li-Xin; Wang, Pin-Jie

    2012-10-19

    The Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) reaction of nitromethane with monosubstituted allyl substrates was realized for the first time to provide corresponding products in high yields with excellent regio- and enantioselectivities. The protocol was applied to the enantioselective synthesis of (R)-baclofen and (R)-rolipram.

  4. An improved procedure to prepare 3-methyl-4-nitroalkylenethylisoxazoles and their reaction under catalytic enantioselective Michael addition with nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Moccia, Maria; Wells, Robert J; Adamo, Mauro F A

    2015-02-21

    Herein, we describe a short synthesis of 3-methyl-4-nitro-5-alkylethenyl isoxazoles and their reactivity as Michael acceptors. The title compounds reacted with nitromethane under phase-transfer catalysis to provide highly enantioenriched adducts (up to 93% ee) which were then converted to the corresponding γ-nitroacids.

  5. Influence of Hot SPOT Features on the Shock Initiation of Heterogeneous Nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dattelbaum, D. M.; Sheffield, S. A.; Stahl, D. B.; Dattelbaum, A. M.

    2009-12-01

    "Hot spots," or regions of localized high temperature and pressure that arise during the shock compression of heterogeneous materials, are known to highly influence the initiation characteristics of explosives. By introducing controlled-size particles at known number densities into otherwise homogeneous explosives, details about hot spot criticality can be mapped for a given material. Here, we describe a series of gas gun-driven plate impact experiments on nitromethane loaded with 40 μm silica beads at 6 wt%. Through the use of embedded electromagnetic gauges, we have gained insight into the initiation mechanisms as a function of the input shock pressure, and present a Pop-plot for the mixture, which is further compared to neat nitromethane.

  6. Addition of nitromethane to a disilene and a digermene: comparison to surface reactivity and the facile formation of 1,3,2-dioxazolidines.

    PubMed

    Tashkandi, Nada Y; Parsons, Frederick; Guo, Jiacheng; Baines, Kim M

    2015-01-26

    The addition of nitromethane to tetramesityldisilene and tetramesityldigermene leads to the formation of the novel 1,3,2,4,5-dioxazadisil- and digermolidine ring systems, respectively. The 1,3,2,4,5-dioxazadisilolidine isomerizes to the 1,4,2,3,5-dioxazadisilolidine ring system, whereas the 1,3,2,4,5-dioxazadigermolidine undergoes ring opening to the isomeric oxime. The preferential formation of the 1,3,2,4,5-dioxazadisilolidine, and its rearrangement to a 1,4,2,3,5-dioxazadisilolidine, provides support for the suggested reaction pathway between nitromethane and the Si(100) 2×1 reconstructed surface. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  7. Effect of deuteration on the diameter-effect curve of liquid nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Engelke, Ray; Sheffield, Stephen A; Stacy, Howard L

    2006-06-22

    The detonation properties of liquid nitromethane [CH(3)NO(2)] are probably the most thoroughly studied of any condensed-phase explosive. Because it is homogeneous (i.e., lacks hot-spot phenomena), it provides a window into the underlying chemical processes induced by a passing shock or detonation wave-such information is submerged in the complex fluid mechanics when heterogeneous explosives are detonated. In this paper, we provide experimental data and data analysis of the effect that deuterating nitromethane's methyl group has on some aspects of the processes that occur in the detonating liquid material. In the experimental part of this study, we report diameter-effect curves (i.e., inverse charge internal radius vs steady detonation speed) for pure CH(3)NO(2) and pure CD(3)NO(2) confined in right-circular cylinders of C-260 brass. Large differences in the infinite-medium (i.e., plane wave) detonation speed and in the failure diameter of the two materials are observed. Interpretations of the observations based on physical and chemical theory are given. The observed large decrease in deuterated nitromethane's infinite-medium detonation speed, relative to the protonated material, is interpreted in terms of the Zeldovitch, von Neumann, and Doering theory of steady-state detonation. We also estimate the relative size of the steady plane-wave reaction-zone length of the two materials. We interpret the observed increases in NM's failure diameter and its steady one-dimensional chemical-reaction-zone length due to deuteration in terms of the quantity of NM aci ion present. The new results are placed in the context of earlier work on detonating liquid nitromethane.

  8. Oxidative tandem nitrosation/cyclization of N-aryl enamines with nitromethane toward 3-(trifluoromethyl)quinoxalines.

    PubMed

    Yang, Zhi-Jun; Liu, Chuan-Zhuo; Hu, Bo-Lun; Deng, Chen-Liang; Zhang, Xing-Guo

    2014-12-04

    A novel one-pot strategy for the synthesis of 3-trifluoromethylquinoxalines from N-aryl enamines and nitromethane was developed. The tandem reaction is achieved through nitrosation of alkenes, tautomerization and cyclization, which can be applicable to a wide range of enamines with excellent functional group tolerance and afford quinoxalines in moderate to good yields.

  9. The Henry reaction of (1R)-(1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-mannitol-2-yl)-1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-fructose 5,5'-dinitrate. Different reactive features of nitromethane to nitroethane.

    PubMed

    Liu, Feng-Wu; Wang, Zhen-Ji; Song, Xiao-Ping; Zhang, Sai-Yang; Liu, Hong-Min

    2009-12-14

    Henry reactions of a novel higher sugar derivative, (1R)-(1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-mannitol-2-yl)-1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-fructose 5,5'-dinitrate (Alternate nomenclature: (1R)-(isomannid-2-yl)-1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-fructose 5,5'-dinitrate), with nitromethane and nitroethane were studied. The kinetic and thermodynamic reactions with nitromethane under different conditions were carried out to afford (2S)- and (2R)-beta-nitroalcohols, respectively. But when using nitroethane the reaction gave a (2S)-beta-nitroalcohol with an inverted configuration at vicinal carbon C-1. Two stereogenic centers were generated, and one was altered in the reaction.

  10. Investigation of shock-induced chemical decomposition of sensitized nitromethane through time-resolved Raman spectroscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pangilinan, G.I.; Constantinou, C.P.; Gruzdkov, Y.A.

    1996-07-01

    Molecular processes associated with shock induced chemical decomposition of a mixture of nitromethane with ethylenediamine (0.1 wt%) are examined using time-resolved, Raman scattering. When shocked by stepwise loading to 14.2 GPa pressure, changes in the nitromethane vibrational modes and the spectral background characterize the onset of reaction. The CN stretch mode softens and disappears even as the NO{sub 2} and CH{sub 3} stretch modes, though modified, retain their identities. The shape and intensity of the spectral background also shows changes characteristic of reaction. Changes in the background, which are observed even at lower peak pressures of 11.4 GPa, are assignedmore » to luminescence from reaction intermediates. The implications of these results to various molecular models of sensitization are discussed.« less

  11. Flow Reactor Studies with Nanosecond Pulsed Discharges at Atmospheric Pressure and Higher

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-10-01

    Experiment and model analysis of low temperature C2H4/N2/O2/Ar mixtures suggest intermediate formation of nitromethane . Formation of such nitro and...Large amount of nitromethane (CH3NO2) forms within the plasma region, by CH3+NO2(+M)=CH3NO2(+M). Downstream, CH3NO2 then decomposes. • Current model

  12. Vibrational Energy in Molecules and Nanoparticles: Applications to Energetic Materials

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-01-30

    of vibrational energy in a polyatomic molecule, nitromethane . Work on water and amino acids partially supported by AFOSR are developmental in nature...have characterized the surface vibrations of HMX explosive and their interaction with polymer binders. We have introduced a major improvement in SFG...Vibrational energy in nitromethane and benzene E. Time resolved spectroscopy of chemistry in flash-heated nanoenergetic materials F. Complete

  13. Adsorption of Simple Benzene Derivatives on Carbon Nanotubes

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-04-17

    to the functional groups NH2, CH3, and NO2. These molecules are amonia NH3 for NH2, methane CH4 for CH3, and nitromethane CH3NO2 for NO2, which...DOS is given for nitromethane CH3NO2, methane CH4, and amonia NH3. It can be seen that the adsorption of these molecules also has little effect on

  14. Molecular dynamics and vibrational relaxations in liquid nitromethane.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grazia Giorgini, Maria; Mariani, Leonardo; Morresi, Assunta; Paliani, Giulio; Cataliotti, Rosario Sergio

    The vibrational relaxation processes of totally symmetric v1 (CH stretching and v5 (NO2 bending) motions of liquid nitromethane have been studied as a function of temperature and concentration in CD3NO2 and CCl4 solutions. The experimental vibrational correlation functions of these two modes have shown that relaxation is collision assisted and suitable for modelling with the stochastic Kubo-Rothschild theory.

  15. Shock-to-detonation transition of nitromethane: Time-resolved emission spectroscopy measurements

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bouyer, Viviane; Darbord, Isabelle; Herve, Philippe

    2006-01-01

    The objective of this work is to improve the knowledge of the shock-to-detonation transition of nitromethane. The study is based on a spectral analysis in the range 0.3-0.85 {mu}m, with a 28-nm resolution, during experiments of plane shock impacts on explosive targets at 8.6 GPa. The time-resolved radiant spectra show that the detonation front, the reaction products produced during the superdetonation, and the detonation products are semitransparent. The temperature and absorption coefficient profiles are determined from the measured spectra by a mathematical inversion method based on the equation of radiative transfer with Rayleigh scattering regime. Shocked nitromethane reaches at leastmore » 2500 K, showing the existence of local chemical reactions after shock entrance. Levels of temperature of superdetonation and steady-state detonation are also determined.« less

  16. Apparent elevated creatinine after ingestion of nitromethane: interference with the Jaffe reaction.

    PubMed

    Killorn, Erin; Lim, Rodrick K; Rieder, Michael

    2011-02-01

    We assessed a 2-year 4-month-old boy found to have a persistently elevated serum creatinine (peak 926 μmol/L) as measured by the Jaffe reaction after ingesting an unknown quantity of fuel for a model car, which commonly contains nitromethane. The patient was otherwise clinically well and the remaining investigations were unremarkable. When creatinine concentrations were measured with specific enzymatic testing on these same blood samples, all values were within normal limits. Nitromethane has been shown to interfere with the determination of serum creatinine through the Jaffe reaction. Because many ingestions present only rarely, it is not possible for the emergency department clinician to be aware of all toxin factors affecting patient management. This case illustrates the importance of analysis of laboratory results in the context of the patient's clinical status.

  17. Copper(II)-catalyzed oxidative N-nitrosation of secondary and tertiary amines with nitromethane under an oxygen atmosphere.

    PubMed

    Sakai, Norio; Sasaki, Minoru; Ogiwara, Yohei

    2015-07-25

    The combination of a catalytic amount of Cu(OTf)2 and less than a stoichiometric amount of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) under an O2 atmosphere effectively promoted the N-nitrosation of both secondary aromatic/aliphatic amines and tertiary aromatic amines with nitromethane (CH3NO2) leading to the preparation of N-nitrosamine derivatives.

  18. Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Henry Reaction of β,γ-Unsaturated α-Ketoesters with Nitromethane in Water.

    PubMed

    Li, Yanan; Huang, Yekai; Gui, Yang; Sun, Jianan; Li, Jindong; Zha, Zhenggen; Wang, Zhiyong

    2017-12-01

    A highly enantioselective Henry reaction of β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters with nitromethane in water by virtue of chiral copper complexes has been developed. A series of unsaturated β-nitro-α-hydroxy esters bearing tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters were obtained exclusively with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. This method could avoid tedious anaerobic anhydrous manipulation and reduce the environmental pollution caused by organic solvents.

  19. Experimental investigation of detonation waves instabilities in liquid high explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sosikov, V. A.; Torunov, S. I.; Utkin, A. V.; Mochalova, V. M.; Rapota, D. Yu

    2018-01-01

    Experimental investigation of unstable detonation front structure in mixtures of liquid high explosives (nitromethane and FEFO—bis-(2-fluor-2.2-dinitroethyl)-formal) with inert diluents (acetone, methanol, DETA—diethylene triamine) has been carried out. Inhomogeneities have been registered by electro-optical camera NANOGATE 4BP allowing to make 4 frames with the exposure time 10 ns. According to experimental results the detonation front in nitromethane-acetone mixture is unstable. It is evident that pulsations on detonation front do not form spatial periodic structure and their dimensions differ several times. But mean longitudinal size of pulsation is about 500 μm at 20 wt% of acetone concentration. This means that the typical size of cell equals to reaction zone width. The same structure of cellular front have been registered in 70/30 FEFO-methanol mixture. Second kind of instability, failure waves, was observed in neat nitromethane at the free surface. In this case the stability loss result in turbulent flow which is clearly detected in the shots obtained. Adding small amount of DETA (0.5 wt%) results in disappearance of the failure waves and flow stabilization. The effect is caused by the fact that DETA sharply accelerates initial rate of chemical reaction because it is sensitizer for nitromethane.

  20. Thermal decomposition of condensed-phase nitromethane from molecular dynamics from ReaxFF reactive dynamics.

    PubMed

    Han, Si-ping; van Duin, Adri C T; Goddard, William A; Strachan, Alejandro

    2011-05-26

    We studied the thermal decomposition and subsequent reaction of the energetic material nitromethane (CH(3)NO(2)) using molecular dynamics with ReaxFF, a first principles-based reactive force field. We characterize the chemistry of liquid and solid nitromethane at high temperatures (2000-3000 K) and density 1.97 g/cm(3) for times up to 200 ps. At T = 3000 K the first reaction in the decomposition of nitromethane is an intermolecular proton transfer leading to CH(3)NOOH and CH(2)NO(2). For lower temperatures (T = 2500 and 2000 K) the first reaction during decomposition is often an isomerization reaction involving the scission of the C-N bond the formation of a C-O bond to form methyl nitrate (CH(3)ONO). Also at very early times we observe intramolecular proton transfer events. The main product of these reactions is H(2)O which starts forming following those initiation steps. The appearance of H(2)O marks the beginning of the exothermic chemistry. Recent quantum-mechanics-based molecular dynamics simulations on the chemical reactions and time scales for decomposition of a crystalline sample heated to T = 3000 K for a few picoseconds are in excellent agreement with our results, providing an important, direct validation of ReaxFF.

  1. Nitromethane decomposition under high static pressure.

    PubMed

    Citroni, Margherita; Bini, Roberto; Pagliai, Marco; Cardini, Gianni; Schettino, Vincenzo

    2010-07-29

    The room-temperature pressure-induced reaction of nitromethane has been studied by means of infrared spectroscopy in conjunction with ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The evolution of the IR spectrum during the reaction has been monitored at 32.2 and 35.5 GPa performing the measurements in a diamond anvil cell. The simulations allowed the characterization of the onset of the high-pressure reaction, showing that its mechanism has a complex bimolecular character and involves the formation of the aci-ion of nitromethane. The growth of a three-dimensional disordered polymer has been evidenced both in the experiments and in the simulations. On decompression of the sample, after the reaction, a continuous evolution of the product is observed with a decomposition into smaller molecules. This behavior has been confirmed by the simulations and represents an important novelty in the scene of the known high-pressure reactions of molecular systems. The major reaction product on decompression is N-methylformamide, the smallest molecule containing the peptide bond. The high-pressure reaction of crystalline nitromethane under irradiation at 458 nm was also experimentally studied. The reaction threshold pressure is significantly lowered by the electronic excitation through two-photon absorption, and methanol, not detected in the purely pressure-induced reaction, is formed. The presence of ammonium carbonate is also observed.

  2. Lithium perchlorate-nitromethane-promoted alkylation of anilines with arylmethanols.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Jun; Mao, Hai-Feng; Wang, Lu; Zou, Jian-Ping; Zhang, Wei

    2011-11-01

    A new application of lithium perchlorate-nitromethane (LPNM) for the formation of aromatic C-N and C-C bonds is introduced. LPNM-promoted reactions of anilines with diarylmethanols selectively generate N-alkylated anilines or mono and double Friedel-Crafts alkylation products under different conditions by changing the reaction time, reaction temperature, and the ratio of the reactants. This method does not require the use of transition metal catalysts to prepare alkylated aniline derivatives.

  3. Nitroethylation of Vinyl Triflates and Bromides

    PubMed Central

    Padilla–Salinas, Rosaura; Walvoord, Ryan R.; Tcyrulnikov, Sergei

    2013-01-01

    A two-carbon homologation of vinyl triflates and bromides for the synthesis of homoallylic nitro products is described. This palladium-catalyzed double coupling of nitromethane exploits the anion stabilizing and leaving group properties of nitromethane, generating the homo allyl nitro products via a tandem cross-coupling/π-allylation sequence. The resultant process provides a mild and convenient entry of nitroethylated products, which are versatile precursors to β,γ-unsaturated carbonyls, homoallylic amines, and nitrile oxides. PMID:23885976

  4. Transferable Reactive Force Fields: Extensions of ReaxFF-lg to Nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Larentzos, James P; Rice, Betsy M

    2017-03-09

    Transferable ReaxFF-lg models of nitromethane that predict a variety of material properties over a wide range of thermodynamic states are obtained by screening a library of ∼6600 potentials that were previously optimized through the Multiple Objective Evolutionary Strategies (MOES) approach using a training set that included information for other energetic materials composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. Models that best match experimental nitromethane lattice constants at 4.2 K and 1 atm are evaluated for transferability to high-pressure states at room temperature and are shown to better predict various liquid- and solid-phase structural, thermodynamic, and transport properties as compared to the existing ReaxFF and ReaxFF-lg parametrizations. Although demonstrated for an energetic material, the library of ReaxFF-lg models is supplied to the scientific community to enable new research explorations of complex reactive phenomena in a variety of materials research applications.

  5. Simulations of Fluid Nitromethane Under Extreme Conditions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Fried, L E; Reed, E J; Manaa, M R

    2003-07-15

    We report density functional molecular dynamics simulations to determine the early chemical events of hot (T = 3000 K) and dense (1.97 g/cm{sup 3}, V/V{sub 0} = 0.68) nitromethane (CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}). The first step in the decomposition process is an intermolecular proton abstraction mechanism that leads to the formation of CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}H and the aci ion H{sub 2}CNO{sub 2}{sup -}, in support of evidence from static high-pressure and shock experiments. An intramolecular hydrogen transfer that transforms nitromethane into the aci acid form, CH{sub 2}NO{sub 2}H, accompanies this event. This is the first confirmation of chemical reactivity with bondmore » selectivity for an energetic material near the condition of fully reacted specimen. We also report the decomposition mechanism followed up to the formation of H{sub 2}O as the first stable product.« less

  6. Theoretical gas to liquid shift of (15)N isotropic nuclear magnetic shielding in nitromethane using ab initio molecular dynamics and GIAO/GIPAW calculations.

    PubMed

    Gerber, Iann C; Jolibois, Franck

    2015-05-14

    Chemical shift requires the knowledge of both the sample and a reference magnetic shielding. In few cases as nitrogen (15N), the standard experimental reference corresponds to its liquid phase. Theoretical estimate of NMR magnetic shielding parameters of compounds in their liquid phase is then mandatory but usually replaced by an easily-get gas phase value, forbidding direct comparisons with experiments. We propose here to combine ab initio molecular dynamic simulations with the calculations of magnetic shielding using GIAO approach on extracted cluster's structures from MD. Using several computational strategies, we manage to accurately calculate 15N magnetic shielding of nitromethane in its liquid phase. Theoretical comparison between liquid and gas phase allows us to extrapolate an experimental value for the 15N magnetic shielding of nitromethane in gas phase between -121.8 and -120.8 ppm.

  7. Control of nitromethane photoionization efficiency with shaped femtosecond pulses.

    PubMed

    Roslund, Jonathan; Shir, Ofer M; Dogariu, Arthur; Miles, Richard; Rabitz, Herschel

    2011-04-21

    The applicability of adaptive femtosecond pulse shaping is studied for achieving selectivity in the photoionization of low-density polyatomic targets. In particular, optimal dynamic discrimination (ODD) techniques exploit intermediate molecular electronic resonances that allow a significant increase in the photoionization efficiency of nitromethane with shaped near-infrared femtosecond pulses. The intensity bias typical of high-photon number, nonresonant ionization is accounted for by reference to a strictly intensity-dependent process. Closed-loop adaptive learning is then able to discover a pulse form that increases the ionization efficiency of nitromethane by ∼150%. The optimally induced molecular dynamics result from entry into a region of parameter space inaccessible with intensity-only control. Finally, the discovered pulse shape is demonstrated to interact with the molecular system in a coherent fashion as assessed from the asymmetry between the response to the optimal field and its time-reversed counterpart.

  8. Conversion of a Micro, Glow-Ignition, Two-Stroke Engine from Nitromethane-Methanol Blend Fuel to Military Jet Propellant (JP-8)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-01-01

    Table 10-4: Selected Birk polyimide heater sizes, resistances and locations [37] ........................ 79 Table 10-5: Final starting tests with (3...damage, and fire are prevalent. Kerosene type fuels are also cheaper and more common than nitromethane-methanol blend fuels. One final note is...diesel fuel was changed to produce lower emissions, the abrasiveness of diesel fuel increased. This was especially problematic for the new high

  9. Palladium-Catalyzed Nitromethylation of Aryl Halides: An Orthogonal Formylation Equivalent

    PubMed Central

    Walvoord, Ryan R.; Berritt, Simon; Kozlowski, Marisa C.

    2012-01-01

    An efficient cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides and nitromethane was developed with the use of parallel microscale experimentation. The arylnitromethane products are precursors for numerous useful synthetic products. An efficient method for their direct conversion to the corresponding oximes and aldehydes in a one-pot operation has been discovered. The process exploits inexpensive nitromethane as a carbonyl equivalent, providing a mild and convenient formylation method that is compatible with many functional groups. PMID:22839593

  10. A Detailed, Finite-Rate, Chemical Kinetics Mechanism for Monomethylhydrazine-Red Fuming Nitric Acid Systems

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-02-01

    nitromethane . When the effort to develop the MMH-RFNA mechanism was discontinued in 2005, the mechanism was composed of rate expressions and...results comparable to those predicted by the theory of thermal explosions . Thermochemical parameters for molecules unique to these two mechanisms were...Bendtsen, A. B.; Miller, J. A. Nitromethane Dissociation: Implications for the CH3 + NO2 Reaction. Int. J. Chemical Kinetics 1999, 31, 591–602. Kee, R

  11. The Photodissociation of Nitromethane at 193 nm.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-02-28

    available energy for product translational + internal energy is 90 kcal/mole. As the largest amount of energy that goes into translational energy in the...CATAL.O8 NUMIER 0 R 92-545/21W83 P 3-/ 4. TITLE (and Subtlee) S. TYPE OF REPORT A PEI4o0 COVERED THE PHOTODISSOCIATION OF NITROMETHANE AT 193 NM Technical S...been investigated by two independent and comple- *_ mentary techniques, product emission spectroscopy and molecular beam photofragment translational

  12. Conversion of a micro, glow-ignition, two-stroke engine from nitromethane-methanol blend fuel to military jet propellant (JP-8)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wiegand, Andrew L.

    The goal of the thesis "Conversion of a Micro, Glow-Ignition, Two-Stroke Engine from Nitromethane-Methanol Blend Fuel to Military Jet Propellant (JP-8)" was to demonstrate the ability to operate a small engine on JP-8 and was completed in two phases. The first phase included choosing, developing a test stand for, and baseline testing a nitromethane-methanol-fueled engine. The chosen engine was an 11.5 cc, glow-ignition, two-stroke engine designed for remote-controlled helicopters. A micro engine test stand was developed to load and motor the engine. Instrumentation specific to the low flow rates and high speeds of the micro engine was developed and used to document engine behavior. The second phase included converting the engine to operate on JP-8, completing JP-8-fueled steady-state testing, and comparing the performance of the JP-8-fueled engine to the nitromethane-methanol-fueled engine. The conversion was accomplished through a novel crankcase heating method; by heating the crankcase for an extended period of time, a flammable fuel-air mixture was generated in the crankcase scavenged engine, which greatly improved starting times. To aid in starting and steady-state operation, yttrium-zirconia impregnated resin (i.e. ceramic coating) was applied to the combustion surfaces. This also improved the starting times of the JP-8-fueled engine and ultimately allowed for a 34-second starting time. Finally, the steady-state data from both the nitromethane-methanol and JP-8-fueled micro engine were compared. The JP-8-fueled engine showed signs of increased engine friction while having higher indicated fuel conversion efficiency and a higher overall system efficiency. The minimal ability of JP-8 to cool the engine via evaporative effects, however, created the necessity of increased cooling air flow. The conclusion reached was that JP-8-fueled micro engines could be viable in application, but not without additional research being conducted on combustion phenomenon and cooling requirements.

  13. A DFT study on structural, vibrational properties, and quasiparticle band structure of solid nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Appalakondaiah, S; Vaitheeswaran, G; Lebègue, S

    2013-05-14

    We report a detailed theoretical study of the structural and vibrational properties of solid nitromethane using first principles density functional calculations. The ground state properties were calculated using a plane wave pseudopotential code with either the local density approximation, the generalized gradient approximation, or with a correction to include van der Waals interactions. Our calculated equilibrium lattice parameters and volume using a dispersion correction are found to be in reasonable agreement with the experimental results. Also, our calculations reproduce the experimental trends in the structural properties at high pressure. We found a discontinuity in the bond length, bond angles, and also a weakening of hydrogen bond strength in the pressure range from 10 to 12 GPa, picturing the structural transition from phase I to phase II. Moreover, we predict the elastic constants of solid nitromethane and find that the corresponding bulk modulus is in good agreement with experiments. The calculated elastic constants show an order of C11> C22 > C33, indicating that the material is more compressible along the c-axis. We also calculated the zone center vibrational frequencies and discuss the internal and external modes of this material under pressure. From this, we found the softening of lattice modes around 8-11 GPa. We have also attempted the quasiparticle band structure of solid nitromethane with the G0W0 approximation and found that nitromethane is an indirect band gap insulator with a value of the band gap of about 7.8 eV with G0W0 approximation. Finally, the optical properties of this material, namely the absorptive and dispersive part of the dielectric function, and the refractive index and absorption spectra are calculated and the contribution of different transition peaks of the absorption spectra are analyzed. The static dielectric constant and refractive indices along the three inequivalent crystallographic directions indicate that this material has a considerable optical anisotropy.

  14. 2-Aryl-2-nitroacetates as Central Precursors to Aryl Nitromethanes, α-Ketoesters, and α-Amino Acids

    PubMed Central

    Metz, Alison E.

    2013-01-01

    Nitroarylacetates are useful small molecular building blocks that act as precursors to α-ketoesters and aryl nitromethanes as well as α-amino acids. Methods were developed that produce each of these compound types in good yields. Two different conditions for decarboxylation are discussed for substrates with neutral and electron-poor aryl groups versus electron-rich aryl groups. For formation of the α-ketoesters, new mild conditions for the Nef disproportionation were identified. PMID:23245626

  15. Palladium-catalysed carbonylative α-arylation of nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Lian, Zhong; Friis, Stig D; Skrydstrup, Troels

    2015-02-28

    A simple and mild Pd-catalysed carbonylative α-arylation of nitromethane has been realised providing access to α-nitro aryl ketones from an array of aryl and heteroaryl iodides. The methodology requires only a mild base and uses the convenient solid CO releasing molecule, COgen in a two-chamber system. Changing to the isotopically labelled (13)COgen, [(13)C]-acyl labelling can be effected through the generation of a near stoichiometric amount of (13)CO. Lastly, the significance of the generated products as synthetic intermediates is demonstrated.

  16. Heavy Atom Vibrational Modes and Low-Energy Vibrational Autodetachment in Nitromethane Anions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thompson, Michael C.; Baraban, Joshua H.; Stanton, John F.; Weber, J. Mathias

    2015-06-01

    We use Ar predissociation and vibrational autodetachment below 2100 wn to obtain vibrational spectra of the low-energy modes of nitromethane anion. We interpret the spectra using anharmonic calculations, which reveal strong mode coupling and Fermi resonances. Not surprisingly, the number of evaporated Ar atoms varies with photon energy, and we follow the propensity of evaporating two versus one Ar atoms as photon energy increases. The photodetachment spectrum is discussed in the context of threshold effects and the importance of hot bands.

  17. Intense pumping and time- and frequency-resolved CARS for driving and tracking structural deformation and recovery of liquid nitromethane molecules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Chang; Wu, Hong-lin; Song, Yun-fei; He, Xing; Yang, Yan-qiang; Tan, Duo-wang

    2015-11-01

    A modified CARS technique with an intense nonresonant femtosecond laser is presented to drive the structural deformation of liquid nitromethane molecules and track their structural relaxation process. The CARS spectra reveal that the internal rotation of the molecule can couple with the CN symmetric stretching vibration and the molecules undergo ultrafast structural deformation of the CH3 groups from 'opened umbrella' to 'closed umbrella' shape, and then experience a structural recovery process within 720 fs.

  18. Electronic excitations and chemistry in Nitromethane and HMX

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Reed, E J; Manaa, M R; Joannopoulos, J D

    2001-06-19

    The nature of electronic excitations in crystalline solid nitromethane under conditions of shock loading and static compression are examined. Density functional theory calculations are used to determine the crystal bandgap under hydrostatic stress, uniaxial strain, and shear strain. Bandgap lowering under uniaxial strain due to molecular defects and vacancies is considered. In all cases, the bandgap is not lowered enough to produce a significant population of excited states in the crystal. Preliminary simulations on the formation of detonation product molecules from HMX are discussed.

  19. Polynitrogen/Nanoaluminum Surface Interactions

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-05-12

    atomic and molecular oxygen and of other energetic species like nitromethane (CH3NO2) with AlN(0001) and AlN )1(000 surfaces have been analyzed. 15...molecular oxygen and of other energetic species like nitromethane (CH3NO2) with AlN(0001) and AlN )1(000 surfaces have been analyzed. For these...materials. For this set of compounds we have analyzed several high explosive salts containing the CN7 - anion, namely the hydrazinium ([N2H5][CN7

  20. An Intermolecular H-O Potential for Methyl Rotations in Solid Nitromethane

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-04-01

    and Schiferl (1985). 3. DISCUSSION It is difficult to speculate on the origin of the various features (especially that at 3.5 A) of the final H-O...of nitromethane at room temperature and pressures up to 6 GPa has been investigated with single crystal X-ray diffraction (Cromer, Ryan, and Schiferl ...this purpose (Model Ill) is constructed from the coordinates in Table 3, 11 (Cromer, Ryan, and Schiferl 1985) at 3.5 GPa. The values of the internal

  1. Millimeter wave spectrum of nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ilyushin, Vadim

    2018-03-01

    A new study of the millimeter wave spectrum of nitromethane, CH3NO2, is reported. The new measurements covering the frequency range from 49 GHz to 237 GHz have been carried out using the spectrometer in IRA NASU (Ukraine). Transitions belonging to the |m| ≤ 8 torsional states have been analyzed using the Rho-axis-method and the RAM36 program, which has been modified for this study to take into account the quadrupole hyperfine structure due to presence of the nitrogen atom. A data set consisting of 5925 microwave line frequencies and including transitions with J up to 55 was fit using a model consisting of 97 parameters, and a weighted root-mean-square deviation of 0.84 was achieved. The analysis of the spectrum covers the m torsional states lying below the lowest small amplitude vibration in nitromethane molecule, which is the NO2 in plane rock at 475 cm-1. It serves as a preparatory step in further studies of intervibrational interactions in this molecule.

  2. Electronic excitations in shocked nitromethane

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Reed, Evan J.; Joannopoulos, J. D.; Fried, Laurence E.

    2000-12-15

    The nature of electronic excitations in crystalline solid nitromethane under conditions of shock loading and static compression are examined. Density-functional theory calculations are used to determine the crystal bandgap under hydrostatic stress, uniaxial strain, and shear strain. Bandgap lowering under uniaxial strain due to molecular defects and vacancies is considered. Ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations are done of all possible nearest-neighbor collisions at a shock front, and of crystal shearing along a sterically hindered slip plane. In all cases, the bandgap is not lowered enough to produce a significant population of excited states in the crystal. The nearly free rotation ofmore » the nitromethane methyl group and localized nature of the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital states play a role in this result. Dynamical effects have a more significant effect on the bandgap than static effects, but relative molecule velocities in excess of 6 km/s are required to produce a significant thermal population of excited states.« less

  3. Competitive cesium-133 NMR spectroscopic study of complexation of different metal ions with dibenzo-21-crown-7 in acetonitrile-dimethylsulfoxide and nitromethane-dimethylsulfoxide mixtures.

    PubMed

    Sahmsipur, Mojtaba; Dastjerdi, Leila Shafiee; Alizadeh, Nader; Bijanzadeh, Hamid Reza

    2008-04-01

    (133)Cs NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the stoichiometry and stability of the Cs(+) ion complex with dibenzo-21-crown-7 (DB21C7) in acetonitrile-dimethylsulfoxide (96.5:3.5, w/w) and nitromethane-dimethylsulfoxide (96.5:3.5, w/w) mixtures. A competitive (133)Cs NMR technique was also employed to probe the complexation of Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), Ag(+), Tl(+), NH(4)(+), Mg(2+), Ba(2+), Hg(2+), Pb(2+) and UO(2)(2+) ions with DB21C7 in the same solvent systems. All the resulting 1:1 complexes in nitromethane-dimethylsulfoxide were more stable than those in acetonitrile-dimethylsulfoxide solution. In both solvent systems, the stability of the resulting complexes was found to vary in the order Rb(+)>K(+) approximately Ba(2+)>Tl(+)>Cs(+)>NH(4)(+) approximately Pb(2+)>Ag(+)>UO(2)(2+)>Hg(2+)>Mg(2+)>Na(+).

  4. Momentum and Heat Transfer Models for Detonation in Nitromethane with Metal Particles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ripley, Robert; Zhang, Fan; Lien, Fue-Sang

    2009-06-01

    Models for momentum and heat exchange have been derived from the results of previous 3D mesoscale simulations of detonation in packed aluminum particles saturated with nitromethane, where the shock interaction timescale was resolved. In these models, particle acceleration and heating within the shock and detonation zone have been expressed in terms of velocity and temperature transmission factors, which are a function of metal to explosive density ratio, metal volume fraction and ratio of particle size to detonation zone thickness. These models are incorporated as source terms in the governing equations for continuum dense two-phase flow and macroscopic simulation is then applied to detonation of nitromethane/aluminum in lightly-cased cylinders. Heterogeneous detonation features such as velocity deficit, enhanced pressure, and critical diameter effects are reproduced. Various spherical particle diameters from 3 -- 30 μm are utilized where most of the particles react in the expanding detonation products. Results for detonation velocity, pressure history, failure and U-shaped critical diameter behavior are compared to the existing experiments.

  5. Momentum and Heat Transfer Models for Detonation in Nitromethane with Metal Particles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ripley, R. C.; Zhang, F.; Lien, F.-S.

    2009-12-01

    Models for momentum and heat exchange have been derived from the results of previous 3D mesoscale simulations of detonation in packed aluminum particles saturated with nitromethane, where the shock interaction timescale was resolved. In these models, particle acceleration and heating within the shock and detonation zone are expressed in terms of velocity and temperature transmission factors, which are a function of the metal to explosive density ratio, solid volume fraction and ratio of particle size to detonation zone thickness. These models are incorporated as source terms in the governing equations for continuum dense two-phase flow, and then applied to macroscopic simulation of detonation of nitromethane/aluminum in lightly-cased cylinders. Heterogeneous detonation features such as velocity deficit, enhanced pressure, and critical diameter effects are demonstrated. Various spherical particle diameters from 3-350 μm are utilized where most of the particles react in the expanding detonation products. Results for detonation velocity, pressure history, failure and U-shaped critical diameter behavior are compared to existing experiments.

  6. Is elevated creatinine a reliable marker for methanol toxicity in nitromethane-containing model fuel ingestions in children?

    PubMed

    Padmanabhan, Pradeep; Spiller, Henry A; Ross, Mitchell P; Bosse, George M

    2011-01-01

    In the absence of a rapid serum methanol level estimation, it is difficult to assess the risk from unintentional childhood ingestion of model fuels containing methanol and nitromethane (MFNM). Previous reports have documented false elevations of serum creatinine from the nitromethane in these fuels, suggesting its utility as a readily available marker of significant methanol ingestion. We performed a 2-year retrospective chart review of cases of ingestion of MFNM in children, with both a methanol level and measured creatinine level. Seven children, ages 19 months to 3 years, ingested MFNM. All seven children were seen in a hospital and had measured methanol and creatinine levels. All blood samples for methanol and creatinine were drawn within 3 hours of ingestion with methanol estimation delayed up to 24 hours. Creatinine ranged from 0.39 (0.034 mmol/l) to 10.7 mg/dl (0.95 mmol/l). All methanol levels were <10 mg/dl (0.31 mmol/l) or reported as negative. Fomepizole was initiated empirically in two patients due to delay in obtaining methanol analysis results. Transient elevations of creatinine occurred in five of the seven children. Blood urea nitrogen was within normal limits, and there was no history of renal impairment in these children, suggesting the elevated creatinine was mostly related to nitromethane ingestion. No child had a significantly elevated methanol level. Elevated creatinine level, as measured by Jaffe colorimetric method, is not a reliable marker for elevated methanol levels after unintentional ingestion of MFNM.

  7. Photodissociation of nitromethane cluster anions.

    PubMed

    Goebbert, Daniel J; Khuseynov, Dmitry; Sanov, Andrei

    2010-08-28

    Three types of anionic fragments are observed in the photodissociation of nitromethane cluster anions, (CH(3)NO(2))(n)(-), n=1-6, at 355 nm: NO(2)(-)(CH(3)NO(2))(k), (CH(3)NO(2))(k)(-), and OH(-) (k

  8. Reactive Flow Modeling of Liquid Explosives via ALE3D/Cheetah Simulations

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kuo, I W; Bastea, S; Fried, L E

    2010-03-10

    We carried out reactive flow simulations of liquid explosives such as nitromethane using the hydrodynamic code ALE3D coupled with equations of state and reaction kinetics modeled by the thermochemical code Cheetah. The simulation set-up was chosen to mimic cylinder experiments. For pure unconfined nitromethane we find that the failure diameter and detonation velocity dependence on charge diameter are in agreement with available experimental results. Such simulations are likely to be useful for determining detonability and failure behavior for a wide range of experimental conditions and explosive compounds.

  9. Enantioselective addition of nitromethane to 2-acylpyridine N-oxides. Expanding the generation of quaternary stereocenters with the Henry reaction.

    PubMed

    Holmquist, Melireth; Blay, Gonzalo; Muñoz, M Carmen; Pedro, José R

    2014-02-21

    The direct asymmetric Henry reaction with prochiral ketones, leading to tertiary nitroaldols, is an elusive reaction so far limited to a reduced number of reactive substrates such as trifluoromethyl ketones or α-keto carbonyl compounds. Expanding the scope of this important reaction, the direct asymmetric addition of nitromethane to 2-acylpyridine N-oxides catalyzed by a BOX-Cu(II) complex to give the corresponding pyridine-derived tertiary nitroaldols having a quaternary stereogenic center with variable yields and good enantioselectivity, is described.

  10. Asymmetric organocatalyzed Michael addition of nitromethane to a 2-oxoindoline-3-ylidene acetaldehyde and the three one-pot sequential synthesis of (-)-horsfiline and (-)-coerulescine.

    PubMed

    Mukaiyama, Takasuke; Ogata, Kento; Sato, Itaru; Hayashi, Yujiro

    2014-10-13

    (-)-Horsfiline and (-)-coerulescine were synthesized through three one-pot operations in 33 and 46% overall yield, respectively. Key to the success was the efficient use of a diarylprolinol silyl ether to catalyze the asymmetric Michael addition of nitromethane to a 2-oxoindoline-3-ylidene acetaldehyde. This allowed the all-carbon quaternary, spirocyclic carbon stereocenter to be constructed in good yield with excellent enantioselectivity. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  11. Iterative Coupling of Two Different Enones by Nitromethane Using Bifunctional Thiourea Organocatalysts. Stereocontrolled Assembly of Cyclic and Acyclic Structures.

    PubMed

    Varga, Szilárd; Jakab, Gergely; Csámpai, Antal; Soós, Tibor

    2015-09-18

    An organocatalytic iterative assembly line has been developed in which nitromethane was sequentially coupled with two different enones using a combination of pseudoenantiomeric cinchona-based thiourea catalysts. Application of unsaturated aldehydes and ketones in the second step of the iterative sequence allows the construction of cyclic syn-ketols and acyclic compounds with multiple contiguous stereocenters. The combination of the multifunctional substrates and ambident electrophiles rendered some organocatalytic transformations possible that have not yet been realized in bifunctional noncovalent organocatalysis.

  12. Efficient and highly enantioselective construction of trifluoromethylated quaternary stereogenic centers via high-pressure mediated organocatalytic conjugate addition of nitromethane to β,β-disubstituted enones.

    PubMed

    Kwiatkowski, Piotr; Cholewiak, Agnieszka; Kasztelan, Adrian

    2014-11-21

    A very effective high-pressure-induced acceleration of asymmetric organocatalytic conjugate addition of nitromethane to sterically congested β,β-disubstituted β-CF3 enones has been developed. A combination of pressure (8-10 kbar) and noncovalent catalysis with low-loading of chiral tertiary amine-thioureas (0.5-3 mol %) is shown to provide very efficient access to a wide range of γ-nitroketones containing trifluoromethylated all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers in the β-position (80-97%, 92-98% ee).

  13. Anisotropic Constitutive Relationships in Energetic Materials: Nitromethane and Rdx

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oleynik, I. I.; Conroy, M.; White, C. T.

    2007-12-01

    The anisotropic constitutive relationships in solid nitromethane (NM) and α-RDX were studied using first-principles density functional theory (DFT). In addition to hydrostatic compressions, we performed uniaxial compressions in the [100], [010], [001], [110], [101], [011], and [111] directions up to the compression ratio V/V0 = 0.70. Equilibrium properties, including lattice parameters and elastic constants, as well as hydrostatic EOS, are in good agreement with available experimental data. The shear stresses of uniaxially compressed NM and α-RDX were used to predict the relative shock sensitivity between different crystallographic directions.

  14. A transient semimetallic layer in detonating nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reed, Evan J.; Riad Manaa, M.; Fried, Laurence E.; Glaesemann, Kurt R.; Joannopoulos, J. D.

    2008-01-01

    Despite decades of research, the microscopic details and extreme states of matter found within a detonating high explosive have yet to be elucidated. Here we present the first quantum molecular-dynamics simulation of a shocked explosive near detonation conditions. We discover that the wide-bandgap insulator nitromethane (CH3NO2) undergoes chemical decomposition and a transformation into a semimetallic state for a limited distance behind the detonation front. We find that this transformation is associated with the production of charged decomposition species and provides a mechanism to explain recent experimental observations.

  15. Effect of Nano-Aluminum and Fumed Silica Particles on Deflagration and Detonation of Nitromethane

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-01-01

    0178 Justin L. Sabourin a, Richard A. Yetter a, Blaine W. Asay b, Joseph M. Lloyd b, Victor E. Sanders b, Grant A. Risha c, Steven F. Son d a The...Fumed Silica Particles on Deflagration and Detonation of Nitromethane Justin L. Sabourin *, Richard A. Yetter The Pennsylvania State University...containing nAl, which was also found by other workers. 386 J. L. Sabourin , R. A. Yetter, B. W. Asay, J. M. Lloyd, V. E. Sanders, G. A. Risha, S. F. Son

  16. Role of surface crossings in the photochemistry of nitromethane

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Arenas, Juan F.; Otero, Juan C.; Pelaez, Daniel

    2005-02-22

    The photodissociation dynamics of nitromethane (CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}) starting at the S{sub 3} excited state has been studied at the complete active space self-consistent field level of theory in conjunction with atomic natural orbital type basis sets. In addition, the energies of all the critical points and the energy profiles connecting them have been recomputed with the multiconfigurational second-order perturbation method. It is found that the key step in the reaction mechanism is a radiationless decay through an S{sub 3}/S{sub 2} conical intersection. The branching space spanned by the gradient difference and nonadiabatic coupling vectors of this crossing point comprisesmore » dissociation into excited nitromethane plus singlet atomic oxygen [CH{sub 3}NO(1A{sup ''})+O({sup 1}D)] and S{sub 3}{yields}S{sub 2} deactivation, respectively. Furthermore, deactivated nitromethane S{sub n(nlt3)} can decompose in subsequent steps into CH{sub 3}+NO{sub 2}, where NO{sub 2} is generated at least in two different electronic states (1 {sup 2}B{sub 2} and 1 {sup 2}A{sub 1}). It is shown that formation of excited nitric oxide NO(A {sup 2}{sigma}) arises from CH{sub 3}NO(1A{sup ''}) generated in the previous step. In addition, four crossings between singlet and triplet states are localized; however, no evidence is found for a relevant role of such crossings in the photochemistry of CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2} initiated at S{sub 3} state in the gas phase.« less

  17. Reaction Analysis of Shocked Nitromethane using Extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer Molecular Dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Perriot, Romain; Kober, Ed; Mniszewski, Sue; Martinez, Enrique; Niklasson, Anders; Yang, Ping; McGrane, Shawn; Cawkwell, Marc

    2017-06-01

    Characterizing the complex, rapid reactions of energetic materials under conditions of high temperatures and pressures presents strong experimental and computational challenges. The recently developed extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics formalism enables the long-term conservation of the total energy in microcanonical trajectories, and using a density functional tight binding formulation provides good chemical accuracy. We use this combined approach to study the evolution of temperature, pressure, and chemical species in shock-compressed liquid nitromethane over hundreds of picoseconds. The chemical species seen in nitromethane under shock compression are compared with those seen under static high temperature conditions. A reduced-order representation of the complex sequence of chemical reactions that characterize this system has been developed from the molecular dynamics simulations by focusing on classes of chemical reactions rather than specific molecular species. Time-resolved infra-red vibrational spectra were also computed from the molecular trajectories and compared to the chemical analysis. These spectra provide a time history of the species present in the system that can be compared directly with recent experiments at LANL.

  18. Ultrafast chemical reactions in shocked nitromethane probed with dynamic ellipsometry and transient absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Brown, Kathryn E; McGrane, Shawn D; Bolme, Cynthia A; Moore, David S

    2014-04-10

    Initiation of the shock driven chemical reactions and detonation of nitromethane (NM) can be sensitized by the addition of a weak base; however, the chemical mechanism by which sensitization occurs remains unclear. We investigated the shock driven chemical reaction in NM and in NM sensitized with diethylenetriamine (DETA), using a sustained 300 ps shock driven by a chirped Ti:sapphire laser. We measured the solutions' visible transient absorption spectra and measured interface particle and shock velocities of the nitromethane solutions using ultrafast dynamic ellipsometry. We found there to be a volume-increasing reaction that takes place around interface particle velocity up = 2.4 km/s and up = 2.2 km/s for neat NM and NM with 5% DETA, respectively. The rate at which transient absorption increases is similar in all mixtures, but with decreasing induction times for solutions with increasing DETA concentrations. This result supports the hypothesis that the chemical reaction mechanisms for shocked NM and NM with DETA are the same. Data from shocked NM are compared to literature experimental and theoretical data.

  19. Study of acoustic fingerprinting of nitromethane and some triazole derivatives using UV 266 nm pulsed photoacoustic pyrolysis technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rao, K. S.; Chaudhary, A. K.; Yehya, F.; Kumar, A. Sudheer

    2015-08-01

    We report a comparative study of acoustic fingerprints of nitromethane, nitrobenzene and some nitro rich triazole derivatives using pulsed photoacoustic technique. UV 266 nm wavelength i.e. Fourth harmonic of Q-switched Nd: YAG laser having pulse duration 7 ns and 10 Hz repetition rate is employed to record the time resolved PA spectrum. The PA fingerprint is produced due to absorption of incident UV light by molecule itself and photo dissociation of nitromethane and nitrobenzene at room temperature while in case of triazole it is attributed to the combination of thermal and photo-dissociation process. The entire dissociation process follows the root of cleavage of C-NO2 bond to produce free NO, NO2 and other by product gases due to π∗ ← n excitation. In addition, we have studied the thermal stability criteria of nitro rich triazoles based on the quality factor of acoustic resonance frequencies of the PA cavity. We have also studied the effect of data acquisition time to ascertain the decay behavior of HEMs samples.

  20. Study of acoustic fingerprinting of nitromethane and some triazole derivatives using UV 266 nm pulsed photoacoustic pyrolysis technique.

    PubMed

    Rao, K S; Chaudhary, A K; Yehya, F; Kumar, A Sudheer

    2015-08-05

    We report a comparative study of acoustic fingerprints of nitromethane, nitrobenzene and some nitro rich triazole derivatives using pulsed photoacoustic technique. UV 266 nm wavelength i.e. Fourth harmonic of Q-switched Nd: YAG laser having pulse duration 7 ns and 10 Hz repetition rate is employed to record the time resolved PA spectrum. The PA fingerprint is produced due to absorption of incident UV light by molecule itself and photo dissociation of nitromethane and nitrobenzene at room temperature while in case of triazole it is attributed to the combination of thermal and photo-dissociation process. The entire dissociation process follows the root of cleavage of C-NO₂ bond to produce free NO, NO₂ and other by product gases due to π(∗)←n excitation. In addition, we have studied the thermal stability criteria of nitro rich triazoles based on the quality factor of acoustic resonance frequencies of the PA cavity. We have also studied the effect of data acquisition time to ascertain the decay behavior of HEMs samples. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Calculation of Hugoniot properties for shocked nitromethane based on the improved Tsien's EOS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Bo; Cui, Ji-Ping; Fan, Jing

    2010-06-01

    We have calculated the Hugoniot properties of shocked nitromethane based on the improved Tsien’s equation of state (EOS) that optimized by “exact” numerical molecular dynamic data at high temperatures and pressures. Comparison of the calculated results of the improved Tsien’s EOS with the existed experimental data and the direct simulations show that the behavior of the improved Tsien’s EOS is very good in many aspects. Because of its simple analytical form, the improved Tsien’s EOS can be prospectively used to study the condensed explosive detonation coupling with chemical reaction.

  2. Thermal Decomposition of the Solid Phase of Nitromethane: Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chang, Jing; Lian, Peng; Wei, Dong-Qing; Chen, Xiang-Rong; Zhang, Qing-Ming; Gong, Zi-Zheng

    2010-10-01

    The Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate thermal decomposition of the solid nitromethane. It is found that it undergoes chemical decomposition at about 2200 K under ambient pressure. The initiation of reactions involves both proton transfer and commonly known C-N bond cleavage. About 75 species and 100 elementary reactions were observed with the final products being H2O, CO2, N2, and CNCNC. It represents the first complete simulation of solid-phase explosive reactions reported to date, which is of far-reaching implication for design and development of new energetic materials.

  3. Syntheses, structural analyses and redox kinetics of four-coordinate [CuL2]2+ and five-coordinate [CuL2(solvent)]2+ complexes (L = 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine or 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline): completely gated reduction reaction of [Cu(dmp)2]2+ in nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Itoh, Sumitaka; Kishikawa, Nobuyuki; Suzuki, Takayoshi; Takagi, Hideo D

    2005-03-21

    [Cu(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)(2)](2+) and [Cu(6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine)(2)](2+/+) complexes with no coordinated solvent molecule were synthesized and the crystal structures were analyzed: the coordination geometry around the Cu(i) center was in the D(2d) symmetry while a D(2) structure was observed for the four-coordinate Cu(ii) complexes. Coordination of a water or an acetonitrile molecule was found in the trigonal plane of the five-coordinate Cu(ii) complex in the Tbp(trigonal bipyramidal) structure. Spectrophotometric analyses revealed that the D(2) structure of the Cu(ii) complex was retained in nitromethane, although a five-coordinate Tbp species (green in color), was readily formed upon dissolution of the solid (reddish brown) in acetonitrile. The electron self-exchange reaction between D(2d)-Cu(I) and D(2)-Cu(II), observed by the NMR method, was very rapid with k(ex)=(1.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) kg mol(-1) s(-1) at 25 degrees C (DeltaH*= 15.6 +/- 1.3 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS*=-96 +/- 4 J mol(-1) K(-1)), which was more than 10 times larger than that reported for the self-exchange reaction between D(2d)-Cu(I) and Tbp-Cu(II) in acetonitrile. The cross reduction reactions of D(2)-Cu(ii) by ferrocene and decamethylferrocene in nitromethane exhibited a completely gated behavior, while the oxidation reaction of D(2d)-Cu(i) by [Ni(1,4,7-triazacyclononane)(2)](3+) in nitromethane estimated an identically large self-exchange rate constant to that directly obtained by the NMR method. The electron self-exchange rate constant estimated from the oxidation cross reaction in 50% v/v acetonitrile-nitromethane mixture was 10 times smaller than that observed in pure nitromethane. On the basis of the Principle of the Least Motion (PLM) and the Symmetry Rules, it was concluded that gated behaviors observed for the reduction reactions of the five-coordinate Cu(ii)-polypyridine complexes are related to the high-energy C(2v)--> D(2d) conformational change around Cu(ii), and that the electron self-exchange reactions of the Cu(ii)/(i) couples are always adiabatic through the C(2v) structures for both Cu(ii) and Cu(i) since the conformational changes between D(2d), D(2) and C(2v) structures for Cu(i) as well as the conformational change between Tbp and C(2v) structures for Cu(ii) are symmetry-allowed. The completely gated behavior observed for the reduction reactions of D(2)-Cu(ii) species in nitromethane was attributed to the very slow conformational change from the ground-state D(2) to the entatic D(2d) structure that is symmetry-forbidden for d(9) metal complexes: the very slow back reaction, the forbidden conformational change from entatic D(2d) to the ground-state D(2) structure, ensures that the rate of the reduction reaction is independent of the concentration of the reducing reagent.

  4. Creatinine elevation associated with nitromethane exposure: a marker of potential methanol toxicity.

    PubMed

    Cook, Matthew D; Clark, Richard F

    2007-10-01

    Nitromethane, methanol, and oil are the common components of radio-controlled (R/C) vehicle fuels. Nitromethane can cause a false elevation of serum creatinine concentration as measured by the widely used Jaffe colorimetric method. We gathered data from our poison control system and from previously published case reports to see if a correlation exists between serum methanol concentrations and spuriously elevated serum creatinine concentrations after human exposures to R/C fuel. The California Poison Control System (CPCS) computerized database was queried for all cases of human exposure to R/C vehicle fuel reported between December 1, 2002 and December 1, 2004. Serum creatinine and methanol concentrations were recorded when available, as was the method used to determine serum creatinine. A MEDLINE search was used to obtain previously published cases of human nitromethane exposure associated with falsely elevated creatinine concentrations. During the 2-year period, serum creatinine concentrations were recorded in 7 of 26 R/C fuel exposures (all ingestions), and 6 of these were abnormal (range of 1.9-11.5 mg/dL). In this series, the higher the serum creatinine concentration measured by Jaffe method, the higher the serum methanol concentration. The MEDLINE search yielded data from six previously published case reports on this topic. The data from these case reports seem to follow the trend seen in our case series. These data suggest that a spuriously elevated serum creatinine (by Jaffe method) may have value as an early surrogate marker of methanol poisoning in those who ingest R/C fuel. Also, the degree to which the serum creatinine is elevated may indicate the severity of methanol poisoning.

  5. Thermal decomposition of the solid phase of nitromethane: ab initio molecular dynamics simulations.

    PubMed

    Chang, Jing; Lian, Peng; Wei, Dong-Qing; Chen, Xiang-Rong; Zhang, Qing-Ming; Gong, Zi-Zheng

    2010-10-29

    The Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate thermal decomposition of the solid nitromethane. It is found that it undergoes chemical decomposition at about 2200 K under ambient pressure. The initiation of reactions involves both proton transfer and commonly known C-N bond cleavage. About 75 species and 100 elementary reactions were observed with the final products being H2O, CO2, N2, and CNCNC. It represents the first complete simulation of solid-phase explosive reactions reported to date, which is of far-reaching implication for design and development of new energetic materials.

  6. Estimate of Shock-Hugoniot Adiabat of Liquids from Hydrodynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bouton, E.; Vidal, P.

    2007-12-01

    Shock states are generally obtained from shock velocity (D) and material velocity (u) measurements. In this paper, we propose a hydrodynamical method for estimating the (D-u) relation of Nitromethane from easily measured properties of the initial state. The method is based upon the differentiation of the Rankine-Hugoniot jump relations with the initial temperature considered as a variable and under the constraint of a unique nondimensional shock-Hugoniot. We then obtain an ordinary differential equation for the shock velocity D in the variable u. Upon integration, this method predicts the shock Hugoniot of liquid Nitromethane with a 5% accuracy for initial temperatures ranging from 250 K to 360 K.

  7. Embedded optical fibers for PDV measurements in shock-loaded, light and heavy water

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mercier, Patrick; Benier, Jacky; Frugier, Pierre-Antoine; Debruyne, Michel; Bolis, Cyril

    2011-06-01

    In order to study the shock-detonation transition, it is necessary to characterize the shock loading of a high explosive plane wave generator into a nitromethane cell. To eliminate the reactive behaviour, we replace the nitromethane by an inert liquid compound. Light water has been first employed; eventually heavy water has been chosen for its better infrared spectral properties. We present the PDV results of different submerged embedded optical fibers which sense the medium with two different approaches: a non-intrusive optical observation of phenomena coming in front of them (interface, shock wave) followed by the mechanical interaction with the shock wave.

  8. Optical characterization of chemistry in shocked nitromethane with time-dependent density functional theory.

    PubMed

    Pellouchoud, Lenson A; Reed, Evan J

    2013-11-27

    We compute the optical properties of the liquid-phase energetic material nitromethane (CH3NO2) for the first 100 ps behind the front of a simulated shock at 6.5 km/s, close to the experimentally observed detonation shock speed of the material. We utilize molecular dynamics trajectories computed using the multiscale shock technique (MSST) for time-resolved optical spectrum calculations based on both linear response time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) and the Kubo-Greenwood formula with Kohn-Sham DFT wave functions. We find that the TDDFT method predicts an optical conductivity 25-35% lower than the Kubo-Greenwood calculation and provides better agreement with the experimentally measured index of refraction of unreacted nitromethane. We investigate the influence of electronic temperature on the Kubo-Greenwood spectra and find no significant effect at optical wavelengths. In both Kubo-Greenwood and TDDFT, the spectra evolve nonmonotonically in time as shock-induced chemistry takes place. We attribute the time-resolved absorption at optical wavelengths to time-dependent populations of molecular decomposition products, including NO, CNO, CNOH, H2O, and larger molecules. These calculations offer direction for guiding and interpreting ultrafast optical measurements on reactive materials.

  9. Computation of geometries and frequencies of singlet and triplet nitromethane with density functional theory byusing gaussian type orbitals

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jursic, B.S.

    1996-12-31

    The results of the computational study of the structures, energies, dipole moments and IR spectra for a singlet and a triplet nitromethane are presented. Five different hybrids (BHandH, BHandHLYP, B3LYP, B3P86 and B3PW91), local (SVWN), and nonlocal (BLYP) DFT methods are used with various sizes of the gaussian type of basis set. The obtained results are compared to the HF, MP2, and MCSCF ab initio calculations, as well as, to the experimental results. Becke`s three functional based hybrid DFT methods outperform the following: the ab initio (HF, MP2 and MCSCF), the Becke`s half-and-half based DFT methods, and the local (SVWNmore » or LSDA) and nonlocal (BLYP) DFT methods. The computed nitromethane geometry, the dipole moment, the energy difference, and the IR frequency are in extraordinary agreement with the experimental results. Thus, we are recommending the B3LYP and the B3PW91 as the methods of choice when the computational study of small {open_quotes}difficult{close_quotes} molecules is considered.« less

  10. Estimate of shock-Hugoniot adiabat of liquids from hydrodyamics

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bouton, E.; Vidal, P.

    2007-12-12

    Shock states are generally obtained from shock velocity (D) and material velocity (u) measurements. In this paper, we propose a hydrodynamical method for estimating the (D-u) relation of Nitromethane from easily measured properties of the initial state. The method is based upon the differentiation of the Rankine-Hugoniot jump relations with the initial temperature considered as a variable and under the constraint of a unique nondimensional shock-Hugoniot. We then obtain an ordinary differential equation for the shock velocity D in the variable u. Upon integration, this method predicts the shock Hugoniot of liquid Nitromethane with a 5% accuracy for initial temperaturesmore » ranging from 250 K to 360 K.« less

  11. Detonation properties of nitromethane/diethylenetriamine solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mochalova, V.; Utkin, A.; Lapin, S.

    2017-01-01

    The results of the experimental determination of the detonation parameters of nitromethane (NM) with diethylenetriamine (DETA) solution are presented in this work. With the using of a laser interferometer VISAR the stability of detonation waves, the detonation velocity and the reaction time at the concentration of DETA from 0 to 60 weight percentage were investigated. It is shown that the stability of detonation waves is retained up to 25% DETA, at that the characteristic reaction time is reduced by about half at the addition of several percentage of the sensitizer to NM and then remains almost constant. The increase of the detonation velocity in the vicinity of the small, about 0.1%, concentrations of sensitizer is recorded.

  12. Influences of pressure on methyl group, elasticity, sound velocity and sensitivity of solid nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhong, Mi; Liu, Qi-Jun; Qin, Han; Jiao, Zhen; Zhao, Feng; Shang, Hai-Lin; Liu, Fu-Sheng; Liu, Zheng-Tang

    2017-06-01

    First-principles calculations were employed to investigate the influences of pressure on methyl group, elasticity, sound velocity and sensitivity of solid nitromethane. The obtained structural parameters based on the GGA-PB E +G calculations are in good agreement with theoretical and experimental data. The rotation of methyl group appears under pressure, which influences the mechanical, thermal properties and sensitivity of solid NM. The anisotropy of elasticity, sound velocity and Debye temperature under pressure have been shown, which are related to the thermal properties of solid NM. The enhanced sensitivity with the increasing pressure has been discussed and the change of the most likely transition path is associated with methyl group.

  13. High-Speed Photography of Detonation Propagation in Dynamically Precompressed Liquid Explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Petel, O. E.; Higgins, A. J.; Yoshinaka, A. C.; Zhang, F.

    2007-12-01

    The propagation of detonation in shock-compressed nitromethane was observed with a high-speed framing camera. The test explosive, nitromethane, was compressed by a reverberating shock wave to pressures as high as 10 GPa prior to being detonated by a secondary detonation event. The pressure and density in the test explosive prior to detonation were determined using two methods: manganin stress gauge measurements and LS-DYNA simulations. The velocity of the detonation front was determined from consecutive frames and correlated to the density of the reverberating shock-compressed explosive prior to detonation. Observing detonation propagation under these non-ambient conditions provides data which can be useful in the validation of equation of state models.

  14. Interaction Between a Steady Detonation Wave in Nitromethane and Geometrical Complex Confinement Defects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Crouzet, B.; Soulard, L.; Carion, N.; Manczur, P.

    2007-12-01

    Two copper cylinder expansion tests were carried out on nitromethane. They differ from the classical cylinder test in that the liner includes evenly-spaced protruding circular defects. The aim is to study how a detonation front propagating in the liquid explosive interacts with the confining material defects. The subsequent motion of the metal, accelerated by the expanding detonation products, is measured using a range of diagnostic techniques: electrical probes, a rapid framing camera, a glass block associated with a streak camera and velocity laser interferometers. The different experimental records have been examined in the light of previous classical cylinder test measurements, simple 2D theoretical shock polar analysis results and 2D numerical simulations.

  15. Embedded optical fibers for PDV measurements in shock-loaded, light and heavy water

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mercier, Patrick; Benier, Jacky; Frugier, Pierre Antoine; Debruyne, Michel; Bolis, Cyril

    2012-03-01

    In order to study the shock-detonation transition, we propose to characterize the shock loading of a high explosive plane wave generator into a nitromethane cell. To eliminate the reactive behaviour, we replace the nitromethane by an inert liquid compound. Light water (H2O) has been first employed; eventually heavy water (D2O) has been chosen for its better infrared spectral properties. We present the PDV results of different embedded optical fibers which sense the medium with two different approaches: a non intrusive optical observation of phenomena coming in front of them (interface, shock wave, detonation wave) followed by their mechanical interaction with the fiber.

  16. Ultrafast shock compression of an oxygen-balanced mixture of nitromethane and hydrogen peroxide.

    PubMed

    Armstrong, Michael R; Zaug, Joseph M; Grant, Christian D; Crowhurst, Jonathan C; Bastea, Sorin

    2014-08-14

    We apply ultrafast optical interferometry to measure the Hugoniot of an oxygen-balanced mixture of nitromethane and hydrogen peroxide (NM/HP) and compare with Hugoniot data for pure nitromethane (NM) and a 90% hydrogen peroxide/water mixture (HP), as well as theoretical predictions. We observe a 2.1% percent mean pairwise difference between the measured shockwave speed (at the measured piston speed) in unreacted NM/HP and the corresponding "universal" liquid Hugoniot, which is larger than the average standard deviation of our data, 1.4%. Unlike the Hugoniots of both HP and NM, in which measured shock speeds deviate to values greater than the unreacted Hugoniot for piston speeds larger than the respective reaction thresholds, in the NM/HP mixture we observe shock speed deviations to values lower than the unreacted Hugoniot well below the von Neumann pressure (≈28 GPa). Although the trend should reverse for high enough piston speeds, the initial behavior is unexpected. Possible explanations range from mixing effects to a complex index of refraction in the reacted solution. If this is indeed a signature of chemical initiation, it would suggest that the process may not be kinetically limited (on a ~100 ps time scale) between the initiation threshold and the von Neumann pressure.

  17. DFT and ab initio study of the unimolecular decomposition of the lowest singlet and triplet states of nitromethane

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Manaa, M.R.; Fried, L.E.

    1998-11-26

    The fully optimized potential energy curves for the unimolecular decomposition of the lowest singlet and triplet states of nitromethane through the C-NO{sub 2} bond dissociation pathway are calculated using various DFT and high-level ab initio electronic structure methods. The authors perform gradient corrected density functional theory (DFT) and multiconfiguration self-consistent field (MCSCF) to conclusively demonstrate that the triplet state of nitromethane is bound. The adiabatic curve of this state exhibits a 33 kcal/mol energy barrier as determined at the MCSCF level. DFT methods locate this barrier at a shorter C-N bond distance with 12--16 kcal/mol lower energy than does MCSCF.more » In addition to MCSCF and DFT, quadratic configuration interactions with single and double substitutions (QCISD) calculations are also performed for the singlet curve. The potential energy profiles of this state predicted by FT methods based on Becke`s 1988 exchange functional differ by as much as 17 kcal/mol from the predictions of MCSCF and QCISD in the vicinity of the equilibrium structure. The computational methods predict bond dissociation energies 5--9 kcal/mol lower than the experimental value. DFT techniques based on Becke`s 3-parameter exchange functional show the best overall agreement with the higher level methods.« less

  18. Thermal decomposition of solid phase nitromethane under various heating rates and target temperatures based on ab initio molecular dynamics simulations.

    PubMed

    Xu, Kai; Wei, Dong-Qing; Chen, Xiang-Rong; Ji, Guang-Fu

    2014-10-01

    The Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulation was applied to study the thermal decomposition of solid phase nitromethane under gradual heating and fast annealing conditions. In gradual heating simulations, we found that, rather than C-N bond cleavage, intermolecular proton transfer is more likely to be the first reaction in the decomposition process. At high temperature, the first reaction in fast annealing simulation is intermolecular proton transfer leading to CH3NOOH and CH2NO2, whereas the initial chemical event at low temperature tends to be a unimolecular C-N bond cleavage, producing CH3 and NO2 fragments. It is the first time to date that the direct rupture of a C-N bond has been reported as the first reaction in solid phase nitromethane. In addition, the fast annealing simulations on a supercell at different temperatures are conducted to validate the effect of simulation cell size on initial reaction mechanisms. The results are in qualitative agreement with the simulations on a unit cell. By analyzing the time evolution of some molecules, we also found that the time of first water molecule formation is clearly sensitive to heating rates and target temperatures when the first reaction is an intermolecular proton transfer.

  19. Photodissociation of nitromethane cluster anions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Goebbert, Daniel J.; Khuseynov, Dmitry; Sanov, Andrei

    2010-08-28

    Three types of anionic fragments are observed in the photodissociation of nitromethane cluster anions, (CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}){sub n}{sup -}, n=1-6, at 355 nm: NO{sub 2}{sup -}(CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}){sub k}, (CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}){sub k}{sup -}, and OH{sup -} (k

  20. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Shear Induced Transformations in Nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Larentzos, James; Steele, Brad

    2017-06-01

    Recent experiments demonstrate that NM undergoes explosive chemical initiation under compressive shear stress. The atomistic dynamics of the shear response of single-crystalline and bi-crystalline nitromethane (NM) are simulated using molecular dynamics simulations under high pressure conditions to aid in interpreting these experiments. The atomic interactions are described using a recently re-optimized ReaxFF-lg potential trained specifically for NM under pressure. The simulations demonstrate that the NM crystal transforms into a disordered state upon sufficient application of shear stress; its maximum value, shear angle, and atomic-scale dynamics being highly dependent on crystallographic orientation of the applied shear. Shear simulations in bi-crystalline NM show more complex behavior resulting in the appearance of the disordered state at the grain boundary.

  1. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Shear Induced Transformations in Nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Larentzos, James; Steele, Brad

    Recent experiments demonstrate that NM undergoes explosive chemical initiation under compressive shear stress. The atomistic dynamics of the shear response of single-crystalline and bi-crystalline nitromethane (NM) are simulated using molecular dynamics simulations under high pressure conditions to aid in interpreting these experiments. The atomic interactions are described using a recently re-optimized ReaxFF-lg potential trained specifically for NM under pressure. The simulations demonstrate that the NM crystal transforms into a disordered state upon sufficient application of shear stress; its maximum value, shear angle, and atomic-scale dynamics being highly dependent on crystallographic orientation of the applied shear. Shear simulations in bi-crystalline NM show more complex behavior resulting in the appearance of the disordered state at the grain boundary.

  2. Ordered and layered structure of liquid nitromethane within a graphene bilayer: toward stabilization of energetic materials through nanoscale confinement.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yingzhe; Yu, Tao; Lai, Weipeng; Kang, Ying; Ge, Zhongxue

    2015-03-01

    The structural characteristics involving thermal stabilities of liquid nitromethane (NM)—one of the simplest energetic materials—confined within a graphene (GRA) bilayer were investigated by means of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations. The results show that ordered and layered structures are formed at the confinement of the GRA bilayer induced by the van der Waals attractions of NM with GRA and the dipole-dipole interactions of NM, which is strongly dependent on the confinement size, i.e., the GRA bilayer distance. These unique intermolecular arrangements and preferred orientations of confined NM lead to higher stabilities than bulk NM revealed by bond dissociation energy calculations.

  3. High-Speed Photography of Detonation Propagation in Dynamically Precompressed Liquid Explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Petel, Oren; Higgins, Andrew; Yoshinaka, Akio; Zhang, Fan

    2007-06-01

    The propagation of detonation in shock compressed nitromethane was observed with a high speed framing camera. The test explosive, nitromethane, was compressed by a reverberating shock wave to pressures on the order of 10 GPa prior to being detonated by a secondary detonation event. The pressure and density in the test explosive prior to detonation was determined using two methods: manganin strain gauge measurements and LS-DYNA simulations. The velocity of the detonation front was determined from consecutive frames and correlated to the density of the explosive post-reverberating shock wave and prior to being detonated. Observing detonation propagation under these non-ambient conditions provides data which can be useful in the validation of equation of state models.

  4. Antistatic coating for acrylics

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hadek, V.; Rembaum, A.; Somono, R. B.

    1979-01-01

    After immersion in low molecular-weight solvents such as acetonitril or nitromethane, clear acrylic plastics dissipate up to 70% of induced electric charge within one minute, yet retain optical clarity.

  5. Fluorescent properties of a hybrid cadmium sulfide-dendrimer nanocomposite and its quenching with nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Campos, Bruno B; Algarra, Manuel; Esteves da Silva, Joaquim C G

    2010-01-01

    A fluorescent hybrid cadmium sulphide quantum dots (QDs) dendrimer nanocomposite (DAB-CdS) synthesised in water and stable in aqueous solution is described. The dendrimer, DAB-G5 dendrimer (polypropylenimine tetrahexacontaamine) generation 5, a diaminobutene core with 64 amine terminal primary groups. The maximum of the excitation and emission spectra, Stokes' shift and the emission full width of half maximum of this nanocomposite are, respectively: 351, 535, 204 and 212 nm. The fluorescence time decay was complex and a four component decay time model originated a good fit (chi = 1.20) with the following lifetimes: tau (1) = 657 ps; tau (2) = 10.0 ns; tau (3) = 59.42 ns; and tau (4) = 265 ns. The fluorescence intensity of the nanocomposite is markedly quenched by the presence of nitromethane with a dynamic Stern-Volmer constant of 25 M(-1). The quenching profiles show that about 81% of the CdS QDs are located in the external layer of the dendrimer accessible to the quencher. PARAFAC analysis of the excitation emission matrices (EEM) acquired as function of the nitromethane concentration showed a trilinear data structure with only one linearly independent component describing the quenching which allows robust estimation of the excitation and emission spectra and of the quenching profiles. This water soluble and fluorescent nanocomposite shows a set of favourable properties to its use in sensor applications.

  6. Highly sensitive amperometric biosensor based on electrochemically-reduced graphene oxide-chitosan/hemoglobin nanocomposite for nitromethane determination.

    PubMed

    Wen, Yunping; Wen, Wei; Zhang, Xiuhua; Wang, Shengfu

    2016-05-15

    Nitromethane (CH3NO2) is an important organic chemical raw material with a wide variety of applications as well as one of the most common pollutants. Therefore it is pretty important to establish a simple and sensitive detection method for CH3NO2. In our study, a novel amperometric biosensor for nitromethane (CH3NO2) based on immobilization of electrochemically-reduced graphene oxide (rGO), chitosan (CS) and hemoglobin (Hb) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was constructed. Scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and electrochemical methods were used to characterize the Hb-CS/rGO-CS composite film. The effects of scan rate and pH of phosphate buffer on the biosensor have been studied in detail and optimized. Due to the graphene and chitosan nanocomposite, the developed biosensor demonstrating direct electrochemistry with faster electron-transfer rate (6.48s(-1)) and excellent catalytic activity towards CH3NO2. Under optimal conditions, the proposed biosensor exhibited fast amperometric response (<5s) to CH3NO2 with a wide linear range of 5 μM~1.46 mM (R=0.999) and a low detection limit of 1.5 μM (S/N=3). In addition, the biosensor had high selectivity, reproducibility and stability, providing the possibility for monitoring CH3NO2 in complex real samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Optical characterization of shock-induced chemistry in the explosive nitromethane using DFT and time-dependent DFT

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pellouchoud, Lenson; Reed, Evan

    2014-03-01

    With continual improvements in ultrafast optical spectroscopy and new multi-scale methods for simulating chemistry for hundreds of picoseconds, the opportunity is beginning to exist to connect experiments with simulations on the same timescale. We compute the optical properties of the liquid phase energetic material nitromethane (CH3NO2) for the first 100 picoseconds behind the front of a simulated shock at 6.5km/s, close to the experimentally observed detonation shock speed. We utilize molecular dynamics trajectories computed using the multi-scale shock technique (MSST) for time-resolved optical spectrum calculations based on both linear response time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) and the Kubo-Greenwood (KG) formula within Kohn-Sham DFT. We find that TDDFT predicts optical conductivities 25-35% lower than KG-based values and provides better agreement with the experimentally measured index of refraction of unreacted nitromethane. We investigate the influence of electronic temperature on the KG spectra and find no significant effect at optical wavelengths. With all methods, the spectra evolve non-monotonically in time as shock-induced chemistry takes place. We attribute the time-resolved absorption at optical wavelengths to time-dependent populations of molecular decomposition products, including NO, CNO, CNOH, H2O, and larger molecules. Supported by NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship (NSTRF) #NNX12AM48H.

  8. Elastic scattering of low-energy electrons by nitromethane

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lopes, A. R.; D'A Sanchez, S.; Bettega, M. H. F.

    2011-06-15

    In this work, we present integral, differential, and momentum transfer cross sections for elastic scattering of low-energy electrons by nitromethane, for energies up to 10 eV. We calculated the cross sections using the Schwinger multichannel method with pseudopotentials, in the static-exchange and in the static-exchange plus polarization approximations. The computed integral cross sections show a {pi}* shape resonance at 0.70 eV in the static-exchange-polarization approximation, which is in reasonable agreement with experimental data. We also found a {sigma}* shape resonance at 4.8 eV in the static-exchange-polarization approximation, which has not been previously characterized by the experiment. We also discuss howmore » these resonances may play a role in the dissociation process of this molecule.« less

  9. The shock sensitivities of nitromethane/methanol mixtures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dattelbaum, D. M.; Sheffield, S. A.; Bartram, B. D.; Gibson, L. L.; Bowden, P. R.; Schilling, B. F.

    2014-05-01

    Dilution of liquid explosives with "inert" solvents have been shown previously to affect a degradation in the detonation performance properties of the explosive, and result in a rapid increase in the critical diameter with increasing diluent. To date, the shock sensitivities of liquid explosive-diluent mixtures have not been measured. In this work, we describe the results of a series of gas gun-driven plate impact experiments on nitromethane (NM)-methanol (MeOH) solutions of several concentrations, using in situ electromagnetic gauging to measure the initial shock state (Hugoniot) of the mixture, as well as the overtake-time-to-detonation (Pop-plot). Surprisingly, the shock sensitivities did not fall off dramatically with increasing MeOH concentration. In fact, at some concentrations MeOH appears to sensitize NM, relative to neat NM.

  10. Organic nanofibrils based on linear carbazole trimer for explosive sensing.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Chengyi; Che, Yanke; Yang, Xiaomei; Bunes, Benjamin R; Zang, Ling

    2010-08-14

    Organic fluorescent nanofibrils were fabricated from a linear carbazole trimer and employed for expedient detection of nitroaromatic explosives (DNT and TNT) and highly volatile nitroaliphatic explosives (nitromethane).

  11. Hot spot formation from shock reflections

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Menikoff, R.

    2011-04-01

    Heterogeneities sensitize an explosive to shock initiation. This is due to hot-spot formation and the sensitivity of chemical reaction rates to temperature. Here, we describe a numerical experiment aimed at elucidating a mechanism for hot-spot formation that occurs when a shock wave passes over a high-density impurity. The simulation performed is motivated by a physical experiment in which glass beads are added to liquid nitromethane. The impedance mismatch between the beads and the nitromethane results in shock reflections. These, in turn, give rise to transverse waves along the lead shock front. Hot spots arise on local portions of the lead front with a higher shock strength, rather than on the reflected shocks behind the beads. Moreover, the interactions generated by reflected waves from neighboring beads can significantly increase the peak hot-spot temperature when the beads are suitably spaced.

  12. Generation of terahertz from ZnGeP2 crystal and its application to record the time-resolved photoacoustic spectra of nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rao, K. S.; Ganesh, D.; Chaudhary, A. K.

    2018-07-01

    This paper reports the generation of THz radiation through the optical rectification process from type-I cut Zinc germanium phosphate (ZnGeP2or ZGP) crystal using optical parametric amplifier pulses (tunable between 1.15-1.6 μm range, at 60 fs pulse duration and 1 kHz repetition rate) as pump wavelengths at an average power of 50 mW. Also, we have ascertained the conversion efficiency of the generated THz signal, which is of the order of 0.62% at 1.5 THz. Further, the generated radiation is employed for the recording of absorption bands (in terms of PA spectra) of nitromethane and methanol vapor at room temperature using bandpass filters having central frequencies of 0.5 and 1.5 THz. In addition, we have employed the UV-266 nm as an excitation wavelength to record the time domain photoacoustic (PA) spectra of nitromethane (CH3NO2). In case of UV and THz radiations, the excitation mechanisms follow strong electronic (π∗ ← n) and weak vibrational-rotational due to ultrafast transition, respectively. In case of UV-266 nm the characteristic PA spectra has been also presented as a function of vapor pressure and data acquisition time with two different PA cells. The current study reveals the effect of the nanoseconds and the ultrafast pulses on some of the common excited acoustic modes (due to similar functional group), which follow two different types of excitation mechanism.

  13. Headspace concentrations of explosive vapors in containers designed for canine testing and training: theory, experiment, and canine trials.

    PubMed

    Lotspeich, Erica; Kitts, Kelley; Goodpaster, John

    2012-07-10

    It is a common misconception that the amount of explosive is the chief contributor to the quantity of vapor that is available to trained canines. In fact, this quantity (known as odor availability) depends not only on the amount of explosive material, but also the container volume, explosive vapor pressure and temperature. In order to better understand odor availability, headspace experiments were conducted and the results were compared to theory. The vapor-phase concentrations of three liquid explosives (nitromethane, nitroethane and nitropropane) were predicted using the Ideal Gas Law for containers of various volumes that are in use for canine testing. These predictions were verified through experiments that varied the amount of sample, the container size, and the temperature. These results demonstrated that the amount of sample that is needed to saturate different sized containers is small, predictable and agrees well with theory. In general, and as expected, once the headspace of a container is saturated, any subsequent increase in sample volume will not result in the release of more vapors. The ability of canines to recognize and alert to differing amounts of nitromethane has also been studied. In particular, it was found that the response of trained canines is independent of the amount of nitromethane present, provided it is a sufficient quantity to saturate the container in which it is held. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. On the Stability of the Detonation Wave Front in the High Explosive Liquid Mixture Tetranitromethane/Nitrobenzene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fedorov, A. V.; Mikhaylov, A. L.; Men'Shikh, A. V.; Nazarov, D. V.; Finyushin, S. A.; Davydov, V. A.

    2010-10-01

    We performed experimental studies on the stability of the detonation wave front in mixtures of the liquids tetranitromethane (TNM) and nitrobenzene (NB). Tetranitromethane is an oxygen-rich explosive and nitrobenzene was used as a solvent or dilutant. (NB is not classed as an explosive but as an explosive would be oxygen poor and fuel rich.) The primary diagnostic was a laser velocimetry method with high temporal resolution. Data obtained were compared with the detonation parameters of the TNM/NB mixtures. In previous experimental work [1,2] it was shown that the detonation wave front in liquid explosives may be either smooth or rough. Rough detonation fronts have been reported in nitromethane, as well as nitromethane mixed with a solvent. Smooth detonation fronts have been reported in tetranitromethane. Previously, we conducted studies on the structure of the detonation wave front in liquid explosives containing tetranitromethane [3-5]. Smooth, stable fronts were recorded in pure tetranitromethane and in a 46/54 mixture of tetranitromethane and nitromethane. A pulsating, unstable detonation wave front was recorded in a 74/26 mixture of tetranitromethane and nitrobenzene. The goal of the present work is to extend our research on the structure of the detonation wave front in mixtures of tetranitromethane diluted with less energetic nitrobenzene. To this end, the following TNM/NB mixtures were studied: 95/5, 90/10, 85/15, 80/20, 74/26, and 50/50.

  15. Exploding Nitromethane in Silico, in Real Time.

    PubMed

    Fileti, Eudes Eterno; Chaban, Vitaly V; Prezhdo, Oleg V

    2014-10-02

    Nitromethane (NM) is widely applied in chemical technology as a solvent for extraction, cleaning, and chemical synthesis. NM was considered safe for a long time, until a railroad tanker car exploded in 1958. We investigate the detonation kinetics and explosion reaction mechanisms in a variety of systems consisting of NM, molecular oxygen, and water vapor. Reactive molecular dynamics allows us to simulate reactions in time-domain, as they occur in real life. High polarity of the NM molecule is shown to play a key role, driving the first exothermic step of the reaction. Rapid temperature and pressure growth stimulate the subsequent reaction steps. Oxygen is important for faster oxidation, whereas its optimal concentration is in agreement with the proposed reaction mechanism. Addition of water (50 mol %) inhibits detonation; however, water does not prevent detonation entirely. The reported results provide important insights for improving applications of NM and preserving the safety of industrial processes.

  16. Millimeter Wave Spectrum of Nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ilyushin, V.

    2016-06-01

    A new study of the millimeter wave spectrum of nitromethane CH_3NO_2 is reported. The new measurements covering the frequency range from 49 GHz to 236 GHz have been carried out using spectrometer in IRA NASU (Ukraine). The transitions belonging to the m ≤ 8 torsional states have been analyzed using the RAM36 program, which has been modified for this study to take into account the quadrupole hyperfine structure due to presence of the nitrogen atom. The dataset consisting of 5838 microwave line frequencies and including transitions with J up to 50 was fit using a model consisting of 93 parameters and weighted root-mean-square deviation of 0.89 has been achieved. In the talk the details of this new study will be discussed. V. Ilyushin, Z. Kisiel, L. Pszczólkowski, H. Mäder, J. T. Hougen J. Mol. Spectrosc. 259 (2010) 26-38.

  17. Low Velocity Detonation of Nitromethane Affected by Precursor Shock Waves Propagating in Various Container Materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hamashima, H.; Osada, A.; Itoh, S.; Kato, Y.

    2007-12-01

    It is well known that some liquid explosives have two detonation behaviors, high velocity detonation (HVD) or low velocity detonation (LVD) can propagate. A physical model to describe the propagation mechanism of LVD in liquid explosives was proposed that LVD is not a self-reactive detonation, but rather a supported-reactive detonation from the cavitation field generated by precursor shock waves. However, the detailed structure of LVD in liquid explosives has not yet been clarified. In this study, high-speed photography was used to investigate the effects of the precursor shock waves propagating in various container materials for LVD in nitromethane (NM). Stable LVD was not observed in all containers, although transient LVD was observed. A very complicated structure of LVD was observed: the interaction of multiple precursor shock waves, multiple oblique shock waves, and the cavitation field.

  18. Ultrafast semi-metallic layer formation in detonating nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reed, Evan; Manaa, M. Riad; Fried, Laurence; Glaesemann, Kurt; Joannopoulos, John

    2008-03-01

    We present the first quantum molecular dynamics simulations behind a detonation front (up to 0.2 ns) of the explosive nitromethane (CH3NO2) represented by the density-functional-based tight-binding method (DFTB). This simulation is enabled by our recently developed multi-scale shock wave molecular dynamics technique (MSST) that opens the door to longer duration simulations by several orders of magnitude. The electronic density of states around the Fermi energy initially increases as metastable material states are produced but then later decreases, perhaps unexpectedly. These changes indicate that the shock front is characterized by an increase in optical thickness and conductivity followed by a reduction around 100 picoseconds behind the front. We find that a significant population of intermediate metastable molecules are charged and charged species play an important role in the density of states evolution. The transient transformation to a semi-metallic state can be understood within the Anderson picture of metallization.

  19. Low Velocity Detonation of Nitromethane Affected by Precursor Shock Waves Propagating in Various Container Materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hamashima, Hideki; Osada, Akinori; Kato, Yukio; Itoh, Shigeru

    2007-06-01

    It is well known that some liquid explosives have two detonation behaviors, high velocity detonation (HVD) or low velocity detonation (LVD) can propagate. A physical model to describe the propagation mechanism of LVD in liquid explosives was proposed that LVD is not a self-reactive detonation, but rather a supported-reactive detonation from the cavitation field generated by precursor shock waves. However, the detailed structure of LVD in liquid explosives has not yet been clarified. In this study, high-speed photography was used to investigate the effects of the precursor shock waves propagating in various container materials for LVD in nitromethane (NM). Stable LVD was not observed in all containers, although transient LVD was observed. A very complicated structure of LVD was observed: the interaction of multiple precursor shock waves, multiple oblique shock waves, and the cavitation field.

  20. Interaction between a steady detonation wave in nitromethane and geometrical complex confinement defects.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Crouzet, Blandine; Carion, Noel; Manczur, Philippe

    2007-06-01

    It is well known that detonation propagation is altered if the explosive is encased in an inert confining material. But in practice, explosives are rarely used without confinement and particular attention must be paid to the problem of explosive/confinement interactions. In this work, we have carried out two copper cylinder expansion tests on nitromethane. They differ from the classical cylinder test in that the liner includes evenly-spaced protruding circular defects. The aim is to study how a detonation front propagating in the liquid explosive interacts with the confining material defects. The subsequent motion of the metal, accelerated by the expanding detonation products, is measured using a range of diagnostic techniques: electrical probes, rapid framing camera, glass block associated with streak camera and velocity laser interferometers. The different experimental records have been examined in the light of a simple 2D theoretical shock polar analysis and 2D numerical simulations.

  1. A semi-metallic layer in detonating nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reed, Evan; Manaa, Riad; Fried, Laurence; Glaesemann, Kurt; Joannopoulos, John

    2007-06-01

    We present the first ever glimpse behind a detonation front in a chemically reactive quantum molecular dynamics simulation (up to 0.2 ns) of the explosive nitromethane (CH3NO2) represented by the density-functional-based tight-binding method (DFTB). This simulation is enabled by our recently developed multi-scale shock wave molecular dynamics technique (MSST) that opens the door to longer duration simulations by several orders of magnitude. The electronic DOS around the Fermi energy initially increases as metastable material states are produced but then later decreases, perhaps unexpectedly. These changes indicate that the shock front is characterized by an increase in optical thickness followed by a reduction in optical thickness hundreds of picoseconds behind the front, explaining recent experimental observations. We find that a significant population of intermediate metastable molecules are charged and charged species play an important role in the density of states evolution and a possible Mott metal-insulator transition.

  2. Structure of the detonation wave front in a mixture of nitromethane with acetone

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Buravova, S. N.

    2012-09-01

    It is shown that the leading front of an inhomogeneous detonation wave is a shock wave in which wave structures of the type of triple shock configurations are moving. It was experimentally found that the reaction in these inhomogeneities occurs in oblique shock waves. The reaction sites at the wave front are ring-shaped. In a 75: 25 mixture of nitromethane with acetone, up to 70% of the front surface is occupied by the reaction at the sites in the wave front. Measurements of the mass velocity profile indicate that afterburning takes place in the unloading area behind the Jouguet plane. Calculations of the heat release in the reaction mixture with a decrease in the mass velocity indicate that the material that have not reacted in the inhomogeneities can be ignited in the induction zone. It is suggested that the adiabatic flashes are a mechanism that generates inhomogeneities in the detonation wave front.

  3. High-resolution Fourier transform infrared synchrotron spectroscopy of the NO2 in-plane rock band of nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dawadi, Mahesh B.; Twagirayezu, Sylvestre; Perry, David S.; Billinghurst, Brant E.

    2015-09-01

    The high-resolution rotationally resolved Fourier-transform infrared spectrum of the NO2 in-plane rock band (440-510 cm-1) of nitromethane (CH3NO2) has been recorded using the Far-Infrared Beamline at the Canadian Light Source, with a resolution of 0.00096 cm-1. About 1773 transitions reaching the upper state levels m‧ = 0; Ka‧ ⩽ 7;J‧ ⩽ 50 have been assigned using an automated ground-state combination difference program together with the traditional Loomis-Wood approach. These data from the lowest torsional state, m‧ = 0, were fit using the six-fold torsion-rotation program developed by Ilyushin et al. (2010). The analysis reveals that the rotational energy level structure in the upper vibrational state is similar to that of the ground vibrational state, but the sign and magnitude of high-order constants are significantly changed suggesting the presence of multiple perturbations.

  4. Thermal Signature Measurements for Ammonium Nitrate/Fuel Mixtures by Laser Heating.

    PubMed

    Nazarian, Ashot; Presser, Cary

    2016-01-10

    Measurements were carried out to obtain thermal signatures of several ammonium nitrate/fuel (ANF) mixtures, using a laser-heating technique referred to as the laser-driven thermal reactor (LDTR). The mixtures were ammonium nitrate (AN)/kerosene, AN/ethylene glycol, AN/paraffin wax, AN/petroleum jelly, AN/confectioner's sugar, AN/cellulose (tissue paper), nitromethane/cellulose, nitrobenzene/cellulose, AN/cellulose/nitromethane, AN/cellulose/nitrobenzene. These mixtures were also compared with AN/nitromethane and AN/diesel fuel oil, obtained from an earlier investigation. Thermograms for the mixtures, as well as individual constituents, were compared to better understand how the sample thermal signature changes with mixture composition. This is the first step in development of a thermal-signature database, to be used along with other signature databases, to improve identification of energetic substances of unknown composition. The results indicated that each individual thermal signature was associated unambiguously with a particular mixture composition. The signature features of a particular mixture were shaped by the individual constituent signatures. It was also uncovered that the baseline signature was modified after an experiment due to coating of unreacted residue on the substrate surface and a change in the reactor sphere oxide layer. Thus, care was required to pre-oxidize the sphere prior to an experiment. A minimum sample mass (which was dependent on composition) was required to detect the signature characteristics. Increased laser power served to magnify signal strength while preserving the signature features. For the mixtures examined, the thermal response of each ANF mixture was found to be different, which was based on the mixture composition and the thermal behavior of each mixture constituent.

  5. Molecular dynamics study of the behavior of nitromethanes enclosed inside carbon nanotube containers.

    PubMed

    Bae, Se Won; Cho, Soo Gyeong

    2016-07-01

    We utilized molecular dynamics (MD) to investigate the behavior of nitromethane molecules (NMs) enclosed inside carbon nanotube (CNT) containers sealed with buckybowl caps. Two different sizes of CNT containers, i.e., (10,10) and (20,20), were employed to contain the energetic NMs. After loading the NMs into these containers, MD simulations were carried out at different loading densities. The loading density was changed from 0.4 to 2.0 g/cc. At low loading densities, NMs preferentially resided near the surface of the CNT wall (orienting themselves in the cylindrical direction) and near the buckybowl caps (orienting themselves in the principal-axis direction). This behavior suggests the buckybowl caps and the CNT wall have attractive interactions with the NMs. The distribution of the NMs inside the containers did not change upon increasing the temperature from ambient to 100 °C. However, the positional preference of the NMs found at ambient temperature to 100 °C was not the same as that observed at 1000 °C due to the increased thermal motions of the NMs. The size of the CNT container had a significant effect on the fluidity of the NMs. From 25 to 100 °C, the NMs inside the (10,10) CNT container were only mobile at low loading densities. On the other hand, in the (20,20) CNT container, the NMs showed good mobility up to a loading density of 1.6 g/cc. Graphical Abstract Attractive interactions between the nitromethanes and the buckybowl caps as well as the carbon nanotube wall.

  6. Stable solvent for solution-based electrical doping of semiconducting polymer films and its application to organic solar cells

    DOE PAGES

    Larrain, Felipe A.; Fuentes-Hernandez, Canek; Chou, Wen-Fang; ...

    2018-01-01

    A solution-based method to electrically p-dope organic semiconductors enabling the fabrication of organic solar cells with simplified geometry is implemented with acetonitrile as an alternative to nitromethane.

  7. Stable solvent for solution-based electrical doping of semiconducting polymer films and its application to organic solar cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Larrain, Felipe A.; Fuentes-Hernandez, Canek; Chou, Wen-Fang

    A solution-based method to electrically p-dope organic semiconductors enabling the fabrication of organic solar cells with simplified geometry is implemented with acetonitrile as an alternative to nitromethane.

  8. Molecular dynamics simulations of shock waves in oriented nitromethane single crystals.

    PubMed

    He, Lan; Sewell, Thomas D; Thompson, Donald L

    2011-03-28

    The structural relaxation of crystalline nitromethane initially at T = 200 K subjected to moderate (~15 GPa) supported shocks on the (100), (010), and (001) crystal planes has been studied using microcanonical molecular dynamics with the nonreactive Sorescu-Rice-Thompson force field [D. C. Sorescu, B. M. Rice, and D. L. Thompson, J. Phys. Chem. B 104, 8406 (2000)]. The responses to the shocks were determined by monitoring the mass density, the intermolecular, intramolecular, and total temperatures (average kinetic energies), the partitioning of total kinetic energy among Cartesian directions, the radial distribution functions for directions perpendicular to those of shock propagation, the mean-square displacements in directions perpendicular to those of shock propagation, and the time dependence of molecular rotational relaxation as a function of time. The results show that the mechanical response of crystalline nitromethane strongly depends on the orientation of the shock wave. Shocks propagating along [100] and [001] result in translational disordering in some crystal planes but not in others, a phenomenon that we refer to as plane-specific disordering; whereas for [010] the shock-induced stresses are relieved by a complicated structural rearrangement that leads to a paracrystalline structure. The plane-specific translational disordering is more complete by the end of the simulations (~6 ps) for shock propagation along [001] than along [100]. Transient excitation of the intermolecular degrees of freedom occurs in the immediate vicinity of the shock front for all three orientations; the effect is most pronounced for the [010] shock. In all three cases excitation of molecular vibrations occurs more slowly than the intermolecular excitation. The intermolecular and intramolecular temperatures are nearly equal by the end of the simulations, with 400-500 K of net shock heating. Results for two-dimensional mean-square molecular center-of-mass displacements, calculated as a function of time since shock wave passage in planes perpendicular to the direction of shock propagation, show that the molecular translational mobility in the picoseconds following shock wave passage is greatest for [001] and least for the [010] case. In all cases the root-mean-square center-of-mass displacement is small compared to the molecular diameter of nitromethane on the time scale of the simulations. The calculated time scales for the approach to thermal equilibrium are generally consistent with the predictions of a recent theoretical analysis due to Hooper [J. Chem. Phys. 132, 014507 (2010)].

  9. Fluorescent nanoscale zinc(II)-carboxylate coordination polymers for explosive sensing.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Chengyi; Che, Yanke; Zhang, Zengxing; Yang, Xiaomei; Zang, Ling

    2011-02-28

    Fluorescent nanoscale coordination polymers with cubic morphology and long range ordered structure were fabricated and exhibited efficient sensing for both nitroaromatic explosive and nitromethane due to large surface area to volume ratio and strong binding affinity to explosive molecules.

  10. NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Nitromethane (CAS No. 75-52-5) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies).

    PubMed

    1997-02-01

    Nitromethane is used as a rocket and engine fuel; as a synthesis intermediate for agricultural fumigants, biocides, and other products; as a solvent; and as an explosive in mining, oil-well drilling, and seismic exploration. It has been detected in air, in surface and drinking water, and in cigarette smoke. Nitromethane was studied because of the potential for widespread human exposure and because it is structurally related to the carcinogens 2-nitropropane and tetranitromethane. Male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice received nitromethane (purity 98% or greater) by inhalation for 16 days, 13 weeks, or 2 years. Genetic toxicology studies were conducted in Salmonella typhimurium, cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells, and peripheral blood erythrocytes of mice. 16-DAY STUDY IN RATS: Groups of five male and five female rats were exposed to 0, 94, 188, 375, 750, or 1,500 ppm nitromethane by inhalation, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 16 days. All rats survived until the end of the study. The mean body weight gain of male rats in the 1,500 ppm group was slightly but significantly less than that of the controls; the final mean body weights and mean body weight gains of exposed females were similar to those of the controls. Clinical findings in all male and female rats in the 1,500 ppm groups included increased preening, rapid breathing, hyperactivity early in the study, and hypoactivity and loss of coordination in the hindlimbs near the end of the study. The relative liver weights of all exposed groups of male rats and the absolute and relative liver weights of females exposed to 375 ppm or greater were significantly greater than those of the controls. Minimal to mild degeneration of the olfactory epithelium was observed in the nose of males and females exposed to 375 ppm or greater. Sciatic nerve degeneration was present in all male and female rats exposed to 375 ppm or greater; rats exposed to 750 or 1,500 ppm also had reduced myelin around sciatic axons. 16-DAY STUDY IN MICE: Groups of five male and five female mice were exposed to 0, 94, 188, 375, 750, or 1,500 ppm nitromethane by inhalation, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 16 days. All mice survived to the end of the study. The final mean body weights and weight gains of exposed males and females were similar to those of the controls. Clinical findings included hypoactivity and tachypnea in male and female mice in the 1,500 ppm groups. Absolute and relative liver weights of male mice in the 750 and 1,500 ppm groups and female mice in all exposed groups and the relative liver weight of males in the 375 ppm group were significantly greater than those of the controls. Degeneration of the olfactory epithelium of the nose was observed microscopically in all males and females exposed to 375 ppm or greater; this lesion was of minimal severity in males and minimal to mild severity in females. 13-WEEK STUDY IN RATS: Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats were exposed to 0, 94, 188, 375, 750, or 1,500 ppm nitromethane by inhalation, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 13 weeks. All rats survived to the end of the study. The final mean body weight and weight gain of male rats in the 1,500 ppm group were significantly less than those of the controls. Clinical findings included hindlimb paralysis in rats in the 750 and 1,500 ppm groups. Inhalation exposure of rats to nitromethane resulted in an exposure concentration-dependent, microcytic, responsive anemia; anemia was most pronounced in males and females exposed to 375 ppm or greater. The presence of schistocytes, Heinz bodies, and spherocytes and increased mean cell hemoglobin concentration and methemoglobin concentration were evidence that a hemolytic process was occurring; this hemolytic process could have accounted, in part, for the anemia. Thrombocytosis accompanied the anemia and would be consistent with a reactive bone marrow or could have been due to the erroneous inclusion of small erythrocyte fragments as part of the platelet count. On day 23, transient decreases in serum triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and fr and free thyroxine were observed in male rats exposed to 375 ppm or greater and female rats exposed to 750 or 1,500 ppm. There was little or no pituitary response to the thyroid hormone decreases, as evidenced by the lack of significantly increased concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone in exposed rats. No biologically significant differences in organ weights were observed. The forelimb and hindlimb grip strengths of males in the 1,500 ppm group were significantly less than those of the controls. The hindlimb grip strengths of females in the 750 and 1,500 ppm groups were also significantly less than the control value. Minimal to mild hyperplasia of the bone marrow was observed microscopically in male rats in the 750 and 1,500 ppm groups and in females exposed to 188 ppm or greater. Nasal lesions in exposed males and females included olfactory epithelial degeneration in males and females exposed to 375 ppm or greater and in one female exposed to 188 ppm and respiratory epithelial hyaline droplets and goblet cell hyperplasia in males and females in the 750 and 1,500 ppm groups; the severity of nasal lesions in males and females was minimal to mild. Males and females exposed to 375 ppm or greater had minimal to mild degeneration of the sciatic nerve and the lumbar spinal cord. 13-WEEK STUDY IN MICE: Groups of 10 male and 10 female mice were exposed to 0, 94, 188, 375, 750, or 1,500 ppm nitromethane by inhalation, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 13 weeks. All mice survived to the end of the study. The final mean body weights and weight gains of exposed mice were generally similar to those of the controls. There were no treatment-related clinical findings. The absolute right kidney weights of all groups of exposed male mice except the 1,500 ppm group and of females exposed to 188 ppm or greater and the relative right kidney weights of all groups of exposed males and of females in the 750 and 1,500 ppm groups were significantly greater than those of the controls. The absolute liver weight of male mice in the 750 ppm group and the relative liver weights of males exposed to 375 ppm or greater were significantly greater than those of the controls. Olfactory epithelial degeneration and respiratory epithelial hyaline droplets were observed microscopically in all male and female mice exposed to 375 ppm or greater. Degeneration also occurred in females in the 188 ppm group, and hyaline droplets occurred in females in the 94 and 188 ppm groups. The average severity of the nasal lesions ranged from minimal to mild in males. In females, the average severity of olfactory epithelial degeneration ranged from minimal to mild and the severity of respiratory epithelial hyaline droplets ranged from minimal to moderate. All males and nine females in the 1,500 ppm groups also had minimal extramedullary hematopoiesis of the spleen. 2-YEAR STUDY IN RATS: Groups of 50 male and 50 female rats were exposed to 0, 94, 188, or 375 ppm nitromethane by inhalation, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 103 weeks. Survival,Body Weights, and Clinical Findings: There were no significant differences in survival rates between exposed and control male or female rats. The mean body weight of females in the 375 ppm group was slightly greater than that of the control group; the mean body weights of exposed males were generally similar to the mean body weight of the controls throughout the study. Clinical findings were consistent with incidences of mammary gland neoplasms in females exposed to 188 or 375 ppm; no hindlimb paralysis, as occurred in rats in the 13-week study, was observed in male or female rats in the 2-year study. Pathology Findings: The incidences of mammary gland fibroadenoma and fibroadenoma, adenoma, or carcinoma (combined) in female rats in the 188 and 375 ppm groups were significantly greater than those in the controls. Additionally, the incidences of mammary gland carcinoma in the 375 ppm group were significantly greater than those in the controls. 2-YEAR STUDY IN MICE: Groups of 50 male and 50 female mice were exposed to 0, 188, 375, or 750 ppm nitromethane by inhalation, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 103 weeks. Survival,Body Weights, and ClinicalFindings The survival rate of females in the 750 ppm group was marginally greater than that of the controls. The mean body weights of exposed females were generally slightly greater than the mean body weights of the controls during the study but were generally similar to the mean body weight of the controls at the end of the study. The mean body weights of exposed males were similar to those of the controls throughout the study. Clinical findings included swelling around the eyes and exophthalmos in exposed males and females; these findings were coincident with harderian gland neoplasms. Pathology Findings: The incidences of harderian gland adenoma and adenoma or carcinoma (combined) in exposed mice increased with increasing exposure concentration and were significantly greater in males and females in the 375 and 750 ppm groups than those in the controls. The incidences of harderian gland carcinoma in males and females in the 375 and 750 ppm groups were also slightly greater than those in the controls. Female mice in the 188 and 750 ppm groups had significantly greater incidences of hepatocellular adenoma and hepatocellular adenoma or carcinoma (combined) than the controls. The incidences of liver eosinophilic focus increased with increasing exposure concentration, and the incidences in the 375 and 750 ppm groups were significantly greater than the control incidence. The incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar carcinoma in male mice in the 750 ppm group and female mice in the 375 ppm group were significantly greater than those in the controls. Females in the 750 ppm group also had a significantly greater incidence of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (combined) and a slightly greater incidence of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma than the controls. Females in the 375 ppm group had a significantly greater incidence of cellular infiltration of histiocytes in the lung than the controls. The incidences of degeneration and metaplasia of the olfactory epithelium and hyaline degeneration of the respiratory epithelium were significantly greater in exposed male and female mice than those in the controls. Additionally, males in the 375 and 750 ppm groups had significantly greater incidences of inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct than did the controls. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY: Nitromethane was not mutagenic in any tests performed by the NTP. It did not induce mutations in Salmonella typhimurium, with or without S9 metabolic activation, and no induction of sister chromatid exchanges or chromosomal aberrations in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells exposed to nitromethane was noted with or without S9. No increase in the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes was observed in peripheral blood samples of male and female mice at the end of the 13-week inhalation study of nitromethane. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of these 2-year inhalation studies, there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of nitromethane in male F344/N rats exposed to 94, 188, or 375 ppm. There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of nitromethane in female F344/N rats based on increased incidences of mammary gland fibroadenomas and carcinomas. There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of nitromethane in male B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of harderian gland adenomas and carcinomas. There was clear evidence of carcin ogenic activity in female B6C3F1 mice, based on increased incidences of liver neoplasms (primarily adenomas) and harderian gland adenomas and carcinomas. Increased incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas and carcinomas in male and female mice exposed to nitromethane were also considered to be related to chemical administration. Exposure to nitromethane by inhalation for 2 years resulted in increased incidences of nasal lesions including degeneration and metaplasia of the olfactory epithelium and degeneration of the respiratory epithelium in male and female mice. Synonym: Nitrocarbol

  11. Using embedded fibers to measure explosive detonation velocities

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Podsednik, Jason W.; Parks, Shawn Michael; Navarro, Rudolfo J.

    2012-07-01

    Single-mode fibers were cleverly embedded into fixtures holding nitromethane, and used in conjunction with a photonic Doppler velocimeter (PDV) to measure the associated detonation velocity. These measurements have aided us in our understanding of energetic materials and enhanced our diagnostic capabilities.

  12. Thermal Signature Measurements for Ammonium Nitrate/Fuel Mixtures by Laser Heating

    PubMed Central

    Nazarian, Ashot; Presser, Cary

    2016-01-01

    Measurements were carried out to obtain thermal signatures of several ammonium nitrate/fuel (ANF) mixtures, using a laser-heating technique referred to as the laser-driven thermal reactor (LDTR). The mixtures were ammonium nitrate (AN)/kerosene, AN/ethylene glycol, AN/paraffin wax, AN/petroleum jelly, AN/confectioner’s sugar, AN/cellulose (tissue paper), nitromethane/cellulose, nitrobenzene/cellulose, AN/cellulose/nitromethane, AN/cellulose/nitrobenzene. These mixtures were also compared with AN/nitromethane and AN/diesel fuel oil, obtained from an earlier investigation. Thermograms for the mixtures, as well as individual constituents, were compared to better understand how the sample thermal signature changes with mixture composition. This is the first step in development of a thermal-signature database, to be used along with other signature databases, to improve identification of energetic substances of unknown composition. The results indicated that each individual thermal signature was associated unambiguously with a particular mixture composition. The signature features of a particular mixture were shaped by the individual constituent signatures. It was also uncovered that the baseline signature was modified after an experiment due to coating of unreacted residue on the substrate surface and a change in the reactor sphere oxide layer. Thus, care was required to pre-oxidize the sphere prior to an experiment. A minimum sample mass (which was dependent on composition) was required to detect the signature characteristics. Increased laser power served to magnify signal strength while preserving the signature features. For the mixtures examined, the thermal response of each ANF mixture was found to be different, which was based on the mixture composition and the thermal behavior of each mixture constituent. PMID:26955190

  13. A comparison of complexation of Li+ ion with macrocyclic ligands 15-crown-5 and 12-crown-4 in binary nitromethane-acetonitrile mixtures by using lithium-7 NMR technique and ab initio calculation.

    PubMed

    Alizadeh, Nina

    2011-01-01

    Lithium-7 NMR measurements were used to investigate the stoichiometry and stability of Li+ complexes with 15-crown-5 (15C5), benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5), dibenzo-15-crown-5 (DB15C5) and 12-crown-4 (12C4) in a number of nitromethane (NM)-acetonitrile (AN) binary mixtures. In all cases, the exchange between the free and complexed lithium ion was fast on the NMR time scale and a single population average resonance was observed. While all crown ethers form 1:1 complexes with Li+ ion in the binary mixtures used, both 1:1 and 2:1 (sandwich) complexes were observed between lithium ion and 12C4 in pure nitromethane solution. Stepwise formation constants of the 1:1 and 2:1 (ligand/metal) complexes were evaluated from computer fitting of the NMR-mole ratio data to equations which relate the observed metal ion chemical shifts to formation constants. There is an inverse linear relationship between the logarithms of the stability constants and the mole fraction of acetonitrile in the solvent mixtures. The stability order of the 1:1 complexes was found to be 15C5·Li+>B15C5·Li+>DB15C5·Li+>12C4·Li+. The optimized structures of the free ligands and their 1:1 and 2:1 complexes with Li+ ion were predicted by ab initio theoretical calculations using the Gaussian 98 software, and the results are discussed. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Liquid Explosive in Pipes

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-01-01

    Program: The Development and Manufacture of a Gelled Nitromethane Explosive for Project ESSEX." DNA PR 0004, UCRL -51536, October 1974. (AD A001343...STRBE-CFLO AITTN: T. Hater STRBE-NE (3 cys) Technical Library STRBE-ND, Spitzer 3701 North Fairfax Drive STRBE-NDM, Dillon Arlington, VA 22203-1714

  15. High-resolution infrared spectroscopy of the asymmetric NO stretch band of jet-cooled nitromethane and assignment of the lowest four torsional states

    DOE PAGES

    Dawadi, Mahesh B.; Degliumberto, Lou; Perry, David S.; ...

    2017-08-10

    We used a high-throughput CW slit-jet apparatus coupled to a high-resolution FTIR to record the asymmetric NO stretch band of nitromethane. The b-type band, including torsionally excited states with m ≤ 3, has been assigned for Ka" ≤ 10, J" ≤ 20. The ground state combination differences derived from these assigned levels were fit with the RAM36 program to give an RMS deviation of 0.0006 cm -1. The band origin is 1583.0 (±0.1) cm -1 and the torsional level spacing is nearly identical to that in the ground state. The upper state levels are split into multiplets by perturbations. Wemore » also fit a subset of the available upper state combination differences for m = 0, Ka' ≤ 7, J' ≤ 10 with the same program, but with rather poorer precision (0.01 cm -1) than for the ground state.« less

  16. A Robust Luminescent Tb(III)-MOF with Lewis Basic Pyridyl Sites for the Highly Sensitive Detection of Metal Ions and Small Molecules.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Jun; Wang, Ye-Nan; Dong, Wen-Wen; Wu, Ya-Pan; Li, Dong-Sheng; Zhang, Qi-Chun

    2016-04-04

    A new luminescent terbium-metal-organic framework [Tb3(L)2(HCOO)(H2O)5]·DMF·4H2O (1) (H4L = 4,4'-(pyridine-3,5-diyl)diisophthalic acid) has been successfully assembled by Tb(3+) ions and an undeveloped pyridyl-tetracarboxylate. Compound 1 exhibits a 3D porous (3,8)-connected (4.5(2))2(4(2).5(12).6(6).7(5).8(3)) topological framework with fascinating 1D open hydrophilic channels decorated by uncoordinated Lewis basic pyridyl nitrogen atoms. In particular, the Tb-MOF (1) can detect Cu(2+) ions with high selectivity and sensitivity, and its luminescence is nearly entirely quenched in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution and biological system. In addition, 1 still has high detection for the trace content of nitromethane with 70 ppm, which suggests that 1 is a promising example of dual functional materials with sensing copper ions and nitromethane.

  17. High-resolution infrared spectroscopy of the asymmetric NO stretch band of jet-cooled nitromethane and assignment of the lowest four torsional states

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dawadi, Mahesh B.; Degliumberto, Lou; Perry, David S.

    We used a high-throughput CW slit-jet apparatus coupled to a high-resolution FTIR to record the asymmetric NO stretch band of nitromethane. The b-type band, including torsionally excited states with m ≤ 3, has been assigned for Ka" ≤ 10, J" ≤ 20. The ground state combination differences derived from these assigned levels were fit with the RAM36 program to give an RMS deviation of 0.0006 cm -1. The band origin is 1583.0 (±0.1) cm -1 and the torsional level spacing is nearly identical to that in the ground state. The upper state levels are split into multiplets by perturbations. Wemore » also fit a subset of the available upper state combination differences for m = 0, Ka' ≤ 7, J' ≤ 10 with the same program, but with rather poorer precision (0.01 cm -1) than for the ground state.« less

  18. High-resolution infrared spectroscopy of the asymmetric NO stretch band of jet-cooled nitromethane and assignment of the lowest four torsional states

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dawadi, Mahesh B.; Degliumberto, Lou; Perry, David S.

    A high-throughput CW slit-jet apparatus coupled to a high-resolution FTIR was used to record the asymmetric NO stretch band of nitromethane. The b-type band, including torsionally excited states with m ≤ 3, has been assigned for Ka" ≤ 10, J" ≤ 20. The ground state combination differences derived from these assigned levels were fit with the RAM36 program to give an RMS deviation of 0.0006 cm-1. The band origin is 1583.0 (+/- 0.1) cm-1 and the torsional level spacing is nearly identical to that in the ground state. The upper state levels are split into multiplets by perturbations. A subsetmore » of the available upper state combination differences for m = 0, Ka' ≤ 7, J' ≤ 10 were fit with the same program, but with rather poorer precision (0.01 cm-1) than for the ground state.« less

  19. Unravelling the Electronic State of NO2 Product in Ultrafast Photodissociation of Nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Adachi, Shunsuke; Kohguchi, Hiroshi; Suzuki, Toshinori

    2018-01-18

    The primary photochemical reaction of nitromethane (NM) after ππ* excitation is known to be C-N bond cleavage (CH 3 NO 2 + hν → CH 3 + NO 2 ). On the other hand, NO 2 can be formed in both the ground and excited states, and identification of the electronic state of the NO 2 product has been a central subject in the experimental and theoretical studies. Here we present time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy using vacuum-ultraviolet probe pulses to observe all transient electronic states of NM and the reaction products. The result indicates that ultrafast internal conversion occurs down to S 1 and S 0 within 24 fs, and the dissociation proceeds on the S 1 surface (τ diss ≲ 50 fs), leading to comparable product yields of NO 2 (A) and NO 2 (X). The overall dissociation quantum yield within our observation time window (<2 ps) is estimated to be 0.29.

  20. Tracking the photodissociation dynamics of liquid nitromethane at 266 nm by femtosecond time-resolved broadband transient grating spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Honglin; Song, Yunfei; Yu, Guoyang; Wang, Yang; Wang, Chang; Yang, Yanqiang

    2016-05-01

    Femtosecond time-resolved transient grating (TG) technique was employed to get insight into the photodissociation mechanism of liquid nitromethane (NM). Broadband white-light continuum was introduced as the probe to observe the evolution of electronic excited states of NM molecules and the formation of photodissociation products simultaneously. The reaction channel of liquid NM under 266 nm excitation was obtained that NM molecules in excited state S2 relax through two channels: about 73% relax to low lying S1 state through S2/S1 internal conversion with a time constant of 0.24 ps and then go back to the ground state through S1/S0 internal conversion; the other 27% will dissociate with a time constant of 2.56 ps. NO2 was found to be one of the products from the experimental TG spectra, which confirmed that C-N bond rupture was the primary dissociation channel of liquid NM.

  1. Influence of hot spot features on the initiation characteristics of heterogeneous nitromethane

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dattelbaum, Dana M; Sheffield, Stephen A; Stahl, David B

    2010-01-01

    To gain insights into the critical hot spot features influencing energetic materials initiation characteristics, well-defined micron-scale particles have been intentionally introduced into the homogeneous explosive nitromethane (NM). Two types of potential hot spot origins have been examined - shock impedance mismatches using solid silica beads, and porosity using hollow microballoons - as well as their sizes and inter-particle separations. Here, we present the results of several series of gas gun-driven plate impact experiments on NM/particle mixtures with well-controlled shock inputs. Detailed insights into the nature of the reactive flow during the build-up to detonation have been obtained from the responsemore » of in-situ electromagnetic gauges, and the data have been used to establish Pop-plots (run-distance-to-detonation vs. shock input pressure) for the mixtures. Comparisons of sensitization effects and energy release characteristics relative to the initial shock front between the solid and hollow beads are presented.« less

  2. Nitromethane ignition observed with embedded PDV optical fibers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mercier, P.; Bénier, J.; Frugier, P. A.; Debruyne, M.; Crouzet, B.

    For a long time, the nitromethane (NM) ignition has been observed with different means such as high-speed cameras, VISAR or optical pyrometry diagnostics. By 2000, David Goosmann (LLNL) studied solid high-explosive detonation and shock loaded metal plates by measuring velocity (Fabry-Pérot interferometry) in embedded optical fibers. For six years Photonic Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) has become a major tool to better understand the phenomena occurring in shock physics experiments. In 2006, we began to use in turn this technique and studied shock-to-detonation transition in NM. Different kinds of bare optical fibers were set in the liquid; they provided two types of velocity information; those coming from phenomena located in front of the fibers (interface velocity, shock waves, overdriven detonation wave) and those due to phenomena environing the fibers (shock or detonation waves). We achieved several shots; devices were composed of a high explosive plane wave generator ended by a metal barrier followed by a cylindrical vessel containing NM. We present results.

  3. Development of multi-component explosive lenses for arbitrary phase velocity generation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Loiseau, Jason; Huneault, Justin; Petel, Oren; Goroshin, Sam; Frost, David; Higgins, Andrew; Zhang, Fan

    2013-06-01

    The combination of explosives with different detonation velocities and lens-like geometric shaping is a well-established technique for producing structured detonation waves. This technique can be extended to produce nearly arbitrary detonation phase velocities for the purposes of sequentially imploding pressurized tubes or driving Mach disks through high-density metalized explosives. The current study presents the experimental development of accelerating, multi-component lenses designed using simple geometric optics and idealized front curvature. The fast explosive component is either Composition C4 (VOD = 8 km/s) or Primasheet 1000 (VOD = 7 km/s), while the slow component varies from heavily amine-diluted nitromethane (amine mass fraction exceeding 20%) to packed metal and glass particle beds wetted with amine-sensitized nitromethane. The applicability of the geometric optic analog to such highly heterogeneous explosives is also investigated. The multi-layered lens technique is further developed as a means of generating a directed mass and momentum flux of metal particles via Mach-disk formation and jetting in circular and oval planar lenses.

  4. High-resolution infrared spectroscopy of the asymmetric NO stretch band of jet-cooled nitromethane and assignment of the lowest four torsional states

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dawadi, Mahesh B.; Degliumberto, Lou; Perry, David S.; Mettee, Howard D.; Sams, Robert L.

    2018-01-01

    A high-throughput CW slit-jet apparatus coupled to a high-resolution FTIR was used to record the asymmetric NO stretch band of nitromethane. The b-type band, including torsionally excited states with m ≤ 3, has been assigned for Ka″ ≤ 10, J″ ≤ 20. The ground state combination differences derived from these assigned levels were fit with the RAM36 program to give an RMS deviation of 0.0006 cm-1. The band origin is 1583.0 (±0.1) cm-1 and the torsional level spacing is nearly identical to that in the ground state. The upper state levels are split into multiplets by perturbations. A subset of the available upper state combination differences for m = 0, Ka‧ ≤ 7, J‧ ≤ 10 were fit with the same program, but with rather poorer precision (0.01 cm-1) than for the ground state.

  5. The evolution of the temperature field during cavity collapse in liquid nitromethane. Part II: reactive case

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Michael, L.; Nikiforakis, N.

    2018-02-01

    This work is concerned with the effect of cavity collapse in non-ideal explosives as a means of controlling their sensitivity. The main objective is to understand the origin of localised temperature peaks (hot spots) which play a leading order role at the early stages of ignition. To this end, we perform two- and three-dimensional numerical simulations of shock-induced single gas-cavity collapse in liquid nitromethane. Ignition is the result of a complex interplay between fluid dynamics and exothermic chemical reaction. In the first part of this work, we focused on the hydrodynamic effects in the collapse process by switching off the reaction terms in the mathematical formulation. In this part, we reinstate the reactive terms and study the collapse of the cavity in the presence of chemical reactions. By using a multi-phase formulation which overcomes current challenges of cavity collapse modelling in reactive media, we account for the large density difference across the material interface without generating spurious temperature peaks, thus allowing the use of a temperature-based reaction rate law. The mathematical and physical models are validated against experimental and analytic data. In Part I, we demonstrated that, compared to experiments, the generated hot spots have a more complex topological structure and that additional hot spots arise in regions away from the cavity centreline. Here, we extend this by identifying which of the previously determined high-temperature regions in fact lead to ignition and comment on the reactive strength and reaction growth rate in the distinct hot spots. We demonstrate and quantify the sensitisation of nitromethane by the collapse of the isolated cavity by comparing the ignition times of nitromethane due to cavity collapse and the ignition time of the neat material. The ignition in both the centreline hot spots and the hot spots generated by Mach stems occurs in less than half the ignition time of the neat material. We compare two- and three-dimensional simulations to examine the change in topology, temperatures, and reactive strength of the hot spots by the third dimension. It is apparent that belated ignition times can be avoided by the use of three-dimensional simulations. The effect of the chemical reactions on the topology and strength of the hot spots in the timescales considered is also studied, in a comparison between inert and reactive simulations where maximum temperature fields and their growth rates are examined.

  6. Investigation of Solvent Effects on the Rate and Stereoselectivity of the Henry Reaction

    PubMed Central

    Kostal, Jakub; Voutchkova, Adelina M.; Jorgensen, William L.

    2011-01-01

    A combined computational and experimental kinetic study on the Henry reaction is reported. The effects of salvation on the transition structures and the rates of reaction between nitromethane and formaldehyde, and between nitropropane and benzaldehyde are elucidated with QM/MM calculations. PMID:22168236

  7. 76 FR 53451 - 2-(Hydroxymethyl)-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol (Tris Nitro); Amendments To Terminate Uses for Certain...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-26

    .../ polymer emulsions; Specialty industrial products. 464-658 Tris Nitro \\TM\\ Brand of The Dow Chemical... emulsions; Specialty nitromethane. industrial products. 464-663 Tris Nitro\\TM\\ Brand of The Dow Chemical Company Use in paints, emulsions and 50% Aqueous Tris thickener solutions; Use in (hydroxymethyl...

  8. Structural deformation of nitro group of nitromethane molecule in liquid phase in an intense femtosecond laser field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Chang; Wu, Hong-lin; Song, Yun-fei; Yang, Yan-qiang

    2017-08-01

    Not Available Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21673211 and 21203047), the Foundation of Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, China (Grant No. XZR2014-16), and the Science Challenging Program of China (Grant No. JCKY2016212A501).

  9. Molecular Basis for the Toxicity of Schweinfurthins to Breast Cancer cells

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-05-01

    opening 1978, 1525-1528. analogous to that used on arene 13 delivered the protected (5) Mechoulam and Yagen have reported cyclization of geranylolivetol in...88% yield, but this required heating with concentrated H2SO4 in (x-hydroxyselenide 24. The deprotected target 16 could be nitromethane. Mechoulam , R

  10. 21 CFR 701.30 - Ingredient names established for cosmetic ingredient labeling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... names for the purpose of cosmetic ingredient labeling pursuant to paragraph (e) of § 701.3: Chemical... Chlorofluorocarbon 11. Trichlorofluoromethane and 0.3 pct nitromethane CCl3F+CH3NO2 Chlorofluorocarbon 11 S. Dichlorodifluoromethane CCl2F2 Chlorofluorocarbon 12. Chlorodifluoromethane CHClF2 Hydrochlorofluorocarbon 22. 1, 2...

  11. 21 CFR 701.30 - Ingredient names established for cosmetic ingredient labeling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... names for the purpose of cosmetic ingredient labeling pursuant to paragraph (e) of § 701.3: Chemical... Chlorofluorocarbon 11. Trichlorofluoromethane and 0.3 pct nitromethane CCl3F+CH3NO2 Chlorofluorocarbon 11 S. Dichlorodifluoromethane CCl2F2 Chlorofluorocarbon 12. Chlorodifluoromethane CHClF2 Hydrochlorofluorocarbon 22. 1, 2...

  12. 21 CFR 701.30 - Ingredient names established for cosmetic ingredient labeling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... names for the purpose of cosmetic ingredient labeling pursuant to paragraph (e) of § 701.3: Chemical... Chlorofluorocarbon 11. Trichlorofluoromethane and 0.3 pct nitromethane CCl3F+CH3NO2 Chlorofluorocarbon 11 S. Dichlorodifluoromethane CCl2F2 Chlorofluorocarbon 12. Chlorodifluoromethane CHClF2 Hydrochlorofluorocarbon 22. 1, 2...

  13. 21 CFR 701.30 - Ingredient names established for cosmetic ingredient labeling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... names for the purpose of cosmetic ingredient labeling pursuant to paragraph (e) of § 701.3: Chemical... Chlorofluorocarbon 11. Trichlorofluoromethane and 0.3 pct nitromethane CCl3F+CH3NO2 Chlorofluorocarbon 11 S. Dichlorodifluoromethane CCl2F2 Chlorofluorocarbon 12. Chlorodifluoromethane CHClF2 Hydrochlorofluorocarbon 22. 1, 2...

  14. 21 CFR 701.30 - Ingredient names established for cosmetic ingredient labeling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... names for the purpose of cosmetic ingredient labeling pursuant to paragraph (e) of § 701.3: Chemical... Chlorofluorocarbon 11. Trichlorofluoromethane and 0.3 pct nitromethane CCl3F+CH3NO2 Chlorofluorocarbon 11 S. Dichlorodifluoromethane CCl2F2 Chlorofluorocarbon 12. Chlorodifluoromethane CHClF2 Hydrochlorofluorocarbon 22. 1, 2...

  15. Thermodynamic and Optical Response of Multiply Shocked Liquid Nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Flanders, B. M.; Winey, J. M.; Gupta, Y. M.

    2015-06-01

    To investigate the thermodynamic and optical response of multiply shocked liquids, particle velocity profiles were measured for liquid nitromethane (NM) subjected to stepwise loading to a peak pressure of 10 GPa. Using a multi-point velocity interferometer (VISAR), wave profiles were obtained at both the front and rear interfaces of the thin (200 μm) liquid sample to obtain data regarding the thermodynamic response and the refractive index at the intermediate stepwise loading states, in addition to the peak state. Changes in the apparent velocity at the front sample interface were well accounted for by using a Gladstone-Dale relationship to describe the NM index of refraction. The thermodynamic states of multiply shocked NM were examined by comparing the measured wave profiles to those calculated using a published NM equation of state. Although the calculated and measured particle velocity states are in good overall agreement, comparison of the calculated shock wave reverberation times at the front and rear sample interfaces with the measured values suggests that the published NM equation of state can be improved. Work supported by DOE/NNSA.

  16. Potential and kinetic energetic analysis of phonon modes in varied molecular solids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kraczek, Brent

    2015-03-01

    We calculate partitioned kinetic and potential energies of the phonon modes in molecular solids to illuminate the dynamical behavior of the constituent molecules. This enables analysis of the relationship between the characteristics of sets of phonon modes, molecular structure and chemical reactivity by partitioning the kinetic energy into the translational, rotational and vibrational motions of groups of atoms (including molecules), and the potential energy into the energy contained within interatomic interactions. We consider three solids of differing size and rigidity: naphthalene (C1 0 H6), nitromethane (CH3NO2)andα-HMX(C4H8N8O8). Naphthalene and nitromethane mostly act in the semi-rigid manner often expected in molecular solids. HMX exhibits behavior that is significantly less-rigid. While there are definite correlations between the kinetic and potential energetic analyses, there are also differences, particularly in the excitation of chemical bonds by low-frequency lattice modes. This suggests that in many cases computational and experimental methods dependent on atomic displacements may not identify phonon modes active in chemical reactivity.

  17. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Shock Wave Propagation across the Nitromethane Crystal-Melt Interface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Shan; Sewell, Thomas D.; Thompson, Donald L.

    2015-06-01

    We are interested in understanding the fundamental processes that occur during propagation of shock waves across the crystal-melt interface in molecular substances. We have carried out molecular dynamics simulations of shock passage from the nitromethane (100)-oriented crystal into the melt and vice versa using the fully flexible, non-reactive Sorescu, Rice, and Thompson force field. A stable interface was established for a temperature near the melting point by using a combination of isobaric-isothermal (NPT) and isochoric-isothermal (NVT) simulations. The equilibrium bulk and interfacial regions were characterized using spatial-temporal distributions of molecular number density, kinetic and potential energy, and C-N bond orientations. Those same properties were calculated as functions of time during shock propagation. As expected, the local temperatures (intermolecular, intramolecular, and total) and stress states differed significantly between the liquid and crystal regions and depending on the direction of shock propagation. Substantial differences in the spatial distribution of shock-induced defect structures in the crystalline region were observed depending on the direction of shock propagation. Research supported by the U.S. Army Research Office.

  18. Towards validated chemistry at extreme conditions: reactive MD simulations of shocked Polyvinyl Nitrate and Nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Islam, Md Mahbubul; Strachan, Alejandro

    A detailed atomistic-level understanding of the ultrafast chemistry of detonation processes of high energy materials is crucial to understand their performance and safety. Recent advances in laser shocks and ultra-fast spectroscopy is yielding the first direct experimental evidence of chemistry at extreme conditions. At the same time, reactive molecular dynamics (MD) in current high-performance computing platforms enable an atomic description of shock-induced chemistry with length and timescales approaching those of experiments. We use MD simulations with the reactive force field ReaxFF to investigate the shock-induced chemical decomposition mechanisms of polyvinyl nitrate (PVN) and nitromethane (NM). The effect of shock pressure on chemical reaction mechanisms and kinetics of both the materials are investigated. For direct comparison of our simulation results with experimentally derived IR absorption data, we performed spectral analysis using atomistic velocity at various shock conditions. The combination of reactive MD simulations and ultrafast spectroscopy enables both the validation of ReaxFF at extreme conditions and contributes to the interpretation of the experimental data relating changes in spectral features to atomic processes. Office of Naval Research MURI program.

  19. Density-dependent liquid nitromethane decomposition: molecular dynamics simulations based on ReaxFF.

    PubMed

    Rom, Naomi; Zybin, Sergey V; van Duin, Adri C T; Goddard, William A; Zeiri, Yehuda; Katz, Gil; Kosloff, Ronnie

    2011-09-15

    The decomposition mechanism of hot liquid nitromethane at various compressions was studied using reactive force field (ReaxFF) molecular dynamics simulations. A competition between two different initial thermal decomposition schemes is observed, depending on compression. At low densities, unimolecular C-N bond cleavage is the dominant route, producing CH(3) and NO(2) fragments. As density and pressure rise approaching the Chapman-Jouget detonation conditions (∼30% compression, >2500 K) the dominant mechanism switches to the formation of the CH(3)NO fragment via H-transfer and/or N-O bond rupture. The change in the decomposition mechanism of hot liquid NM leads to a different kinetic and energetic behavior, as well as products distribution. The calculated density dependence of the enthalpy change correlates with the change in initial decomposition reaction mechanism. It can be used as a convenient and useful global parameter for the detection of reaction dynamics. Atomic averaged local diffusion coefficients are shown to be sensitive to the reactions dynamics, and can be used to distinguish between time periods where chemical reactions occur and diffusion-dominated, nonreactive time periods. © 2011 American Chemical Society

  20. Normal Mode Analysis on the Relaxation of AN Excited Nitromethane Molecule in Argon Bath

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rivera-Rivera, Luis A.; Wagner, Albert F.

    2017-06-01

    In our previous work [Rivera-Rivera et al. J. Chem. Phys. 142, 014303 (2015).] classical molecular dynamics simulations followed, in an Ar bath, the relaxation of nitromethane (CH_3NO_2) instantaneously excited by statistically distributing 50 kcal/mol among all its internal degrees of freedom. The 300 K Ar bath was at pressures of 10 to 400 atm. Both rotational and vibrational energies exhibited multi-exponential decay. This study explores mode-specific mechanisms at work in the decay process. With the separation of rotation and vibration developed by Rhee and Kim [J. Chem. Phys. 107, 1394 (1997).], one can show that the vibrational kinetic energy decomposes only into vibrational normal modes while the rotational and Coriolis energies decompose into both vibrational and rotational normal modes. Then the saved CH_3NO_2 positions and momenta can be converted into mode-specific energies whose decay over 1000 ps can be monitored. The results identify vibrational and rotational modes that promote/resist energy lost and drive multi-exponential behavior. In addition to mode-specificity, the results show disruption of IVR with increasing pressure.

  1. Assignment and Analysis of the NO2 In-Plane Rock Band of Nitromethane Recorded by High-Resolution FTIR Synchrotron Spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dawadi, Mahesh B.; Perry, David S.; Twagirayezu, Sylvestre; Billinghurst, Brant E.

    2014-06-01

    The high-resolution rotationally resolved Fourier Transform Far-infrared spectrum of the NO2 in plane-rock band (440-510 cm-1) of nitromethane (CH3NO2) has been recorded using the Far-Infrared Beamline at the Canadian Light Source, with a resolution of 0.00096 cm-1. More than 1500 transitions lines have been assigned for ' = 0; {_a}' {≤ 7}; ' {≤ 50}; using an automated ground state combination difference program together with the traditional Loomis Wood approach. Transitions involving ' = 0; {_a}' {≤7}; ' {≤ 20}; in the upper vibrational state are fit using the six-fold torsion-rotation program developed by Ilyushin et.al. The torsion-rotation energy pattern in the lowest torsional state ( ' = 0) of the upper vibrational state is similar to that of the vibrational ground state. C. F. Neese., An Interactive Loomis-Wood Package, V2.0, {56th},OSU Interanational Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy (2001). V. V. Ilyushin, Z. Kisiel, L. Pszczolkowski, H. Mader, and J. T. Hougen, M. Mol. Spectrosc., 259, 26, (2010).

  2. Pressure effects on the relaxation of an excited nitromethane molecule in an argon bath

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rivera-Rivera, Luis A.; Wagner, Albert F.; Sewell, Thomas D.; Thompson, Donald L.

    2015-01-01

    Classical molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the relaxation of nitromethane in an Ar bath (of 1000 atoms) at 300 K and pressures 10, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 300, and 400 atm. The molecule was instantaneously excited by statistically distributing 50 kcal/mol among the internal degrees of freedom. At each pressure, 1000 trajectories were integrated for 1000 ps, except for 10 atm, for which the integration time was 5000 ps. The computed ensemble-averaged rotational energy decay is ˜100 times faster than the vibrational energy decay. Both rotational and vibrational decay curves can be satisfactorily fit with the Lendvay-Schatz function, which involves two parameters: one for the initial rate and one for the curvature of the decay curve. The decay curves for all pressures exhibit positive curvature implying the rate slows as the molecule loses energy. The initial rotational relaxation rate is directly proportional to density over the interval of simulated densities, but the initial vibrational relaxation rate decreases with increasing density relative to the extrapolation of the limiting low-pressure proportionality to density. The initial vibrational relaxation rate and curvature are fit as functions of density. For the initial vibrational relaxation rate, the functional form of the fit arises from a combinatorial model for the frequency of nitromethane "simultaneously" colliding with multiple Ar atoms. Roll-off of the initial rate from its low-density extrapolation occurs because the cross section for collision events with L Ar atoms increases with L more slowly than L times the cross section for collision events with one Ar atom. The resulting density-dependent functions of the initial rate and curvature represent, reasonably well, all the vibrational decay curves except at the lowest density for which the functions overestimate the rate of decay. The decay over all gas phase densities is predicted by extrapolating the fits to condensed-phase densities.

  3. Pressure effects on the relaxation of an excited nitromethane molecule in an argon bath

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rivera-Rivera, Luis A.; Wagner, Albert F.; Sewell, Thomas D.

    2015-01-07

    Classical molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the relaxation of nitromethane in an Ar bath (of 1000 atoms) at 300 K and pressures 10, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 300, and 400 atm. The molecule was instantaneously excited by statistically distributing 50 kcal/mol among the internal degrees of freedom. At each pressure, 1000 trajectories were integrated for 1000 ps, except for 10 atm, for which the integration time was 5000 ps. The computed ensemble-averaged rotational energy decay is similar to 100 times faster than the vibrational energy decay. Both rotational and vibrational decay curves can be satisfactorily fit withmore » the Lendvay-Schatz function, which involves two parameters: one for the initial rate and one for the curvature of the decay curve. The decay curves for all pressures exhibit positive curvature implying the rate slows as the molecule loses energy. The initial rotational relaxation rate is directly proportional to density over the interval of simulated densities, but the initial vibrational relaxation rate decreases with increasing density relative to the extrapolation of the limiting low-pressure proportionality to density. The initial vibrational relaxation rate and curvature are fit as functions of density. For the initial vibrational relaxation rate, the functional form of the fit arises from a combinatorial model for the frequency of nitromethane "simultaneously" colliding with multiple Ar atoms. Roll-off of the initial rate from its low-density extrapolation occurs because the cross section for collision events with L Ar atoms increases with L more slowly than L times the cross section for collision events with one Ar atom. The resulting density-dependent functions of the initial rate and curvature represent, reasonably well, all the vibrational decay curves except at the lowest density for which the functions overestimate the rate of decay. The decay over all gas phase densities is predicted by extrapolating the fits to condensed-phase densities. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.« less

  4. Conductance of solutions of lithium tris(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) methide in water, acetonitrile, propylene carbonate, N,N-dimethylformamide, and nitromethane at 25 C

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Croce, F.; D`Aprano, A.; Nanjundiah, C.

    1996-01-01

    In order to determine the solution properties of lithium tris(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) methide (LiMe) in water and the aprotic solvents acetonitrile (AN), propylene carbonate (PC), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and nitromethane (MeNO{sub 2}), conductance measurements have been carried out at 25 C. Molar conductivities at infinite dilution ({Lambda}{degree}) and ion pair association constants (K{sub a}) were obtained analyzing the experimental data with the Fuoss-Hsia conductance equation using the expansion of Fernandez-Prini and Justice with and without inclusion of the Chen effect. The results show that according to the ability of the solvents to solvate lithium ion, ion-pair formation is small or nonexistent in solventsmore » with high donor number (water, PC, DMF, and AN) but fairly moderate in nitromethane. Single-ion molar conductivities at infinite dilution for ClO{sub 4}{sup {minus}}, AsF{sub 6}{sup {minus}}, PF{sub 6}{sup {minus}} CF{sub 3}SO{sub 3}{sup {minus}}, N(CF{sub 3}SO{sub 2}){sub 2}{sup {minus}}, and C(CF{sub 3}SO{sub 2}){sub 3}{sup {minus}} anions, obtained by combining these results with literature data, decrease as expected as the ionic radius increases, and with one exception are always greater than that of the lithium ion. This general trend does not, however, apply in water where the limiting ionic conductance of the lithium cation is greater than that of the methide anion. This anomalous behavior is attributed to significant solvation of the methide ion in water. Voltammetric measurements indicate high electrochemical stability of methide anion. Such anodic stability and the increase in the transference number of lithium ion in LiMe solutions strongly support the use of this electrolyte in high energy, high voltage lithium batteries.« less

  5. Pressure effects on the relaxation of an excited nitromethane molecule in an argon bath.

    PubMed

    Rivera-Rivera, Luis A; Wagner, Albert F; Sewell, Thomas D; Thompson, Donald L

    2015-01-07

    Classical molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the relaxation of nitromethane in an Ar bath (of 1000 atoms) at 300 K and pressures 10, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 300, and 400 atm. The molecule was instantaneously excited by statistically distributing 50 kcal/mol among the internal degrees of freedom. At each pressure, 1000 trajectories were integrated for 1000 ps, except for 10 atm, for which the integration time was 5000 ps. The computed ensemble-averaged rotational energy decay is ∼100 times faster than the vibrational energy decay. Both rotational and vibrational decay curves can be satisfactorily fit with the Lendvay-Schatz function, which involves two parameters: one for the initial rate and one for the curvature of the decay curve. The decay curves for all pressures exhibit positive curvature implying the rate slows as the molecule loses energy. The initial rotational relaxation rate is directly proportional to density over the interval of simulated densities, but the initial vibrational relaxation rate decreases with increasing density relative to the extrapolation of the limiting low-pressure proportionality to density. The initial vibrational relaxation rate and curvature are fit as functions of density. For the initial vibrational relaxation rate, the functional form of the fit arises from a combinatorial model for the frequency of nitromethane "simultaneously" colliding with multiple Ar atoms. Roll-off of the initial rate from its low-density extrapolation occurs because the cross section for collision events with L Ar atoms increases with L more slowly than L times the cross section for collision events with one Ar atom. The resulting density-dependent functions of the initial rate and curvature represent, reasonably well, all the vibrational decay curves except at the lowest density for which the functions overestimate the rate of decay. The decay over all gas phase densities is predicted by extrapolating the fits to condensed-phase densities.

  6. Pressure effects on the relaxation of an excited nitromethane molecule in an argon bath

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rivera-Rivera, Luis A.; Sewell, Thomas D.; Thompson, Donald L.

    2015-01-07

    Classical molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the relaxation of nitromethane in an Ar bath (of 1000 atoms) at 300 K and pressures 10, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 300, and 400 atm. The molecule was instantaneously excited by statistically distributing 50 kcal/mol among the internal degrees of freedom. At each pressure, 1000 trajectories were integrated for 1000 ps, except for 10 atm, for which the integration time was 5000 ps. The computed ensemble-averaged rotational energy decay is ∼100 times faster than the vibrational energy decay. Both rotational and vibrational decay curves can be satisfactorily fit with the Lendvay-Schatzmore » function, which involves two parameters: one for the initial rate and one for the curvature of the decay curve. The decay curves for all pressures exhibit positive curvature implying the rate slows as the molecule loses energy. The initial rotational relaxation rate is directly proportional to density over the interval of simulated densities, but the initial vibrational relaxation rate decreases with increasing density relative to the extrapolation of the limiting low-pressure proportionality to density. The initial vibrational relaxation rate and curvature are fit as functions of density. For the initial vibrational relaxation rate, the functional form of the fit arises from a combinatorial model for the frequency of nitromethane “simultaneously” colliding with multiple Ar atoms. Roll-off of the initial rate from its low-density extrapolation occurs because the cross section for collision events with L Ar atoms increases with L more slowly than L times the cross section for collision events with one Ar atom. The resulting density-dependent functions of the initial rate and curvature represent, reasonably well, all the vibrational decay curves except at the lowest density for which the functions overestimate the rate of decay. The decay over all gas phase densities is predicted by extrapolating the fits to condensed-phase densities.« less

  7. Molecular Simulations of Shear-Induced Dynamics in Nitromethane

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-09-01

    initially staggered along the y axis, and then after the crystal is sheared b), the NM molecules are rotated to orient themselves in the same... rotation of the grain. ...............................................................................8 List of Tables Table 1 Summary of the maximum...it an ideal candidate to study chemical reaction mechanisms associated with conventional explosive initiation and subsequent detonation .3,6,7

  8. INORGANIC AND ORGANIC ONIUM SALTS

    DTIC Science & Technology

    The nitrosonium NO ion absorbs in the infrared between 1/2400 and 1/ 2150 cm. Salts of complex fluoro-acids absorb at higher frequencies than salts...halide adducts generally contain nitrosonium ions . Hexaphenylditin does not undergo marked heterolytic dissociation in nitromethane solution...influencing the covalent-ionic equilibrium are discussed. Infrared spectrum nitrosonium ion ; ionic character in lattice and position nitrosonium ion absorption

  9. Roaming Reactions and Roaming-Mediated Isomerization in the Decomposition of Energetic Materials

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-12-02

    not   permit   effective   competition   between   isomerization  and  SBF  as  had  been  seen   for  nitromethane   in...vinylidene   is   formed   with   only   modest  rotational  excitation,  precluding   Coriolis -­‐induced  mixing  among  the

  10. Nanoscience for Insensitive Munitions Development (Briefing Charts)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-12-03

    reactive material Ni/Al Hypervelocity collisions of ND Melting of nitromethane Shocked energetic materials Self-sustained detonation of model explosive ...deformation by compressing, stretching or twisting the bond. First Observed by Bridgeman as Explosion of Common Substances Subjected to Pressure and Shear...in Energetic Materials as New Means for Designing Nonconventional High Explosives : An analysis of Soviet Research, Tech Report 1991. A. M

  11. Temperature dependent of IVR investigated by steady-state and time-frequency resolved CARS for liquid nitrobenzene and nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Yanqiang; Zhu, Gangbei; Yan, Lin; Liu, Xiaosong; Yang's Ultrafast Spectroscopy Group Team

    2017-06-01

    Intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) is important process in thermal decomposition, shock chemistry and photochemistry. Anti-Stokes Raman scattering is sensitive to the vibrational population in excited states because only vibrational excited states are responsible to the anti-Stokes Raman scattering, does not vibrational ground states. In this report, steady-state anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy and broad band ultrafast coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) are performed. The steady-state anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy shows temperature dependent of vibrational energy redistribution in vibrational excited-state molecule, and reveal that, in liquid nitrobenzene, with temperature increasing, vibrational energy is mainly redistributed in NO2 symmetric stretching mode, and phenyl ring stretching mode of νCC. For liquid nitromethane, it is found that, with temperature increasing, vibrational energy concentrate in CN stretching mode and methyl umbrella vibrational mode. In the broad band ultrafast CARS experiment, multiple vibrational modes are coherently excited to vibrational excited states, and the time-frequency resolved CARS spectra show the coincident IVR processes. This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Numbers 21673211 and 11372053), and the Science Challenging Program (Grant Number JCKY2016212A501).

  12. Self-enhanced catalytic activities of functionalized graphene sheets in the combustion of nitromethane: molecular dynamic simulations by molecular reactive force field.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Chaoyang; Wen, Yushi; Xue, Xianggui

    2014-08-13

    Functionalized graphene sheet (FGS) is a promising additive that enhances fuel/propellant combustion, and the determination of its mechanism has attracted much interest. In the present study, a series of molecular dynamic simulations based on a reactive force field (ReaxFF) are performed to explore the catalytic activity (CA) of FGS in the thermal decay of nitromethane (NM, CH3NO2). FGSs and pristine graphene sheets (GSs) are oxidized in hot NM liquid to increase their functionalities and subsequently show self-enhanced CAs during the decay. The CAs result from the interatomic exchanges between the functional groups on the sheets and the NM liquid, i.e., mainly between H and O atoms. CA is dependent on the density of NM, functionalities of sheets, and temperature. The GSs and FGSs that originally exhibit different functionalities tend to possess similar functionalities and consequently similar CAs as temperature increases. Other carbon materials and their oxides can accelerate combustion of other fuels/propellants similar to NM, provided that they can be dispersed and their key reaction steps in combustion are similar to NM.

  13. Stereodynamics of the photodissociation of nitromethane at 193 nm: unravelling the dissociation mechanism.

    PubMed

    Rodríguez, J D; González, M G; Rubio-Lago, L; Bañares, L; Samartzis, P C; Kitsopoulos, T N

    2013-08-29

    The photodissociation of nitromethane at 193 nm is reviewed in terms of new stereodynamical information provided by the measurement of the first four Dixon's bipolar moments, β0(2)(20), β0(0)(22), β0(2)(02), and β0(2)(22), using slice imaging. The measured speed-dependent β0(2)(20) (directly related with the spatial anisotropy parameter β) indicates that after one-photon absorption to the S3(2 (1)A″) state by an allowed perpendicular transition, two reaction pathways can compete with similar probability, a direct dissociation process yielding ground-state CH3 and NO2(1 (2)A2) radicals and a indirect dissociation through conical intersections in which NO2 radicals are formed in lower-lying electronic states. A particularly important result from our measurements is that the low recoil energy part of the methyl fragment translational energy distribution presents a contribution with parallel character, irrespective of the experimental conditions employed, that we attribute to parent cluster dissociation. Moreover, the positive values found for the β0(0)(22) bipolar moment indicates some propensity for the fragment's recoil velocity and angular momentum vectors to be parallel.

  14. (1H-pyrazole-κN2)(2,2':6',2''-terpyridine-κ3N,N',N'')platinum(II) bis(perchlorate) nitromethane monosolvate.

    PubMed

    Akerman, Matthew; Akerman, Kate; Jaganyi, Deogratius; Reddy, Desigan

    2011-09-01

    The reaction between [PtCl(terpy)]·2H(2)O (terpy is 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine) and pyrazole in the presence of two equivalents of AgClO(4) in nitromethane yields the title compound, [Pt(C(3)H(4)N(2))(C(15)H(11)N(3))](ClO(4))(2)·CH(3)NO(2), as a yellow crystalline solid. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the dicationic platinum(II) chelate is square planar with the terpyridine ligand occupying three sites and the pyrazole ligand occupying the fourth. The torsion angle subtended by the pyrazole ring relative to the terpyridine chelate is 62.4 (6)°. Density functional theory calculations at the LANL2DZ/PBE1PBE level of theory show that in vacuo the lowest-energy conformation has the pyrazole ligand in an orientation perpendicular to the terpyridine ligand (i.e. 90°). Seemingly, the stability gained by the formation of hydrogen bonds between the pyrazole NH group and the perchlorate anion in the solid-state structure is sufficient for the chelate to adopt a higher-energy conformation.

  15. Detonation properties of the nitromethane/ diethylenetriamine solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mochalova, Valentina; Utkin, Alexander; Lapin, Sergey

    2015-06-01

    The results of the experimental determination of detonation parameters for the mixture of nitromethane (NM) with diethylenetriamine (DETA) are presented in this work. By the using of a laser interferometer VISAR the stability of detonation waves, detonation velocity and the reaction time with the change of the DETA concentration from 0 to 60 weight percentages were investigated. It is shown that detonation waves are stable up to 25% DETA, and the character reaction time is reduced from 50 ns up to 30 ns with the addition of a few percentages of the sensitizer and then remains almost the constant. With further increase of the DETA concentration the detonation front becomes unstable, and it results in an arising of pulsations with amplitude of 10 microns. The limit concentration of DETA, above which the detonation of the mixture was impossible, was determined. This concentration was equal to 60%. It is shown that the dependence of the detonation velocity on the DETA concentration is non-monotonic. In particular, the increase of detonation velocity in the vicinity of small concentrations of the sensitizer, about 0.1%, was recorded. The work was supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project 15-03-07830).

  16. Influence of hot spot features on the shock initiation of heterogenous nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dattelbaum, Dana; Sheffield, Stephen; Stahl, David; Dattelbaum, Andrew

    2009-06-01

    The shock initiation sensitivity of heterogeneous explosives is known to be strongly related to the confluence of ``hot spots'' or localized regions of high pressure and temperature. Physical origins of hot spots within a material include dynamic pore collapse, friction from motion along closed cracks, and wave reflections from other in situ interfaces. A complex interplay among numerous physical and chemical factors, spanning several length scales, determines whether or not a hot spot will quench or lead to initiation. To further elucidate key features of hot spots on energetic materials sensitivity and initiation mechanisms, we have intentionally introduced well-defined particles into the homogeneous liquid explosive nitromethane which has been gelled so the particles are somewhat stationary. Gas-gun driven shock initiation experiments using embedded electromagnetic gauging methods have been performed on these materials, revealing new insights into the role of heterogeneities on the sensitivity of the explosives through shock input-to-run distance relationships (Pop-plots), and reactive chemistry growth in and behind the incident shock front. By logically mapping out these relationships, the data provide a scientific foundation for the development of predictive capabilities for modeling new formulations, and designing next-generation energetic materials.

  17. First example of a heterobimetallic 'Pd-Sn' catalyst for direct activation of alcohol: efficient allylation, benzylation and propargylation of arenes, heteroarenes, active methylenes and allyl-Si nucleophiles.

    PubMed

    Das, Debjit; Pratihar, Sanjay; Roy, Ujjal Kanti; Mal, Dipakranjan; Roy, Sujit

    2012-06-21

    Arenes, heteroarenes, 1,3-dicarbonyls and organosilicon nucleophiles undergo highly efficient alkylation with allylic, propargylic and benzylic alcohols in the presence of a new 'Pd-Sn' bimetallic catalyst in nitromethane; water being the sole byproduct. The plausible mechanism of alkylation and the intermediacy of ether has been enumerated.

  18. Asymmetric Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation γ to a Carbonyl Group: Phosphine-Catalyzed Addition of Nitromethane to Allenes

    PubMed Central

    Smith, Sean W.; Fu, Gregory C.

    2009-01-01

    A chiral phosphine catalyzes the addition of a carbon nucleophile to the γ position of an electron-poor allene (amide-, ester-, or phosphonate-substituted), in preference to isomerization to a 1,3-diene, in good ee and yield. This strategy provides an attractive method for the catalytic asymmetric γ functionalization of carbonyl (and related) compounds. PMID:19772285

  19. Ignition Behavior of alpha-AlH3

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-01-01

    nitromethane (Weiser et al., 2007) and Ammonium Perchlorate= HTPB propellants (Deluca et al., 2007) compared to similarly aluminized versions may...aluminum burning times. Combustion, Explosives , and Shockwaves, 41, 533–546. Benson, S.W. 1976. Thermochemical Kinetics, 2nd ed., Wiley Interscience, New...flat-flame burner. 16th International Colloquium on the Dynamic Explosions and Reactive Systems, Krakow, Poland. Brzustowski, T.A., and Glassman, I. 1964

  20. Separation of the isotopes of boron by chemical exchange reactions

    DOEpatents

    McCandless, Frank P.; Herbst, Ronald S.

    1995-01-01

    The isotopes of boron, .sup.10 B and .sup.11 B, are separated by means of a gas-liquid chemical exchange reaction involving the isotopic equilibrium between gaseous BF.sub.3 and a liquid BF.sub.3 . donor molecular addition complex formed between BF.sub.3 gas and a donor chosen from the group consisting of: nitromethane, acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, or diisobutyl ketone.

  1. Reactions of Free Radicals with Nitro-Compounds and Nitrates

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1981-03-31

    PAGE(I/hmm a•Ia ntatemd the fragment derived from the nitrates but not from the nitro-compounds could undergo exothermic rearrangement. Product analyses...compounds could undergo exothermic rearrangement. Product analyses and computer modelling were undertaken, these provided a clear explanation of why the...Nitrate 14 Reaction of Oxygen Atoms with Nitromethane 16 Reaction of Oxygen Atoms with Nitroethane 17 Products from Nitrocompounds 18 Effect of Carbon

  2. Short Term Innovative Research Program: Nanoengineered Reactive Materials for Tunable Ignition and Energy Release

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-01-01

    Background Most conventional explosives can be roughly categorized into two classes – molecular materials and intermolecular composites. Molecular...materials refer to species such as the nitroalkanes (e.g. nitromethane ) and cyclic nitramines (e.g. TNAZ, RDX, HMX) that release chemical energy...alternative to conventional explosives that has been gaining increasing interest have been termed reactive materials, and are defined as systems in

  3. On Predicting the Crystal Structure of Energetic Materials From Quantum Mechanics

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-12-01

    DE ABSTRACT A quantum-mechanically-based potential energy function that describes interactions of dimers of the explosive ...method is capable of producing force fields for interactions of the molecular crystalline explosive RDX, and appears to be suitable to enable reliable...Ridge, TN. Byrd, E.F.C., Scuseria, G.E., Chabalowski, C.F., 2004: “An ab initio study of solid nitromethane , HMX, RDX and CL20: Successes and

  4. Air Blast Calculations

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-07-01

    composition C-4 (C4), a polymer-bonded explosive (PBXN-109), and nitromethane (NM). Each charge diameter (CD) is assumed to be 17.46 cm (equivalent to a 10-lb... explosive detonates, the rapid expansion of reaction gases generates a shock wave that propagates into the surrounding medium. The pressure history at a...spherical explosive charge suspended in air. A comparison of the results obtained using CTH are made to ones generated using the Friedlander

  5. Separation of the isotopes of boron by chemical exchange reactions

    DOEpatents

    McCandless, F.P.; Herbst, R.S.

    1995-05-30

    The isotopes of boron, {sup 10}B and {sup 11}B, are separated by means of a gas-liquid chemical exchange reaction involving the isotopic equilibrium between gaseous BF{sub 3} and a liquid BF{sub 3} donor molecular addition complex formed between BF{sub 3} gas and a donor chosen from the group consisting of: nitromethane, acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, or diisobutyl ketone. 1 Fig.

  6. Large unexplained suite of chemically reactive compounds present in ambient air due to biomass fires.

    PubMed

    Kumar, V; Chandra, B P; Sinha, V

    2018-01-12

    Biomass fires impact global atmospheric chemistry. The reactive compounds emitted and formed due to biomass fires drive ozone and organic aerosol formation, affecting both air quality and climate. Direct hydroxyl (OH) Reactivity measurements quantify total gaseous reactive pollutant loadings and comparison with measured compounds yields the fraction of unmeasured compounds. Here, we quantified the magnitude and composition of total OH reactivity in the north-west Indo-Gangetic Plain. More than 120% increase occurred in total OH reactivity (28 s -1 to 64 s -1 ) and from no missing OH reactivity in the normal summertime air, the missing OH reactivity fraction increased to ~40 % in the post-harvest summertime period influenced by large scale biomass fires highlighting presence of unmeasured compounds. Increased missing OH reactivity between the two summertime periods was associated with increased concentrations of compounds with strong photochemical source such as acetaldehyde, acetone, hydroxyacetone, nitromethane, amides, isocyanic acid and primary emissions of acetonitrile and aromatic compounds. Currently even the most detailed state-of-the art atmospheric chemistry models exclude formamide, acetamide, nitromethane and isocyanic acid and their highly reactive precursor alkylamines (e.g. methylamine, ethylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine). For improved understanding of atmospheric chemistry-air quality-climate feedbacks in biomass-fire impacted atmospheric environments, future studies should include these compounds.

  7. Structural Rearrangement of Energetic Materials under an External Electric Field: A Case Study of Nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yingzhe; Ma, Yiding; Yu, Tao; Lai, Weipeng; Guo, Wangjun; Ge, Zhongxue; Ma, Zhinan

    2018-03-01

    As a significant stimulus, the external electric field (EEF) can change the decomposition mechanism and energy release of energetic materials (EMs). Hence, understanding the response of EMs to an EEF is greatly meaningful for their safe usage. Herein, the structural arrangement, a crucial factor in the impact sensitivity and detonation performance of EMs, under the EEF ranging from 0.0 to 0.5 V/Å was investigated via molecular dynamics simulation. Nitromethane (NM) was taken as a case study due to the simple structure. The simulation results show that there exists a critical EEF strength between 0.2 and 0.3 V/Å, which can induce the transition of NM molecules from relatively disordered distribution to solidlike ordered and compacted arrangement with a large density. In this ordered structure, NM dipoles are aligned in a head-to-tail pattern parallel to the EEF direction because of the favored dipole-dipole interactions and weak C-H···O hydrogen bonds. As the EEF strength is enhanced, the potential energy and cohesive energy density of the NM system gradually decrease and increase, respectively, indicative of high thermodynamics stability of ordered arrangement. The results reported here also shed light on the potential of the EEF to induce the nucleation and crystallization to explore new polymorphs of EMs.

  8. High Resolution Direct Frequency Comb Spectroscopy of Vinyl Bromide (C_2H_3Br) and Nitromethane (CH_3NO_2) in the CH Stretch Region

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Changala, Bryan; Spaun, Ben; Patterson, David; Ye, Jun

    2016-06-01

    We present high resolution rovibrational spectra of buffer gas cooled vinyl bromide (C_2H_3Br) and nitromethane (CH_3NO_2) in the 3 μm CH stretch region, acquired via cavity-enhanced direct frequency comb absorption spectroscopy. The ˜10 K translational and rotational temperatures of the molecular gas, as well as the narrow linewidth of the frequency comb, yield well resolved rotational structure, isotope shifts, and nuclear hyperfine splittings. Given the wide bandwidth of the light source and the long path length of the enhancement cavity, we measure entire vibrational bands in a single shot with high signal-to-noise ratios. We discuss spectra of the entire fundamental CH stretch manifolds of both C_2H_3Br and CH_3NO_2, which provide contrasting examples of rovibrational structure of rigid and non-rigid systems. C_2H_3Br is a relatively normal asymmetric top, exhibiting local perturbations to its rotational structure. Conversely, CH_3NO_2 contains an essentially unhindered methyl rotor. Of particular interest are its quasi-degenerate asymmetric CH stretch modes. Here, one must consider multiple couplings between torsional, rotational, and vibrational angular momentum, leading to qualitatively new level patterns and structure.

  9. Ab initio reaction pathways for photodissociation and isomerization of nitromethane on four singlet potential energy surfaces with three roaming paths

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Isegawa, Miho; Liu, Fengyi; Maeda, Satoshi; Morokuma, Keiji

    2014-06-01

    Photodissociation pathways of nitromethane following π → π* electronic excitation are reported. The potential energy surfaces for four lowest singlet states are explored, and structures of many intermediates, dissociation limits, transition states, and minimum energy conical intersections were determined using the automated searching algorism called the global reaction route mapping strategy. Geometries are finally optimized at CASSCF(14e,11o) level and energies are computed at CAS(14o,11e)PT2 level. The calculated preferable pathways and important products qualitatively explain experimental observations. The major photodissociation product CH3 and NO2 (2B2) is formed by direct dissociation from the S1 state. Important pathways involving S1 and S0 states for production of various dissociation products CH3NO + O (1D), CH3O(X2E) + NO (X2Π), CH2NO + OH, and CH2O + HNO, as well as various isomerization pathways have been identified. Three roaming processes also have been identified: the O atom roaming in O dissociation from CH3NO2, the OH radical roaming in OH dissociation from CH2N(O)(OH), and the NO roaming in NO dissociation from CH3ONO.

  10. Ab initio reaction pathways for photodissociation and isomerization of nitromethane on four singlet potential energy surfaces with three roaming paths.

    PubMed

    Isegawa, Miho; Liu, Fengyi; Maeda, Satoshi; Morokuma, Keiji

    2014-06-28

    Photodissociation pathways of nitromethane following π → π(*) electronic excitation are reported. The potential energy surfaces for four lowest singlet states are explored, and structures of many intermediates, dissociation limits, transition states, and minimum energy conical intersections were determined using the automated searching algorism called the global reaction route mapping strategy. Geometries are finally optimized at CASSCF(14e,11o) level and energies are computed at CAS(14o,11e)PT2 level. The calculated preferable pathways and important products qualitatively explain experimental observations. The major photodissociation product CH3 and NO2 ((2)B2) is formed by direct dissociation from the S1 state. Important pathways involving S1 and S0 states for production of various dissociation products CH3NO + O ((1)D), CH3O(X(2)E) + NO (X(2)Π), CH2NO + OH, and CH2O + HNO, as well as various isomerization pathways have been identified. Three roaming processes also have been identified: the O atom roaming in O dissociation from CH3NO2, the OH radical roaming in OH dissociation from CH2N(O)(OH), and the NO roaming in NO dissociation from CH3ONO.

  11. Structural characteristics of liquid nitromethane at the nanoscale confinement in carbon nanotubes.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yingzhe; Lai, Weipeng; Yu, Tao; Ge, Zhongxue; Kang, Ying

    2014-10-01

    The stability of energetic materials confined in the carbon nanotubes can be improved at ambient pressure and room temperature, leading to potential energy storage and controlled energy release. However, the microscopic structure of confined energetic materials and the role played by the confinement size are still fragmentary. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to explore the structural characteristics of liquid nitromethane (NM), one of the simplest energetic materials, confined in a series of armchair single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) changing from (5,5) to (16,16) at ambient conditions. The simulation results show that the size-dependent ordered structures of NM with preferred orientations are formed inside the tubular cavities driven by the van der Waals attractions between NM and SWNT together with the dipole-dipole interactions of NM, giving rise to a higher local mass density than that of bulk NM. The NM dipoles prefer to align parallel along the SWNT axis in an end-to-end fashion inside all the nanotubes except the (7,7) SWNT where a unique staggered orientation of NM dipoles perpendicular to the SWNT axis is observed. As the SWNT radius increases, the structural arrangements and dipole orientations of NM become disordered as a result of the weakening of van der Waals interactions between NM and SWNT.

  12. A nitromethane-based HPLC system alternative to acetonitrile for carotenoid analysis of fruit and vegetables.

    PubMed

    Sandmann, Gerhard

    2010-01-01

    Acetonitrile-based HPLC systems are the most commonly used for carotenoid analysis from different plant tissues. Because of the acetonitrile shortage, an HPLC system for the separation of carotenoids on C(18) reversed-phase columns was developed in which an acetonitrile-alcohol-based mobile phase was replaced by nitromethane. This solvent comes closest to acetonitrile with respect to its elutrophic property. Our criterion was to obtain similar separation and retention times for a range of differently structured carotenoids. This was achieved by further increase in the lipophilicity with ethylacetate. For all the carotenoids which we tested, we found co-elution only of β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene. By addition of 1% of water, separation of this pair of carotenoids was also achieved. The final recommended mobile phase consisted of nitromethane : 2-propanol : ethyl acetate : water (79 : 10 : 10 : 1, by volume). On Nucleosil C(18) columns and related ones like Hypersil C(18), we obtained separation of carotenes, hydroxyl, epoxy and keto derivatives, which resembles the excellent separation properties of acetonitrile-based mobile phases on C(18) reversed phase columns. We successfully applied the newly developed HPLC system to the separation of carotenoids from different vegetables and fruit. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  13. Normal mode analysis on the relaxation of an excited nitromethane molecule in argon bath

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rivera-Rivera, Luis; Wagner, Albert

    In our previous work [J. Chem. Phys. 142, 014303 (2015)] classical molecular dynamics simulations followed in an Ar bath the relaxation of nitromethane (CH3NO2) instantaneously excited by statistically distributing 50 kcal/mol among all its internal degrees of freedom. The 300 K Ar bath was at pressures of 10 to 400 atm, a range spanning the breakdown of the isolated binary collision approximation. Both rotational and vibrational energies exhibit multi-exponential decay. This study explores mode-specific mechanisms at work in the decay process. With the separation of rotation and vibration developed by Rhee and Kim [J. Chem. Phys. 107, 1394 (1997)], one can show that the vibrational kinetic energy decomposes only into vibrational normal modes while the rotational and Coriolis energies decompose into both vibrational and rotational normal modes. Then the saved CH3NO2 positions and momenta can be converted into mode-specific energies whose decay over 1000 ps can be monitored. The results identify vibrational and rotational modes that promote/resist energy lost and drive multi-exponential behavior. Increasing pressure can be shown to increasingly interfere with post-collision IVR. The work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division.

  14. Atomic-Scale Theoretical Studies of Fundamental Properties and Processes in CHNO Plastic-Bonded Explosive Constituent Materials under Static and Dynamic Compression

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sewell, Thomas

    2013-06-01

    The results of recent theoretical atomic-scale studies of CHNO plastic-bonded explosive constituent materials will be presented, emphasizing the effects of static and dynamic compression on structure, vibrational spectroscopy, energy redistribution, and dynamic deformation processes. Among the chemical compounds to be discussed are pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-s-triazine (RDX), nitromethane, and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB). Specific topics to be discussed include pressure-dependent terahertz IR absorption spectra in crystalline PETN and RDX, microscopic material flow characteristics and energy localization during and after pore collapse in shocked (100)-oriented RDX, establishment of local thermodynamic temperature and the approach to thermal equilibrium in shocked (100)-oriented nitromethane, and structural changes and relaxation phenomena that occur in shocked amorphous cis-HTPB. In the case of shocked HTPB, comparisons will be made between results obtained using fully-atomic and coarse-grained (united atom) molecular dynamics force field models. Rather than attempting to discuss any given topic in extended detail, 3-4 vignettes will be presented that highlight outstanding scientific questions and the predictive methods and tools we are developing to answer them. The U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency and Office of Naval Research supported this research.

  15. Stand-off detection of explosives vapors by resonance-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Johansson, Ida; Ceco, Ema; Ehlerding, Anneli; Östmark, Henric

    2013-06-01

    This paper describes a system for stand-off vapor detection based on Resonant Raman spectroscopy, RRS. The system is a step towards a RRS LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) system, capable of detecting vapors from explosives and explosives precursors at long distances. The current system was used to detect the vapor of nitromethane and mononitrotoluene outdoors in the open air, at a stand-off distance of 11-13 meters. Also, the signal dependence upon irradiation wavelength and sample concentration was studied in controlled laboratory conditions. A tunable Optical Parametric Oscillator pumped by an Nd:YAG laser, with a pulse length of 6 ns, was operated in the UV range of interest, 210-400 nm, illuminating the sample vapor. The backscattered Raman signal was collected by a telescope and a roundto- slit optical fiber was used to transmit collected light to the spectrometer with minimum losses. A gated intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) registered the spectra. The nitromethane cross section was resonance enhanced more than a factor 30 700, when measured at 220 nm, compared to the 532 nm value. The results show that a decrease in concentration can have a positive effect on the sensitivity of the system, due to a decrease in absorption and selfabsorption in the sample.

  16. Electron induced dissociation in condensed-phase nitromethane I: desorption of ionic fragments.

    PubMed

    Bazin, Marc; Ptasińska, Sylwia; Bass, Andrew D; Sanche, Léon

    2009-03-14

    Low energy electron induced dissociation of condensed nitromethane was investigated by measuring the electron stimulated desorption of anions and cations from multilayer films of CH(3)NO(2) and CD(3)NO(2), using a recently constructed, high sensitivity time of flight mass spectrometer. The desorbed yields were measured as a function of incident electron energy in the range between 1 to 20 eV and as function of coverage on Pt and Xe substrates. In anion desorption experiments, the following ions were observed: H(-) (D(-)), O(-), OH(-) (OD(-)), CN(-), NCO(-), NO(2)(-), CHNO(2)(-) (CDNO(2)(-)), CH(2)NO(2)(-) (CD(2)NO(2)(-)). Resonant structure seen in all anion yield functions, is attributed to dissociative electron attachment (DEA), though certain anion signals [e.g., OH(-) (OD(-)) and CH(2)NO(2)(-) (CD(2)NO(2)(-))] are likely the result of reactive scattering by O(-) ions. The dominant desorbed cation signals are CD(3)(+) and NO(+), and the appearance potentials of these species were measured to be 12.2 and 11.5 eV, respectively. The present measurements provide information on how the electron-induced dissociation processes of this proto-typical explosive molecule are modulated by the condensed environment and on how initial dissociation events occurring on a particular molecule, may induce further dissociation.

  17. Ozone Promotes Chloropicrin Formation by Oxidizing Amines to Nitro Compounds.

    PubMed

    McCurry, Daniel L; Quay, Amanda N; Mitch, William A

    2016-02-02

    Chloropicrin formation has been associated with ozonation followed by chlorination, but the reaction pathway and precursors have been poorly characterized. Experiments with methylamine demonstrated that ozonation converts methylamine to nitromethane at ∼100% yield. Subsequent chlorination converts nitromethane to chloropicrin at ∼50% yield under the conditions evaluated. Similarly high yields from other primary amines were limited to those with functional groups on the β-carbon (e.g., the carboxylic acid in glycine) that facilitate carbon-carbon bond cleavage to release nitromethyl anion. Secondary amines featuring these reactive primary amines as functional groups (e.g., secondary N-methylamines) formed chloropicrin at high yields, likely by facile dealkylation to release the primary nitro compound. Chloropicrin yields from tertiary amines were low. Natural water experiments, including derivatization to transform primary and secondary amines to less reactive carbamate functional groups, indicated that primary and secondary amines were the dominant chloropicrin precursors during ozonation/chlorination. Ozonation followed by chlorination of the primary amine side chain of lysine demonstrated low yields (∼0.2%) of chloropicrin, but high yields (∼17%) of dichloronitrolysine, a halonitroalkane structural analogue to chloropicrin. However, chloropicrin yields increased and dichloronitrolysine yields decreased in the absence of hydroxyl radical scavengers, suggesting that future research should characterize the potential occurrence of such halonitroalkane analogues relative to natural radical scavenger (e.g., carbonate) concentrations.

  18. Mid-IR DIAL for high-resolution mapping of explosive precursors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mitev, V.; Babichenko, S.; Bennes, J.; Borelli, R.; Dolfi-Bouteyre, A.; Fiorani, L.; Hespel, L.; Huet, T.; Palucci, A.; Pistilli, M.; Puiu, A.; Rebane, O.; Sobolev, I.

    2013-10-01

    A DIAL instrument on a moving platform is seen as a valuable remote sensing component in a sensor network for area monitoring, targeting sites involved in unauthorised explosive manufacturing. Such instrument will perform the area mapping of the vapour concentration of key substances, known to be used as precursors in explosive fabrication, such as acetone and nitromethane. The IR spectra of acetone and nitromethane vapours have been defined from available spectroscopy databases and from laboratory measurements as showing optimal spectral band for the DIAL operation in the spectral range of 3.0 μm - 3.5 μm. The DIAL operation has been numerically simulated, with inputs based on the HITRAN database, the U.S. Standard Atmosphere and aerosol simulation software package OPAC. A combination of OPO and OPA has been chosen as a transmitter, where the idler wavelength is used for probing, with wavelength tuning in sequence. A scanner mounted on top of the coaxially aligned laser and receiver, is capable of covering almost 360 degrees horizontally and +/-30 degrees vertically. The detection is performed by a photovoltaic photodiode with 4-stage cooling, with a signal digitalisation having 14 bit amplitude resolution and 125 Ms/s sampling rate. Here we present the development and the first test of the DIAL instrument.

  19. Durable antistatic coating for polymethylmethacrylate

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hadek, V.; Somoano, R. B.; Rembaum, A. (Inventor)

    1977-01-01

    A durable antistatic coating is achieved on polymethylmethacrylate plastic without affecting its optical clarity by applying to the surface of the plastic a low molecular weight solvent having a high electron affinity and a high dipole moment, such as acentonitrile or nitromethane alone or in the presence of photopolymerizable monomer. The treated polymethylmethacrylate plastic dissipates most of the induced electrostatic charge and retains its optical clarity. The antistatic behavior persists after washing, rubbing and vacuum treatment.

  20. Diagnostic Imaging of Detonation Waves for Waveshaper Development

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-07-01

    it is difficult to determine the depth of the detonation wave (due to the translucency of the sensitised nitromethane) and when it reaches the bottom...Charges For Use against Concrete Targerts, DSTO Client Report, DSTO-CR-2005-0164, 2005. [2] M. J. Murphy, R. M. Kuklo, T. A. Rambur, L. L. Switzer & M...Resnyansky, S. A. Weckert & T. Delaney, Shaping of Detonation Waves in Shaped Charges for Use against Concrete Targets: Part II, in preparation

  1. Monte Carlo Calculations of the Properties of Solid Nitromethane

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-09-01

    a pressure of 6.0 GPa (Cromer, Ryan, and Schiferl 1985). The neutron spectroscopy was instrumental in allowing an accurate mathematical description...rotation of the methyl group is only slightly hindered (Cromer, Ryan, and Schiferl 1985). At 3.5 GPa, the x-ray diffraction data inferred that the... Schiferl (1985). We found that below 3.5 GPa, the classical barrier height for rotation was approximately room temperature, consi.tent with a weakly

  2. Molecular dynamics simulations of shock waves in oriented nitromethane single crystals: plane-specific effects.

    PubMed

    He, Lan; Sewell, Thomas D; Thompson, Donald L

    2012-01-21

    Molecular dynamics simulations of supported shock waves (shock pressure P(s) ∼ 15 GPa) propagating along the [110], [011], [101], and [111] directions in crystalline nitromethane initially at T = 200 K were performed using the nonreactive Sorescu-Rice-Thompson force field [D. C. Sorescu, B. M. Rice, and D. L. Thompson, J. Phys. Chem. B 104, 8406 (2000)]. These simulations, combined with those from a preceding study of shocks propagating along [100], [010], and [001] directions in nitromethane for similar conditions of temperature and shock pressure [L. He, T. D. Sewell, and D. L. Thompson, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 124506 (2011)], have been used to study the post-shock relaxation phenomena. Shocks along [010] and [101] lead to a crystal-crystal structure transformation. Shocks propagating along [011], [110], [111], [100], and [001] exhibit plane-specific disordering, which was characterized by calculating as functions of time the 1D mean square displacement (MSD), 2D radial distribution function (RDF), and 2D orientation order parameter P(2)(θ) in orthogonal planes mutually perpendicular to the shock plane; and by calculating as functions of distance behind the shock front the Cartesian components of intermolecular, intramolecular, and total kinetic energies. The 2D RDF results show that the structural disordering for shocks along [100], [110], and [111] is strongly plane-specific; whereas for shocks along [001] and [011], the loss of crystal structural order is almost equivalent in the orthogonal planes perpendicular to the shock plane. Based on the entire set of simulations, there is a trend for the most extensive disordering to occur in the (010) and (110) planes, less extensive disordering to occur in the (100) plane, and essentially no disordering to occur in the (001) plane. The 2D P(2)(θ) and 1D MSD profiles show, respectively, that the orientational and translational disordering is plane-specific, which results in the plane-specific structural disordering observed in the 2D RDF. By contrast, the kinetic energy partitioning and redistribution do not exhibit plane specificity, as shown by the similarity of spatial profiles of the Cartesian components of the intermolecular, intramolecular, and total kinetic energies in orthogonal planes perpendicular to the shock plane. © 2012 American Institute of Physics

  3. Behavior of Explosives Under Pressure in a Diamond Anvil Cell

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Foltz, M F

    2006-06-20

    Diamond anvil cell (DAC) studies can yield information about the pressure dependence of materials and reactions under conditions comparable to shock loading. The pressure gradient across the face of the diamonds is often deliberately minimized to create uniform pressure over much of the sample and a simplified data set. To reach very high pressures (30-40 GPa), however, it may be necessary to use ''softer'', high nitrogen content diamonds that are more susceptible to bending under pressure. The resulting enhanced pressure gradient then provides a view of high-pressure behavior under anisotropic conditions similar to those found at the burn front inmore » a bulk sample. We discuss visual observations of pressure-induced changes relative to variations in burn rate of several explosives (Triaminotrinitrobenzene, Nitromethane, CL-20) in the DAC. The burn rate behavior of both Nitromethane (NM) and Triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB) were previously reported for pressures up to {approx}40 GPa. Nitromethane showed a near monotonic increase in burn rate to a maximum at {approx}30 GPa after which the burn rate decreased, all without color change. At higher pressures, the TATB samples had shiny (metallic) polycrystalline zones or inclusions where the pressure was highest in the sample. Around the shiny zones was a gradation of color (red to yellow) that appeared to follow the pressure gradient. The color changes are believed related to disturbances in the resonance structure of this explosive as the intermolecular separations decrease with pressure. The color and type of residue found in unvented gaskets after the burn was complete also varied with pressure. The four polymorphs of CL-20 ({alpha}, {beta}, {gamma}, {var_epsilon}-Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane, HNIW) did not change color up to the highest pressure applied ({approx}30 GPa), and each polymorph demonstrated a distinctly different burn rate signature. One polymorph {beta} was so sensitive to laser ignition over a narrow pressure range that the sample could not be aligned with a low power laser without ignition. The burn rate for that one polymorph could only be measured at pressures above and below that unique pressure. This anomalous ignition threshold is discussed with respect to the matrix of possible polymorphs, most of which have not been isolated in the laboratory. The changes in behavior, color and reaction rates of all samples are discussed with respect to possible implications to chemistry at high pressure.« less

  4. Compendium of Nitromethane Data Relevant to the Tactical Explosive System (TEXS) Program

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-04-01

    reduced charge size. Confined NM in glass tubes and added silica impurities with a known particle size distribution, and used guar gum to hold silica...internal ignition test. The explosive in the pipe bomb is subjected to the action of a cen- trally located black powder (20 g) igniter. A positive...Laboratory 2800 Powder Mill Road Adelphia, MD 20783-1145 Commander U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command ATTN: AMSTE-TE-AT, B. Hawley Aberdeen

  5. Exploring the High-Pressure Behavior of PETN: A Combined Quantum Mechanical and Experimental Study

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-11-01

    calculations to explore the hypothesized compression-induced polymorphic phase transition [Gruzdkov 2004]. The initial crystal in these Figure 4...Scuseria, G.E., and Chabalowski, C.F. 2004: An ab Initio Study of Solid Nitromethane, HMX , RDX , and CL20: Successes and Failures of DFT. J. Phys. Chem... RDX , HMX , HNIW, and PETN Crystals. J. Phys. Chem. B, 103, 6783. Trotter, J., 1963: Bond lengths and angles in Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate. Acta

  6. Size effect and cylinder test on several commercial explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Souers, P. Clark; Lauderbach, Lisa; Moua, Kou; Garza, Raul

    2012-03-01

    Some size (diameter) effect and the Cylinder test results for Kinepak (ammonium nitrate/nitromethane), Semtex 1, Semtex H and urea nitrate are presented. Cylinder test data appears normal despite faster sound speeds in the copper wall. Most explosives come to steady state in the Cylinder test as expected, but Kinepak shows a steadily increasing wall velocity with distance down the cylinder. Some data on powder densities as a function of loading procedure are also given.

  7. Energy Trapping, Release, and Transport in Three Dimensional Energetic Solids and Molecular Crystals.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1986-06-30

    excited state and the correlation primitives. These additions had little effect on the tTi ground-state energy. Also included in this table is an...an additional s and p primitive was placed on the C atom and both optimised-with little effect. These were then removed. Finally, the calculation was...the excited vibrational and rotational states of nitromethane have been studied, little work has been done on its low-lying excited electronic states

  8. Three-dimensional spectroscopy of vibrational energy in liquids: nitromethane and acetonitrile.

    PubMed

    Sun, Yuxiao; Pein, Brandt C; Dlott, Dana D

    2013-12-12

    We introduce a novel type of three-dimensional (3D) spectroscopy to study vibrational energy transfer, where an IR pulse tunable through the CH-stretching and CD-stretching regions was used to create parent vibrational excitations in liquids and a visible probe pulse was used to generate both Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman spectra as a function of delay time. The Raman spectra determine how much vibrational excitation was present in each probed state. The three dimensions are the wavenumber of the pumped state, the wavenumber of the probed state, and the time interval. The technique was used to study nitromethane (NM) and acetonitrile (ACN) and their deuterated analogues at ambient temperature. The 3D spectra were quite complicated. Three types of artifacts due to nonlinear light scattering were observed. Along the diagonal were two fundamental CH-stretch (or CD-stretch) transitions and several weaker combination bands or overtone transitions. Because Raman spectroscopy allows us to simultaneously probe a wide wavenumber region, for every diagonal peak, there were ∼10 off-diagonal peaks. The cross-peaks at shorter delay times reveal the nature of the initial excitation by showing which lower-wavenumber excitations were produced along with the pumped CH-stretch or CD-stretch. The longer-time spectra characterized vibrational energy relaxation processes, and showed how daughter vibrations were generated by different parent excitations.

  9. Ab initio reaction pathways for photodissociation and isomerization of nitromethane on four singlet potential energy surfaces with three roaming paths

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Isegawa, Miho; Liu, Fengyi; Morokuma, Keiji

    2014-06-28

    Photodissociation pathways of nitromethane following π → π{sup *} electronic excitation are reported. The potential energy surfaces for four lowest singlet states are explored, and structures of many intermediates, dissociation limits, transition states, and minimum energy conical intersections were determined using the automated searching algorism called the global reaction route mapping strategy. Geometries are finally optimized at CASSCF(14e,11o) level and energies are computed at CAS(14o,11e)PT2 level. The calculated preferable pathways and important products qualitatively explain experimental observations. The major photodissociation product CH{sub 3} and NO{sub 2} ({sup 2}B{sub 2}) is formed by direct dissociation from the S{sub 1} state. Importantmore » pathways involving S{sub 1} and S{sub 0} states for production of various dissociation products CH{sub 3}NO + O ({sup 1}D), CH{sub 3}O(X{sup 2}E) + NO (X{sup 2}Π), CH{sub 2}NO + OH, and CH{sub 2}O + HNO, as well as various isomerization pathways have been identified. Three roaming processes also have been identified: the O atom roaming in O dissociation from CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}, the OH radical roaming in OH dissociation from CH{sub 2}N(O)(OH), and the NO roaming in NO dissociation from CH{sub 3}ONO.« less

  10. Reaction Mechanism of Organocatalytic Michael Addition of Nitromethane to Cinnamaldehyde: A Case Study on Catalyst Regeneration and Solvent Effects.

    PubMed

    Świderek, Katarzyna; Nödling, Alexander R; Tsai, Yu-Hsuan; Luk, Louis Y P; Moliner, Vicent

    2018-01-11

    The Michael addition of nitromethane to cinnamaldehyde has been computationally studied in the absence of a catalyst and the presence of a biotinylated secondary amine by a combined computational and experimental approach. The calculations were performed at the density functional theory (DFT) level with the M06-2X hybrid functional, and a polarizable continuum model has been employed to mimic the effect of two different solvents: dichloromethane (DCM) and water. Contrary to common assumption, the product-derived iminium intermediate was absent in both of the solvents tested. Instead, hydrating the C1-C2 double bond in the enamine intermediate directly yields the tetrahedral intermediate, which is key for forming the product and regenerating the catalyst. Enamine hydration is concerted and found to be rate-limiting in DCM but segregated into two non-rate-limiting steps when the solvent is replaced with water. However, further analysis revealed that the use of water as solvent also raises the energy barriers for other chemical steps, particularly the critical step of C-C bond formation between the iminium intermediate and nucleophile; this consequently lowers both the reaction yield and enantioselectivity of this LUMO-lowering reaction, as experimentally detected. These findings provide a logical explanation to why water often enhances organocatalysis when used as an additive but hampers the reaction progress when employed as a solvent.

  11. Controlling cross pumping between C-N and C-H vibration in nitromethane by selective fluorescence-enhanced stimulated Raman scattering.

    PubMed

    Wang, Shenghan; Fang, Wenhui; Li, Tianyu; Li, Fangfang; Sun, Chenglin; Li, Zuowei; Men, Zhiwei

    2016-05-02

    To investigate the vibrational features of nitromethane (NM), which is a kind of energy material and a well known low-sensitivity and high explosive, experiments are performed to obtain the stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) of NM by employing a 532 nm pulsed pump laser. The Raman signal involves two stimulated emissions at 918 and 2,963 cm-1, attributed to the C-N and C-H stretching vibrations, respectively. To overcome the complexity of cross pump in the pure NM, one stimulated Raman radiation is chosen as a pump source to excite the other Raman mode. Two fluorescence dyes were added to selectively enhance each Raman cross section. By internally seeding the Raman gain medium with fluorescent photons, a significant modification in the stimulated Raman scattering spectrum has been observed. The enhanced Stokes emission at 918 cm-1 was able to induce the 2,963 cm-1 vibration mode when the all-trans-β-carotene was internal seeding in the NM, while the Raman radiation at 2,963 cm-1 was enhanced to excite the C-N mode with the addition of m-Cresol purple. The output energy of both 918 and 2,963 cm-1 under different input energy was also measured to illustrate this result.

  12. Reaction Mechanism of Organocatalytic Michael Addition of Nitromethane to Cinnamaldehyde: A Case Study on Catalyst Regeneration and Solvent Effects

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    The Michael addition of nitromethane to cinnamaldehyde has been computationally studied in the absence of a catalyst and the presence of a biotinylated secondary amine by a combined computational and experimental approach. The calculations were performed at the density functional theory (DFT) level with the M06-2X hybrid functional, and a polarizable continuum model has been employed to mimic the effect of two different solvents: dichloromethane (DCM) and water. Contrary to common assumption, the product-derived iminium intermediate was absent in both of the solvents tested. Instead, hydrating the C1–C2 double bond in the enamine intermediate directly yields the tetrahedral intermediate, which is key for forming the product and regenerating the catalyst. Enamine hydration is concerted and found to be rate-limiting in DCM but segregated into two non-rate-limiting steps when the solvent is replaced with water. However, further analysis revealed that the use of water as solvent also raises the energy barriers for other chemical steps, particularly the critical step of C–C bond formation between the iminium intermediate and nucleophile; this consequently lowers both the reaction yield and enantioselectivity of this LUMO-lowering reaction, as experimentally detected. These findings provide a logical explanation to why water often enhances organocatalysis when used as an additive but hampers the reaction progress when employed as a solvent. PMID:29256614

  13. Particle velocity measurements of the reaction zone in nitromethane

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sheffield, S. A.; Engelke, R. P.; Alcon, R. R.

    2002-01-01

    The detonation reaction-zone length in neat, deuterated, and chemically sensitized nitromethane (NM) has been measured by using several different laser-based velocity interferometry systems. The experiments involved measuring the particle velocity history at a NM/PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) window interface during the time a detonation in the NM interacted with the interface. Initially, Fabry-Perot interferometry was used, but, because of low time resolution (>5 ns), several different configurations of VISAR interferometry were subsequently used. Early work was done with VISARs with a time resolution of about 3 ns. By making changes to the recording system, we were able to improve this to {approx}1more » ns. Profiles measured at the NM/PMMA interface agree with the ZND theory, in that a spike ({approx}2.45 mm/{micro}s) is measured that is consistent with an extrapolated reactant NM Hugoniot matched to the PMMA window. The spike is rather sharp, followed by a rapid drop in particle velocity over a time of 5 to 10 ns; this is evidence of early fast reactions. Over about 50 ns, a much slower particle velocity decrease occurs to the assumed CJ condition - indicating a total reaction zone length of {approx}300 {micro}m. When the NM is chemically changed, such as replacing the hydrogen atoms with deuterium or chemically sensitizing with a base, some changes are observed in the early part of the reaction zone.« less

  14. Dynamics at Lys-553 of the acto-myosin interface in the weakly and strongly bound states.

    PubMed Central

    MacLean, J J; Chrin, L R; Berger, C L

    2000-01-01

    Lys-553 of skeletal muscle myosin subfragment 1 (S1) was specifically labeled with the fluorescent probe FHS (6-[fluorescein-5(and 6)-carboxamido]hexanoic acid succinimidyl ester) and fluorescence quenching experiments were carried out to determine the accessibility of this probe at Lys-553 in both the strongly and weakly actin-bound states of the MgATPase cycle. Solvent quenchers of varying charge [nitromethane, (2,2,6, 6-tetramethyl-1-piperinyloxy) (TEMPO), iodide (I(-)), and thallium (Tl(+))] were used to assess both the steric and electrostatic accessibilities of the FHS probe at Lys-553. In the strongly bound rigor (nucleotide-free) and MgADP states, actin offered no protection from solvent quenching of FHS by nitromethane, TEMPO, or thallium, but did decrease the Stern-Volmer constant by almost a factor of two when iodide was used as the quencher. The protection from iodide quenching was almost fully reversed with the addition of 150 mM KCl, suggesting this effect is ionic in nature rather than steric. Conversely, actin offered no protection from iodide quenching at low ionic strength during steady-state ATP hydrolysis, even with a significant fraction of the myosin heads bound to actin. Thus, the lower 50 kD subdomain of myosin containing Lys-553 appears to interact differently with actin in the weakly and strongly bound states. PMID:10692329

  15. Time-resolved photoelectron imaging of iodide-nitromethane (I-·CH3NO2) photodissociation dynamics.

    PubMed

    Kunin, Alice; Li, Wei-Li; Neumark, Daniel M

    2016-12-07

    Femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy is used to probe the decay channels of iodide-nitromethane (I - ·CH 3 NO 2 ) binary clusters photoexcited at 3.56 eV, near the vertical detachment energy (VDE) of the cluster. The production of I - is observed, and its photoelectron signal exhibits a mono-exponential rise time of 21 ± 1 ps. Previous work has shown that excitation near the VDE of the I - ·CH 3 NO 2 complex transfers an electron from iodide to form a dipole-bound state of CH 3 NO 2 - that rapidly converts to a valence bound (VB) anion. The long appearance time for the I - fragment suggests that the VB anion decays by back transfer of the excess electron to iodide, reforming the I - ·CH 3 NO 2 anion and resulting in evaporation of iodide. Comparison of the measured lifetime to that predicted by RRKM theory suggests that the dissociation rate is limited by intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution in the re-formed anion between the high frequency CH 3 NO 2 vibrational modes and the much lower frequency intermolecular I - ·CH 3 NO 2 stretch and bends, the predominant modes involved in cluster dissociation to form I - . Evidence for a weak channel identified as HI + CH 2 NO 2 - is also observed.

  16. Interfacial chemical oxidative synthesis of multifunctional polyfluoranthene† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: The optimization of polymerization conditions, size distribution and morphology of the PFA particles, and solubility and DMSO solution in sunlight and in 365 nm UV of FA and PFA synthesized. See DOI: 10.1039/c4sc03890h Click here for additional data file.

    PubMed Central

    Liao, Yaozu

    2015-01-01

    A novel polyfluoranthene (PFA) exhibiting strong visual fluorescence emission, a highly amplified quenching effect, and widely controllable electrical conductivity is synthesized by the direct cationic oxidative polymerization of fluoranthene in a dynamic interface between n-hexane and nitromethane containing fluoranthene and FeCl3, respectively. A full characterization of the molecular structure signifies that the PFAs have a degree of polymerization from 22–50 depending on the polymerization conditions. A polymerization mechanism at the interface of the hexane/nitromethane biphasic system is proposed. The conductivity of the PFA is tunable from 6.4 × 10–6 to 0.074 S cm–1 by doping with HCl or iodine. The conductivity can be significantly enhanced to 150 S cm–1 by heat treatment at 1100 °C in argon. A PFA-based chemosensor shows a highly selective sensitivity for Fe3+ detection which is unaffected by other common metal ions. The detection of Fe3+ likely involves the synergistic effect of well-distributed π-conjugated electrons throughout the PFA helical chains that function as both the fluorophore and the receptor units. PMID:29142676

  17. Conventional Weapons Underwater Explosions

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-12-01

    Nitromethane," UCRL 52903, December 1980. 22 I >I I 20 0--0 AIcN 23 0 I0 0 0 c W * ’S * / 0 o ---. 0 / nEil~ 24 Unreacted explosive Shock front t t...1976. 57 7. B. M. Dobratz LLNL Explosives Handbook - Properties of Explosives and Ex- plosive Simulants, UCRL -52997, March 1981. 8. M. H. Rice and J...Canada (403) 549- 3701 Ext. 4787 39. Joel C. W. Rogers Dept. of Mathemantics Polytechnic University 333 Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 260-3501 40

  18. Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformations of β-Stereogenic-α-Keto Esters via Direct Aldolization

    PubMed Central

    Corbett, Michael T.; Johnson, Jeffrey S.

    2014-01-01

    Dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformations (DyKAT) of racemic β-bromo-α-keto esters via direct aldolization of nitromethane and acetone provide access to fully substituted α-glycolic acid derivatives bearing a β-stereocenter. The aldol adducts are obtained in excellent yield with high relative and absolute stereocontrol under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies determined that the reactions proceed through a facile catalyst-mediated racemization of the β-bromo-α-keto esters under a DyKAT Type I manifold. PMID:24222195

  19. Solubility and dissolution thermodynamics of tetranitroglycoluril in organic solvents at 295-318 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Zhihua; Wang, Jianlong; Hu, Zhiyan; Du, Hongbin

    2017-08-01

    The solubility data of tetranitroglycoluril in acetone, methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, nitromethane and chloroform at temperatures ranging from 295-318 K were measured by gravimetric method. The solubility data of tetranitroglycoluril were fitted with Apelblat semiempirical equation. The dissolution enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs energy of tetranitroglycoluril were calculated using the Van't Hoff and Gibbs equations. The results showed that the Apelblat semiempirical equation was significantly correlated with solubility data. The dissolving process was endothermic, entropy-driven, and nonspontaneous.

  20. Effect of surface ionization on wetting layers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kayser, R. F.

    1986-01-01

    A surface ionization model due to Langmuir is generalized to liquid mixtures of polar and nonpolar components in contact with ionizable substrates. When a predominantly nonpolar mixture is near a miscibility gap, thick wetting layers of the conjugate polar phase form on the substrate. Such charged layers can be much thicker than similar wetting layers stabilized by dispersion forces. This model may explain the 0.4- to 0.6-micron-thick wetting layers formed in stirred mixtures of nitromethane and carbon disulfide in contact with glass.

  1. Synthesis and Characterization of Energetic Plasticizer AMDNNM

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schulze, Maxwell C.; Chavez, David E.

    2016-04-01

    The synthesis of room temperature liquid azidomethyl-dinitroxydimethyl-nitromethane (AMDNNM, 5) in 57% overall yield and its formulation with nitrocellulose (AMDNNM/NC) are described. The small-scale explosive sensitivity of neat AMDNNM was determined to be slightly more sensitive than PETN, whereas AMDNNM/NC is significantly less sensitive. Both neat AMDNNM and AMDNNM/NC have thermal stabilities similar to that of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). The explosive and chemical properties of this novel material make it a good candidate for an energetic plasticizer.

  2. Detonation Reaction Zones in Condensed Explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tarver, Craig M.

    2006-07-01

    Experimental measurements using nanosecond time resolved embedded gauges and laser interferometric techniques, combined with Non-Equilibrium Zeldovich - von Neumann - Doling (NEZND) theory and Ignition and Growth reactive flow hydrodynamic modeling, have revealed the average pressure/particle velocity states attained in reaction zones of self-sustaining detonation waves in several solid and liquid explosives. The time durations of these reaction zone processes are discussed for explosives based on pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), nitromethane, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), triaminitrinitrobenzene(TATB) and trinitrotoluene (TNT).

  3. United States Air Force Summer Faculty Research Program, 1988. Program Technical Report. Volume 3

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-12-01

    equivalents of U- bromosuccinimide. Although this dibromide ns inert to conventional hydrolysis with concentrated sulfuric acid at 11O*C, conversion to...by first dissolving in hot (II0C) sulfuric acid then pouring into ice water. The resulting precipitate ws air dried then recrystallized once more from...Catalysis Dr. Richard Carlin in Lewis Acid Molten Salts 36 A MCSCF Study of the Rearrangement Dr. Michael McKee of Nitromethane to Methyl Nitrite 37

  4. SOLVENT EXTRACTION PROCESS FOR PLUTONIUM

    DOEpatents

    Seaborg, G.T.

    1959-04-14

    The separation of plutonium from aqueous inorganic acid solutions by the use of a water immiscible organic extractant liquid is described. The plutonium must be in the oxidized state, and the solvents covered by the patent include nitromethane, nitroethane, nitropropane, and nitrobenzene. The use of a salting out agents such as ammonium nitrate in the case of an aqueous nitric acid solution is advantageous. After contacting the aqueous solution with the organic extractant, the resulting extract and raffinate phases are separated. The plutonium may be recovered by any suitable method.

  5. Interactions of carbon nanotubes with the nitromethane-water mixture governing selective adsorption of energetic molecules from aqueous solution.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yingzhe; Lai, Weipeng; Yu, Tao; Kang, Ying; Ge, Zhongxue

    2015-03-14

    The structure and dynamics of the nitromethane-water (NM-WT) binary mixture surrounding single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The simulation trajectories show that the NM molecules can be selectively adsorbed both outside the surface and inside the cavity of SWNTs mainly dominated by van der Waals attractions because SWNTs have a higher binding affinity for NM than WT. The binding energies of SWNTs with NM and WT obtained from electronic structure calculations at the M06-2X/6-31+G* level are 15.31 and 5.51 kcal mol(-1), respectively. Compared with the SWNT exterior, the selective adsorption of NM is preferentially occurred in the SWNT interior due to the hydrophobic interactions and the dipole-dipole interactions, which induces the decrease of the hydrogen-bond number of NM with WT and ordered structures of NM with preferred intermolecular orientation in the SWNT cavity. Furthermore, the selective adsorption dynamics of NM from the aqueous solution is regardless of the chirality and radius of SWNTs. The SWNT radius plays a negligible role in the mass density distributions of NM outside the SWNTs, while the mass density of NM in the SWNT interior decreases gradually as the SWNT radius increases. The structural arrangements and intermolecular orientations of NM in the SWNT cavity are greatly dependent on the SWNT radius due to the size effect.

  6. Ultrafast Photodissociation Dynamics of Nitromethane.

    PubMed

    Nelson, Tammie; Bjorgaard, Josiah; Greenfield, Margo; Bolme, Cindy; Brown, Katie; McGrane, Shawn; Scharff, R Jason; Tretiak, Sergei

    2016-02-04

    Nitromethane (NM), a high explosive (HE) with low sensitivity, is known to undergo photolysis upon ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The optical transparency, homogeneity, and extensive study of NM make it an ideal system for studying photodissociation mechanisms in conventional HE materials. The photochemical processes involved in the decomposition of NM could be applied to the future design of controllable photoactive HE materials. In this study, the photodecomposition of NM from the nπ* state excited at 266 nm is being investigated on the femtosecond time scale. UV femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy and excited state femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) are combined with nonadiabatic excited state molecular dynamics (NA-ESMD) simulations to provide a unified picture of NM photodecomposition. The FSRS spectrum of the photoproduct exhibits peaks in the NO2 region and slightly shifted C-N vibrational peaks pointing to methyl nitrite formation as the dominant photoproduct. A total photolysis quantum yield of 0.27 and an nπ* state lifetime of ∼20 fs were predicted from NA-ESMD simulations. Predicted time scales revealed that NO2 dissociation occurs in 81 ± 4 fs and methyl nitrite formation is much slower having a time scale of 452 ± 9 fs corresponding to the excited state absorption feature with a decay of 480 ± 17 fs observed in the TA spectrum. Although simulations predict C-N bond cleavage as the primary photochemical process, the relative time scales are consistent with isomerization occurring via NO2 dissociation and subsequent rebinding of the methyl radical and nitrogen dioxide.

  7. Determination method for nitromethane in workplace air.

    PubMed

    Takeuchi, Akito; Nishimura, Yasuki; Kaifuku, Yuichiro; Imanaka, Tsutoshi; Natsumeda, Shuichiro; Ota, Hirokazu; Yamada, Shu; Kurotani, Ichiro; Sumino, Kimiaki; Kanno, Seiichiro

    2010-01-01

    The purpose of this research was to develop a determination method for nitromethane (NM) in workplace air for risk assessment. A suitable sampler and appropriate desorption condition were selected by a recovery test in which a spiked sampler was used. The characteristics of the proposed method, such as recovery, detection limit, and reproducibility, and the storage stability of the sample were examined. A sampling tube containing bead-shaped activated carbon was chosen as the sampler. NM in the sampler was desorbed with acetone and analyzed by a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. The recoveries of NM from the spiked sampler were 81-97% and 80-98% for personal exposure monitoring and working environment measurement, respectively. On the first day of storage in a refrigerator, the recovery from the spiked samplers exceeded 90%; however, it decreased dramatically with increasing storage time. In particular, the decrease was more remarkable for the smaller spiked amounts. The overall LOQ was 2 microg/sample. The relative standard deviation, which represents the overall reproducibility, was 1.1-4.0%. The proposed method enables 4-hour personal exposure monitoring of NM at concentrations equaling 0.001-2 times the threshold limit value-time-weighted average (TLV-TWA: 20 ppm) proposed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, as well as 10-minute working environment measurement at concentrations equaling 0.02-2 times TLV-TWA. Thus, the proposed method will be useful for estimating worker exposure to NM.

  8. A novel nitromethane biosensor based on biocompatible conductive redox graphene-chitosan/hemoglobin/graphene/room temperature ionic liquid matrix.

    PubMed

    Wang, Lu; Zhang, Xiuhua; Xiong, Huayu; Wang, Shengfu

    2010-11-15

    A novel amperometric biosensor for nitromethane (CH(3)NO(2)) based on immobilization of graphene (GR), chitosan (CS), hemoglobin (Hb) and room temperature ionic liquid (IL) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was developed for the first time. The surface morphologies of a set of representative membranes were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical performance of the biosensor was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. A pair of stable and well-defined redox peaks of Hb with a formal potential of -0.240 V was observed at the GR-CS/Hb/GR/IL/GCE. The effects of phosphate buffer pH, scan rate, and temperature on the biosensor were investigated to provide optimum analytical performance. Moreover, several electrochemical parameters, e.g., the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k(s)), were calculated in detail. The presence of both GR and IL not only dramatically facilitated the electron transfer of Hb, but also greatly enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards CH(3)NO(2). The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant was down to 0.16 μM, indicating that the biosensor possessed high affinity to CH(3)NO(2). Besides this, the proposed biosensor exhibited fast amperometric response (<5s), low detection limit (6.0 × 10(-10)M), and excellent long-time storage stability for the determination of CH(3)NO(2). Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Detonation shock dynamics with an acceleration relation for nitromethane and TATB

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Swift, Damian; Kraus, Richard; Mulford, Roberta; White, Stephen

    2015-06-01

    The propagation of curved detonation waves has been treated phenomenologically through models of the speed D of a detonation wave as a function of its curvature K, in the Whitham-Bdzil-Lambourn model, also known as detonation shock dynamics. D(K) relations, and the edge angle with adjacent material, have been deduced from the steady shape of detonation waves in long rods and slabs of explosive. Nonlinear D(K) relations have proven necessary to interpret data from charges of different diameter, and even then the D(K) relation may not transfer between diameters. This is an indication that the D(K) relation oversimplifies the kinematics. It is also possible to interpret wave-shape data in terms of an acceleration relation, as used in Brun's Jouguet relaxe model. One form of acceleration behavior is to couple an asymptotic D(K) relation with a time-dependent relaxation toward it from the instantaneous, local speed. This approach is also capable of modeling overdriving of a detonation by a booster. Using archival data for the TATB-based explosive EDC35 and for nitromethane, we found that a simple linear asymptotic D(K) relation with a constant relaxation rate was able to reproduce the experimental wave-shapes better, with fewer parameters, than a nonlinear instantaneous D(K) relation. This work was performed in part under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

  10. NTP carcinogenesis studies of 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)-1,3-propanediol, nitromethane, and 1,2,3-trichloropropane (cas nos. 3296-90-0, 75-52-5, and 96-18-4) in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and medaka (Oryzias latipes) (Waterborne Studies).

    PubMed

    2005-10-01

    The NTP chose to initiate studies in fish as an exploration of alternate or additional models for examining chemical toxicity and carcinogenicity. The use of small fish species in carcinogenicity testing offered potential advantages as a bioassay test system, including significant savings in cost and time over rodent studies. Large numbers of small fish could be easily maintained in a limited area. The two species chosen for study were guppy (Poecilia reticulata) and medaka (Oryzias latipes), both of which are hardy, easily maintained, and have a low occurrence of background lesions. The three chemicals chosen for study in fish had already been studied by the NTP in rodents, permitting a comparison of results between the two models. Two of the chemicals used (2,2-bis(bromomethyl)-1,3-propanediol and 1,2,3-trichloropropane) were mutagenic and multisite carcinogens in rats and mice. The third chemical, nitromethane, was nonmutagenic with a more modest carcinogenic response in rodents. Male and female guppies and medaka were exposed to 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)- 1,3-propanediol (greater than 99% pure), nitromethane, (greater than 99% pure), or 1,2,3-trichloropropane (99% pure) in aquaria water for up to 16 months. OVERALL STUDY DESIGN: Groups of approximately 220 guppies (two replicates of 110) were maintained in aquaria water containing nominal concentrations of 0, 24, 60, or 150 mg/L 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)-1,3-propanediol; 0, 10, 30, or 70 mg/L nitromethane; or 0, 4.5, 9.0, or 18.0 mg/L 1,2,3-trichloropropane. Groups of approximately 340 medaka (two replicates of 170) were maintained in aquaria water containing 0, 24, 60, or 150 mg/L 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)-1,3-propanediol; 0, 10, 20, or 40 mg/L nitromethane; or 0, 4.5, 9.0, or 18.0 mg/L 1,2,3-trichloropropane. The overall study durations were 16 months for all guppy studies, 14 months for 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)-1,3-propanediol-exposed medaka, and 13 months for nitromethane- and 1,2,3-trichloropropane-exposed medaka. Ten guppies and 10 medaka from each group replicate were sacrificed at 9 months for histopathologic analysis. Approximately one third of the remaining fish from each group were placed in chemical-free water at 9 months and constituted a stop-exposure study component. The remainder of the fish were exposed for the duration of the study and constituted the core study component. A stop-exposure component was added to determine if stopping the exposure at 9 months and transferring to chemical-free aquaria might allow for better survival and tumor development. The sex of guppies and medaka was determined at histopathologic analysis. 2,2-BIS(BROMOMETHYL)-1,3-PROPANEDIOL - 16-MONTH STUDY IN GUPPIES: 2,2-Bis(bromomethyl)-1,3-propanediol was chronically toxic to guppies in the 60 and 150 mg/L core and stop-exposure groups. Due to mortality, exposure of core study animals in the 150 mg/L group was terminated on day 443, after approximately 64 weeks on study, and fish were maintained in 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)- 1,3-propanediol-free water in the exposure system until the end of the study at 69 weeks. Nominal exposure concentrations of 24, 60, and 150 mg/L provided actual aquaria water exposure concentrations of 20.0, 53.5, and 139.0 mg/L 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)- 1,3-propanediol, respectively. There were no treatment-related differences between the control and exposed groups in body weights or lengths. At 9 months, hepatocellular adenomas occurred in one 24 mg/L male and in one 150 mg/L male. In the core study, the incidence of hepatocellular adenoma or carcinoma (combined) in 150 mg/L males was greater than that in the controls; multiple adenomas occurred in two 150 mg/L males and in one 150 mg/L female. Cholangioma occurred in a small number of exposed males and females. In the stop-exposure study, incidences of hepatocellular adenoma (including multiple) and of hepatocellular carcinoma were greater in 150 mg/L males than in controls. One cholangioma and one cholangiocarcinoma occurred in the 150 mg/L female group. 14-MONTH STUDY IN MEDAKA: Exposure to 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)-1,3-propanediol did not result in any significant reduction in survival, although the mortality of fish was somewhat greater in the 60 and 150 mg/L core study groups than in the control and 24 mg/L groups. After reallocation, mortality of medaka in the 60 and 150 mg/L core groups was slightly increased over the corresponding stop-exposure groups. Nominal exposure concentrations of 24, 60, and 150 mg/L provided actual exposure concentrations of 19.4, 56.9, and 137.8 mg/L 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)- 1,3-propanediol, respectively. Core study animals in the 60 and 150 mg/L groups were significantly larger, in both body length and weight, than control group fish. In the core study, the incidence of hepatocellular adenoma or carcinoma (combined) was increased in 150 mg/L males. Cholangiocarcinomas occurred in a few exposed males and females, with all but one occurring in 150 mg/L fish. One cholangioma occurred in a 150 mg/L female, and one occurred in a control female. In the stop-exposure study, incidences of hepatocellular adenoma or carcinoma (combined) were marginally increased in the 150 mg/L group of males and in the 60 and 150 mg/L groups of females as compared with controls. Cholangiocarcinoma occurred in one male and one female in the 150 mg/L groups and in one control female. NITROMETHANE - 16-MONTH STUDY IN GUPPIES: Although the cause of death could not be confirmed in many cases, mortality in the 70 mg/L groups appeared to indicate that this level of nitromethane exposure was chronically toxic. This is confirmed by the similar survival rate of guppies from all treatments following removal from treatment aquaria and placement in stop-exposure. Due to the high mortality of fish in the 70 mg/L core study groups, these fish were removed from treatment (day 396) and fixed for histological analyses after approximately 57 weeks on study. The controls and other exposed groups were sacrificed at 70 weeks. Nominal exposure concentrations of 10, 30, and 70 mg/L provided actual exposure concentrations of 9.9, 28.7, and 66.4 mg/L nitromethane, respectively. There were no treatment-related differences between the control and exposed groups in body lengths or weights. 13-MONTH STUDY IN MEDAKA: Nitromethane in the aquaria supported a substantial microfaunal growth which, without frequent cleaning, affected water quality and treatment concentrations. To maintain acceptable water quality and treatment concentrations potentially affected by the rapid microfaunal growth, the study aquaria were brushed once and siphoned three times each day. Due to this frequent activity, a number of fish probably died due to mechanical injury. Unfortunately, the cause of death could not be confirmed in many cases; the mortality from this activity is believed to have been approximately uniform among treatments and should not have affected the comparison of survival between treatments. Based on mortality in this study and the previous life-span evaluation, the life phase of this study was terminated approximately 13.5 months after hatching. Nominal exposure concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 mg/L resulted in actual exposure concentrations of 9.3, 20.8, and 41.7 mg/L nitromethane, respectively. No differences between control and exposed groups were found in body lengths or weights at the 9-month interim evaluation. Due to mortality, unequal numbers of fish were distributed among the core study and stop-exposure aquaria at 9 months. Differences in lengths and weights were found at 13 months. The biological significance of this finding is unknown. At 9 months, a single cholangiocarcinoma occurred in a 40 mg/L male. Hepatocellular adenomas occurred in two 20 mg/L males and in one 40 mg/L female. In the core study, one cholangioma occurred in a 20 mg/L male, and cholangiocarcinomas were seen in a few exposed males, but none occurred in control males. 1,2,3-TRICHLOROPROPANE - 16-MONTH STUDY IN GUPPIES: The survival of exposed guppies was less than that of the control group at 9 months. Reduced survival was evident at 6 months in the 18.0 mg/L groups and at 7 months in the 4.5 and 9.0 mg/L groups. Survival was significantly reduced in the 18.0 mg/L core study group within 1 month of the 9-month interim evaluation, and mortality in this group was 42.6% between 9 months and study termination. Nominal exposure concentrations of 4.5, 9.0, and 18.0 mg/L resulted in actual exposure concentrations of 4.4, 8.8, and 18.2 mg/L 1,2,3-trichloropropane, respectively. Guppies in the 18.0 mg/L core study group were significantly longer and weighed more than the controls. Fish in the 18.0 mg/L stop-exposure group also weighed more than the controls. Mortality of fish during the study resulted in unequal numbers of individuals distributed to core study and stop-exposure aquaria at 9 months. This appears to have influenced the length and weight of fish measured at study termination (i.e., the smaller tank population allowed the fish to grow more). Observed differences in weight and length between controls and 18.0 mg/L fish was most likely an artifact of the reduced numbers of fish in the 18.0 mg/L aquaria. At 9 months, multiple hepatocellular adenomas occurred in one 4.5 mg/L male, and one hepatocellular adenoma occurred in a control male. In the core study, increased incidences of cholangiocellular (bile duct) and hepatocellular neoplasms occurred in exposed groups of males and females. Cholangioma and cholangiocarcinoma were seen in several exposed males and females. In the stop-exposure study, increased incidences of hepatocellular neoplasms occurred in 18.0 mg/L males and increased incidences of cholangiocellular (bile duct) neoplasms occurred in 18.0 mg/L females. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

  11. Size Effect and Cylinder test on Several Commercial Explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lauderbach, Lisa; Moua, Kou; Garza, Raul; Souers, Clark

    2011-06-01

    The size (diameter) effect and the Cylinder test results for ammonium nitrate/nitromethane, some ammonium nitrate/fuel oil mixes, Red Dot shotgun powder, Semtex 1A and Semtex H will be presented. A generalized detonation velocity format, valid for all detonation rates, will be discussed. A shot in cylindrical symmetry will be compared with the 1-D cylindrical size effect data. This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

  12. Determination of organic bases in non-aqueous solvents by catalytic thermometric titration.

    PubMed

    Vajgand, V J; Kiss, T A; Gaál, F F; Zsigrai, I J

    1968-07-01

    Catalytic thermometric titrations have been developed for bases (brucine, diethylaniline, potassium acetate and triethylamine) in acetic acid by continuous and discontinuous addition of the standard solution and automatic temperature recording. The determination of weak bases, e.g., antipyrine, unsuccessful in acetic acid by catalytic thermometric titration, has been achieved by using nitromethane or acetic anhydride as solvent. Catalytic thermometric titrations were also performed by coulometric generation of hydrogen ions for the determination of micro amounts of weak bases in a mixture of acetic anhyride and acetic acid.

  13. The Synthesis and Study of Azole Carboxamide Nucleosides as Agents Active Against RNA Viruses.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1986-09-15

    solvent such as nitromethane gave a nucleoside product , identified as 1-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-o--D-ribofuranosyl)-l,2,4- triazol-3(2H)-one (20, BL-00307...at 2220 cm . Treatment of 26 with NH4OH/H 202 solution, and purification of the reaction product by chromatography on silica gel furnished 1-(2-deoxy...30) in 74% yield. Treatment of 30 with NH4OH/H202 solution, and purification of the reaction product by chroma- tography on silica gel furnished 1

  14. Pressure Effects on the Relaxation of an Excited Nitromethane Molecule in an Argon Bath

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-01-05

    pressure. The Schwarzer et al. measurements of the relaxation of azulene in a variety of supercritical fluids including CO2 show that a change in...J. Chem. Phys. 142, 014303 (2015) experimental studies8(b),8(c),14,15 that have used supercritical fluids for which the density can be conveniently...work of Heidelbach et al.20 for azulene/ CO2 and of Paul et al.23 for the C6F6/N2 system. While it is impossible to briefly summarize the vast body of

  15. Spectroscopy and picosecond dynamics of aqueous NO2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gadegaard, Ane Riis; Thøgersen, Jan; Jensen, Svend Knak; Nielsen, Jakob Brun; Jena, Naresh K.; Odelius, Michael; Jensen, Frank; Keiding, Søren Rud

    2014-08-01

    We investigate the formation of aqueous nitrogen dioxide, NO2 formed through femtosecond photolysis of nitrate, NO_3^ - ( {aq} ) and nitromethane CH3NO2(aq). Common to the experiments is the observation of a strong induced absorption at 1610 ± 10 cm-1, assigned to the asymmetric stretch vibration in the ground state of NO2. This assignment is substantiated through isotope experiments substituting 14N by 15N, experiments at different pH values, and by theoretical calculations and simulations of NO2-D2O clusters.

  16. Toward wearable sensors: optical sensor for detection of ammonium nitrate-based explosives, ANFO and ANNM.

    PubMed

    Sheykhi, Sara; Mosca, Lorenzo; Anzenbacher, Pavel

    2017-05-04

    Increasing security needs require compact and portable detection tools for the rapid and reliable identification of explosives used in improvised explosive devices (IEDs). We report of an easy-to-use optical sensor for both vapour-phase and solution-phase identification of explosive mixtures that uses a cross-reactive fluorimetric sensor array comprising chemically responsive fluorimetric indicators composed of aromatic aldehydes and polyethyleneimine. Ammonium nitrate-nitromethane (ANNM) was analyzed by paper microzone arrays and nanofiber sensor mats. Progress toward wearable sensors based on electrospun nanofiber mats is outlined.

  17. Formation of multi-stereogenic centers using a catalytic diastereoselective Henry reaction.

    PubMed

    Arai, Takayoshi; Taneda, Yoshinori; Endo, Yoko

    2010-11-14

    A diastereoselective Henry reaction of chiral aldehydes with nitroalkanes was developed using a chiral sulfonyldiamine (L1)-CuCl complex. The reaction of (R)-2-phenylpropanal and nitromethane was smoothly catalyzed by the (S,S,S)-L1-CuCl complex to give the adduct with 99/1 syn/anti selectivity in 99% ee. In the reaction of (S)-2-phenylpropanal and nitroethane, the (R,R,R)-L1-CuCl catalyst yielded the expected three contiguous stereogenic centers in a highly syn-selective Henry reaction.

  18. Rovibrational photoionization dynamics of methyl and its isotopomers studied by high-resolution photoionization and photoelectron spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schulenburg, A. M.; Alcaraz, Ch.; Grassi, G.; Merkt, F.

    2006-09-01

    High-resolution photoionization and pulsed-field-ionization zero-kinetic-energy photoelectron spectra of CH3, CH2D, CHD2, and CD3 have been recorded in the vicinity of the first adiabatic ionization threshold following single-photon excitation from the ground neutral state using a narrow-bandwidth vacuum-ultraviolet laser. The radicals were produced from the precursor molecules methyl-bromide, methyl-iodide, dimethyl-thioether, acetone, and nitromethane by 193nm excimer photolysis in a quartz capillary and were subsequently cooled to a rotational temperature Trot≈30K in a supersonic expansion. Nitromethane was identified as a particularly suitable photolytic precursor of methyl for studies by photoionization and threshold photoelectron spectroscopy. Thanks to the cold rotational temperature reached in the supersonic expansion, the rotational structure of the threshold ionization spectra could be resolved, and the photoionization dynamics investigated. Rydberg series converging on excited rotational levels of CH3+ could be observed in the range of principal quantum number n =30-50, and both rotational autoionization and predissociation were identified as decay processes in the threshold region. The observed photoionization transitions can be understood in the realm of an orbital model for direct ionization but the intensity distributions can only be fully accounted for if the rotational channel interactions mediated by the quadrupole of the cation are considered. Improved values of the adiabatic ionization thresholds were derived for all isotopomers [CH3: 79356.2(15)cm-1, CH2D: 79338.8(15)cm-1, CHD2: 79319.1(15)cm-1, and CD3: 79296.4(15)cm-1].

  19. Multiple product pathways in photodissociation of nitromethane at 213 nm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sumida, Masataka; Kohge, Yasunori; Yamasaki, Katsuyoshi; Kohguchi, Hiroshi

    2016-02-01

    In this paper, we present a photodissociation dynamics study of nitromethane at 213 nm in the π → π* transition. Resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy and ion-imaging were applied to measure the internal state distributions and state-resolved scattering distributions of the CH3, NO(X 2Π, A 2Σ+), and O(3PJ) photofragments. The rotationally state-resolved scattering distribution of the CH3 fragment showed two velocity components, of which the slower one decreased the relative intensity as the rotational and vibrational excitations. The translational energy distribution of the faster CH3 fragment indicated the production of the NO2 counter-product in the electronic excited state, wherein 1 2B2 was the most probable. The NO(v = 0) fragment exhibited a bimodal translational energy distribution, whereas the NO(v = 1 and 2) fragment exhibited a single translational energy component with a relatively larger internal energy. The translational energy of a portion of the O(3PJ) photofragment was found to be higher than the one-photon dissociation threshold, indicating the two-photon process involved. The NO(A 2Σ+) fragment, which was detected by ionization spectroscopy via the Rydberg ←A 2Σ+ transition, also required two-photon energy. These experimental data corroborate the existence of competing photodissociation product pathways, CH3 + NO2,CH3 + NO + O,CH3O + NO, and CH3NO + O, following the π → π* transition. The origins of the observed photofragments are discussed in this report along with recent theoretical studies and previous dynamics experiments performed at 193 nm.

  20. Multiple product pathways in photodissociation of nitromethane at 213 nm.

    PubMed

    Sumida, Masataka; Kohge, Yasunori; Yamasaki, Katsuyoshi; Kohguchi, Hiroshi

    2016-02-14

    In this paper, we present a photodissociation dynamics study of nitromethane at 213 nm in the π → π(*) transition. Resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy and ion-imaging were applied to measure the internal state distributions and state-resolved scattering distributions of the CH3, NO(X (2)Π, A (2)Σ(+)), and O((3)PJ) photofragments. The rotationally state-resolved scattering distribution of the CH3 fragment showed two velocity components, of which the slower one decreased the relative intensity as the rotational and vibrational excitations. The translational energy distribution of the faster CH3 fragment indicated the production of the NO2 counter-product in the electronic excited state, wherein 1 (2)B2 was the most probable. The NO(v = 0) fragment exhibited a bimodal translational energy distribution, whereas the NO(v = 1 and 2) fragment exhibited a single translational energy component with a relatively larger internal energy. The translational energy of a portion of the O((3)PJ) photofragment was found to be higher than the one-photon dissociation threshold, indicating the two-photon process involved. The NO(A (2)Σ(+)) fragment, which was detected by ionization spectroscopy via the Rydberg ← A (2)Σ(+) transition, also required two-photon energy. These experimental data corroborate the existence of competing photodissociation product pathways, CH3 + NO2,CH3 + NO + O,CH3O + NO, and CH3NO + O, following the π → π(*) transition. The origins of the observed photofragments are discussed in this report along with recent theoretical studies and previous dynamics experiments performed at 193 nm.

  1. Anchoring the Gas-Phase Acidity Scale from Hydrogen Sulfide to Pyrrole. Experimental Bond Dissociation Energies of Nitromethane, Ethanethiol, and Cyclopentadiene.

    PubMed

    Ervin, Kent M; Nickel, Alex A; Lanorio, Jerry G; Ghale, Surja B

    2015-07-16

    A meta-analysis of experimental information from a variety of sources is combined with statistical thermodynamics calculations to refine the gas-phase acidity scale from hydrogen sulfide to pyrrole. The absolute acidities of hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, and pyrrole are evaluated from literature R-H bond energies and radical electron affinities to anchor the scale. Relative acidities from proton-transfer equilibrium experiments are used in a local thermochemical network optimized by least-squares analysis to obtain absolute acidities of 14 additional acids in the region. Thermal enthalpy and entropy corrections are applied using molecular parameters from density functional theory, with explicit calculation of hindered rotor energy levels for torsional modes. The analysis reduces the uncertainties of the absolute acidities of the 14 acids to within ±1.2 to ±3.3 kJ/mol, expressed as estimates of the 95% confidence level. The experimental gas-phase acidities are compared with calculations, with generally good agreement. For nitromethane, ethanethiol, and cyclopentadiene, the refined acidities can be combined with electron affinities of the corresponding radicals from photoelectron spectroscopy to obtain improved values of the C-H or S-H bond dissociation energies, yielding D298(H-CH2NO2) = 423.5 ± 2.2 kJ mol(-1), D298(C2H5S-H) = 364.7 ± 2.2 kJ mol(-1), and D298(C5H5-H) = 347.4 ± 2.2 kJ mol(-1). These values represent the best-available experimental bond dissociation energies for these species.

  2. Differential solute gas response in ionic-liquid-based QCM arrays: elucidating design factors responsible for discriminative explosive gas sensing.

    PubMed

    Rehman, Abdul; Hamilton, Andrew; Chung, Alfred; Baker, Gary A; Wang, Zhe; Zeng, Xiangqun

    2011-10-15

    An eight-sensor array coupling a chemoselective room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) transduction is presented in this work in order to demonstrate the power of this approach in differentiating closely related analytes in sensory devices. The underlying mechanism behind the specific sensory response was explored by (i) studying mass loading and viscoelasticity effects of the sensing layers, predominantly through variation in damping impedance, the combination of which determines the sensitivity; (ii) creation of a solvation model based on Abraham's solvation descriptors which reveals the fact that polarizability and lipophilicity are the main factors influencing the dissolution of gas analytes into the RTILs; and (iii) determination of enthalpy and entropy values for the studied interactions and comparison via a simulation model, which is also effective for pattern discrimination, in order to establish a foundation for the analytical scientist as well as inspiration for synthetic pathways and innovative research into next-generation sensory approaches. The reported sensors displayed an excellent sensitivity with detection limit of <0.2%, fast response and recovery, and a workable temperature range of 27-55 °C and even higher. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) showed a discrimination accuracy of 86-92% for nitromethane and 1-ethyl-2-nitrobenzene, 71% for different mixtures of nitromethane, and 100% for these analytes when thermodynamic parameters were used as input data. We envisage applications to detecting other nitroaromatics and security-related gas targets, and high-temperature or real-time situations where manual access is restricted, opening up new horizons in chemical sensing. © 2011 American Chemical Society

  3. Scaling of the Propulsive Capability of Aluminized Gelled Nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Loiseau, Jason; Higgins, Andrew; Frost, David; Zhang, Fan

    2017-06-01

    It is well accepted that small mass fractions (<20%) of micron-scale aluminum particles added to a high explosive can react quickly and with sufficient exothermicity to improve metal-acceleration ability (AA) relative to an equal volume of only the base explosive. In order for the aluminum to increase AA, exothermicity must more than offset losses in gas-production and from heating and accelerating the solid particle in the flow. Furthermore, particles must react promptly to deliver this energy prior to loss in driving pressure with product expansion or acoustic decoupling from the driven material. For these reasons many aluminized formulations exhibit slight or no increase in AA ability. Furthermore, AA ability is typically studied using the cylinder test, which specifies a fixed, heavy copper wall. In the present study the authors have used symmetric sandwiches of flyer plates of varying thicknesses to examine how charge scaling and plate acceleration timescales influence the enhancement in AA for different mass fractions and sizes of aluminum particles. Nitromethane gelled with 4% Poly(methyl methacrylate) by mass was used as the base explosive. 3M K1 microballoons were added at a mass fraction of 0.5% to sensitize the mixture. Mass fraction of aluminum was varied between 10% and 40% and particle size was varied from 2 μm to 100 μm. For small mass fractions of alumimum, an enhancement in AA was observed for all particle sizes and flyer configurations and indicated an onset of reaction very close to the sonic plane of the detonation wave.

  4. Analysis of the νb{6} Asymmetric no Stretch Band of Nitromethane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dawadi, Mahesh B.; Degliumberto, Lou; Perry, David S.; Mettee, Howard; Sams, Robert L.

    2017-06-01

    The b-type band near 1583 \\wn has been assigned for m ≤ 3, K''_{a} ≤ 10, J'' ≤ 20. The ground state combination differences derived from these assigned levels were fit with the RAM36 program with an RMS deviation of 0.0006 \\wn. The upper state levels are split into multiplets by perturbations. A subset of the available upper state combination differences for m = 0, K'_{a} ≤ 7, J' ≤ 10 were fit with the same program, but with rather poorer precision (0.01 \\wn) than for the ground state.

  5. Catalytic, Enantioselective Synthesis of Stilbene cis-Diamines: A Concise Preparation of (–)-Nutlin-3, a Potent p53/MDM2 Inhibitor

    PubMed Central

    Davis, Tyler A.

    2012-01-01

    The first highly diastereo- and enantioselective additions of aryl nitromethane pronucleophiles to aryl aldimines are described. Identification of an electron rich chiral Bis(Amidine) catalyst for this aza-Henry variant was key to this development, leading ultimately to differentially protected cis-stilbene diamines in two steps. This method then became the lynchpin for an enantioselective synthesis of (–)-Nutlin-3 (Hoffmann-LaRoche), a potent cis-imidazoline small molecule inhibitor of p53-MDM2 used extensively as a probe of cell biology and currently in drug development. PMID:22708054

  6. Initiation of Detonation in Multiple Shock-Compressed Liquid Explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yoshinaka, A. C.; Zhang, F.; Petel, O. E.; Higgins, A. J.

    2006-07-01

    Initiation and resulting propagation of detonation via multiple shock reverberations between two high impedance plates has been investigated in amine-sensitized nitromethane. Experiments were designed so that the first reflected shock strength was below the critical value for initiation found previously. Luminosity combined with a distinct pressure hump indicated onset of reaction and successful initiation after double or triple shock reflection off the bottom plate. Final temperature estimates for double or triple shock reflection immediately before initiation lie between 700-720 K, consistent with those found previously for both incident and singly reflected shock initiation.

  7. Technical Report for the Period 1 January 1964 to 30 June 1964

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1964-08-24

    Determinations y Temperature Nitromethane 15 1.15 3380 20°K Ethyl nitrate 6 1.15 -3130 t 20 0 K DEGN 6 1.20 3320 t 20K /There ..... -33 - SECRLT/DISCREET SEC LT/ D ...UNCSSIFIED D - E.RD.E. TR. 1/64 COPY No.. 9 . ISTRIBUTIfON STATEMENT A Approved for Public Release Distuibution Ulimited MINISTRY OF AVIATION...M C SR fAITO.AEPH,LNO,WC E.1. D ). Printing Section E.R.D.E. TR.1/64 WAf/156/015 HINISTRY OF AVIATION EXPLOSIVES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPI1ENT

  8. Water solvent effects using continuum and discrete models: The nitromethane molecule, CH3NO2.

    PubMed

    Modesto-Costa, Lucas; Uhl, Elmar; Borges, Itamar

    2015-11-15

    The first three valence transitions of the two nitromethane conformers (CH3NO2) are two dark n → π* transitions and a very intense π → π* transition. In this work, these transitions in gas-phase and solvated in water of both conformers were investigated theoretically. The polarizable continuum model (PCM), two conductor-like screening (COSMO) models, and the discrete sequential quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (S-QM/MM) method were used to describe the solvation effect on the electronic spectra. Time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), configuration interaction including all single substitutions and perturbed double excitations (CIS(D)), the symmetry-adapted-cluster CI (SAC-CI), the multistate complete active space second order perturbation theory (CASPT2), and the algebraic-diagrammatic construction (ADC(2)) electronic structure methods were used. Gas-phase CASPT2, SAC-CI, and ADC(2) results are in very good agreement with published experimental and theoretical spectra. Among the continuum models, PCM combined either with CASPT2, SAC-CI, or B3LYP provided good agreement with available experimental data. COSMO combined with ADC(2) described the overall trends of the transition energy shifts. The effect of increasing the number of explicit water molecules in the S-QM/MM approach was discussed and the formation of hydrogen bonds was clearly established. By including explicitly 24 water molecules corresponding to the complete first solvation shell in the S-QM/MM approach, the ADC(2) method gives more accurate results as compared to the TDDFT approach and with similar computational demands. The ADC(2) with S-QM/MM model is, therefore, the best compromise for accurate solvent calculations in a polar environment. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. Thermal Dissociation and Roaming Isomerization of Nitromethane: Experiment and Theory.

    PubMed

    Annesley, Christopher J; Randazzo, John B; Klippenstein, Stephen J; Harding, Lawrence B; Jasper, Ahren W; Georgievskii, Yuri; Ruscic, Branko; Tranter, Robert S

    2015-07-16

    The thermal decomposition of nitromethane provides a classic example of the competition between roaming mediated isomerization and simple bond fission. A recent theoretical analysis suggests that as the pressure is increased from 2 to 200 Torr the product distribution undergoes a sharp transition from roaming dominated to bond-fission dominated. Laser schlieren densitometry is used to explore the variation in the effect of roaming on the density gradients for CH3NO2 decomposition in a shock tube for pressures of 30, 60, and 120 Torr at temperatures ranging from 1200 to 1860 K. A complementary theoretical analysis provides a novel exploration of the effects of roaming on the thermal decomposition kinetics. The analysis focuses on the roaming dynamics in a reduced dimensional space consisting of the rigid-body motions of the CH3 and NO2 radicals. A high-level reduced-dimensionality potential energy surface is developed from fits to large-scale multireference ab initio calculations. Rigid body trajectory simulations coupled with master equation kinetics calculations provide high-level a priori predictions for the thermal branching between roaming and dissociation. A statistical model provides a qualitative/semiquantitative interpretation of the results. Modeling efforts explore the relation between the predicted roaming branching and the observed gradients. Overall, the experiments are found to be fairly consistent with the theoretically proposed branching ratio, but they are also consistent with a no-roaming scenario and the underlying reasons are discussed. The theoretical predictions are also compared with prior theoretical predictions, with a related statistical model, and with the extant experimental data for the decomposition of CH3NO2, and for the reaction of CH3 with NO2.

  10. Multiple product pathways in photodissociation of nitromethane at 213 nm

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sumida, Masataka; Kohge, Yasunori; Yamasaki, Katsuyoshi

    2016-02-14

    In this paper, we present a photodissociation dynamics study of nitromethane at 213 nm in the π → π{sup *} transition. Resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy and ion-imaging were applied to measure the internal state distributions and state-resolved scattering distributions of the CH{sub 3}, NO(X {sup 2}Π, A {sup 2}Σ{sup +}), and O({sup 3}P{sub J}) photofragments. The rotationally state-resolved scattering distribution of the CH{sub 3} fragment showed two velocity components, of which the slower one decreased the relative intensity as the rotational and vibrational excitations. The translational energy distribution of the faster CH{sub 3} fragment indicated the production of themore » NO{sub 2} counter-product in the electronic excited state, wherein 1 {sup 2}B{sub 2} was the most probable. The NO(v = 0) fragment exhibited a bimodal translational energy distribution, whereas the NO(v = 1 and 2) fragment exhibited a single translational energy component with a relatively larger internal energy. The translational energy of a portion of the O({sup 3}P{sub J}) photofragment was found to be higher than the one-photon dissociation threshold, indicating the two-photon process involved. The NO(A {sup 2}Σ{sup +}) fragment, which was detected by ionization spectroscopy via the Rydberg ←A {sup 2}Σ{sup +} transition, also required two-photon energy. These experimental data corroborate the existence of competing photodissociation product pathways, CH{sub 3} + NO{sub 2},CH{sub 3} + NO + O,CH{sub 3}O + NO, and CH{sub 3}NO + O, following the π → π{sup *} transition. The origins of the observed photofragments are discussed in this report along with recent theoretical studies and previous dynamics experiments performed at 193 nm.« less

  11. NMR investigation and theoretical calculations of the solvent effect on the conformation of valsartan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chashmniam, Saeed; Tafazzoli, Mohsen

    2017-11-01

    Structure and conformational properties of valsartan were studied by advanced NMR techniques and quantum calculation methods. Potential energy scanning using B3LYP/6-311++g** and B3LYP-D3/6-311++g** methods were performed and four conformers (V1-V4) at minimum points of PES diagram were observed. According to the NMR spectra in acetone-d6, there are two conformers (M and m) with m/M = 0.52 ratio simultaneously and energy barriers of the two conformers were predicted from chemical shifts and multiplicities. While, intramolecular hydrogen bond at tetrazole ring and carboxylic groups prevent the free rotation on N6sbnd C11 bond in M-conformer, this bond rotates freely in m-conformer. On the other hand, intramolecular hydrogen bond at carbonyl and carboxylic acid can be observed at m-conformer. So, different intramolecular hydrogen bond is the reason for the stability of both M and m structures. Quite interestingly, 1H NMR spectra in CDCl3 show two distinct conformers (N and n) with unequal ratio which are differ from M-m conformers. Also, intramolecular hydrogen bond seven-member ring involving five-membered tetrazole ring and carboxylic acid group observed in both N and n-conformers Solvent effect, by using a set of polar and non-polar solvents including DMSO-d6, methanol-d4, benzene-d6, THF-d8, nitromethane-d3, methylene chloride-d2 and acetonitrile-d3 were investigated. NMR parameters include chemical shifts and spin-spin coupling constants were obtained from a set of 2D NMR spectra (H-H COSY, HMQC and HMBC). For this purpose, several DFT functionals from LDA, GGA and hybrid categories were used which the hybrid method showed better agreement with experiment values.

  12. Spectroscopy and picosecond dynamics of aqueous NO{sub 2}

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gadegaard, Ane Riis; Thøgersen, Jan; Jensen, Svend Knak

    2014-08-14

    We investigate the formation of aqueous nitrogen dioxide, NO{sub 2} formed through femtosecond photolysis of nitrate, NO{sub 3}{sup −}(aq) and nitromethane CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}(aq). Common to the experiments is the observation of a strong induced absorption at 1610 ± 10 cm{sup −1}, assigned to the asymmetric stretch vibration in the ground state of NO{sub 2}. This assignment is substantiated through isotope experiments substituting {sup 14}N by {sup 15}N, experiments at different pH values, and by theoretical calculations and simulations of NO{sub 2}–D{sub 2}O clusters.

  13. Synthesis of 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine

    DOEpatents

    Hiskey, Michael A.; Coburn, Michael D.

    1994-01-01

    A process of preparing 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine including forming a 5-hydroxymethyl-5-nitro-1-alkyltetrahydro-1,3-oxazine, e.g., reacting a 1,3,5-trialkyl hexahydrotriazine and tris(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane, ring opening said 5-hydroxymethyl-5-nitro-1-alkyltetrahydro-1,3-oxazine to form a 3-alkylamino-2-hydroxymethyl-2-nitro-1-propanol salt, ring closing said 3-alkylamino-2-hydroxymethyl-2-nitro-1-propanol salt to form a 3-hydroxymethyl-3-nitro-1-alkylazetidine salt, nitrating said 3-hydroxymethyl-3-nitro-1-alkylazetidine salt to form a 1-alkyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine, and converting said 1-alkyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine into 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine is disclosed.

  14. Large-Amplitude Deformation and Bond Breakage in Shock-Induced Reactions of Explosive Molecules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kay, Jeffrey

    The response of explosive molecules to large-amplitude mechanical deformation plays an important role in shock-induced reactions and the initiation of detonation in explosive materials. In this presentation, the response of a series of explosive molecules (nitromethane, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene [TNT], and 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene [TATB]) to a variety of large-amplitude deformations are examined using ab initio quantum chemical calculations. Large-amplitude motions that result in bond breakage are described, and the insights these results provide into both previous experimental observations and previous theoretical predictions of shock-induced reactions are discussed.

  15. The gas chromatographic resolution of DL-isovaline

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Flores, J. J.; Bonner, W. A.; Van Dort, M. A.

    1977-01-01

    Isovaline is of cosmological interest because it is one of the 12 non-protein amino acids which have been isolated from the Murchison meteorite, and unlike the other chiral amino acids in this meteorite, it has no alpha-hydrogen at its asymmetric center and hence cannot racemize by the customary alpha-hydrogen-dependent mechanisms which engender racemization in ordinary amino acids. Experiments were conducted in which a .01 M solution of N-TFA-DL-isovalyl-L-leucine isopropyl ester in nitromethane was injected into the capillary column of a gas chromatograph coupled to a digital electronic integrator-recorder. Efflux times and integrated peak area percents are shown next to each diastereometer peak.

  16. Nonholonomic Hamiltonian Method for Meso-macroscale Simulations of Reacting Shocks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fahrenthold, Eric; Lee, Sangyup

    2015-06-01

    The seamless integration of macroscale, mesoscale, and molecular scale models of reacting shock physics has been hindered by dramatic differences in the model formulation techniques normally used at different scales. In recent research the authors have developed the first unified discrete Hamiltonian approach to multiscale simulation of reacting shock physics. Unlike previous work, the formulation employs reacting themomechanical Hamiltonian formulations at all scales, including the continuum. Unlike previous work, the formulation employs a nonholonomic modeling approach to systematically couple the models developed at all scales. Example applications of the method show meso-macroscale shock to detonation simulations in nitromethane and RDX. Research supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

  17. Synthesis of 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine

    DOEpatents

    Hiskey, M.A.; Coburn, M.D.

    1994-08-09

    A process of preparing 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine includes forming a 5-hydroxymethyl-5-nitro-1-alkyltetrahydro-1,3-oxazine, e.g., reacting a 1,3,5-trialkyl hexahydrotriazine and tris(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane, ring opening said 5-hydroxymethyl-5-nitro-1-alkyltetrahydro-1,3-oxazine to form a 3-alkylamino-2-hydroxymethyl-2-nitro-1-propanol salt, ring closing said 3-alkylamino-2-hydroxymethyl-2-nitro-1-propanol salt to form a 3-hydroxymethyl-3-nitro-1-alkylazetidine salt, nitrating said 3-hydroxymethyl-3-nitro-1-alkylazetidine salt to form a 1-alkyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine, and converting said 1-alkyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine into 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine is disclosed. 1 fig.

  18. Mesoscopic simulations of shock-to-detonation transition in reactive liquid high explosive

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maillet, J. B.; Bourasseau, E.; Desbiens, N.; Vallverdu, G.; Stoltz, G.

    2011-12-01

    An extension of the model described in a previous work (see Maillet J. B. et al., EPL, 78 (2007) 68001) based on Dissipative Particle Dynamics is presented and applied to a liquid high explosive (HE), with thermodynamic properties mimicking those of liquid nitromethane. Large scale nonequilibrium simulations of reacting liquid HE with model kinetic under sustained shock conditions allow a better understanding of the shock-to-detonation transition in homogeneous explosives. Moreover, the propagation of the reactive wave appears discontinuous since ignition points in the shocked material can be activated by the compressive waves emitted from the onset of chemical reactions.

  19. Application of Van Der Waals Density Functional Theory to Study Physical Properties of Energetic Materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Conroy, M. W.; Budzevich, M. M.; Lin, Y.; Oleynik, I. I.; White, C. T.

    2009-12-01

    An empirical correction to account for van der Waals interactions based on the work of Neumann and Perrin [J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 15531 (2005)] was applied to density functional theory calculations of energetic molecular crystals. The calculated equilibrium unit-cell volumes of FOX-7, β-HMX, solid nitromethane, PETN-I, α-RDX, and TATB show a significant improvement in the agreement with experimental results. Hydrostatic-compression simulations of β-HMX, PETN-I, and α-RDX were also performed. The isothermal equations of state calculated from the results show increased agreement with experiment in the pressure intervals studied.

  20. 3-O-Benzyl-6-O-benzoyl-1,2-O-isopropil-idene-5-C-nitro-methyl-a-d-glucofuran-ose.

    PubMed

    Pampín, Begoña; Valencia, Laura; Estévez, Juan C; Estévez, Ramón J

    2009-01-17

    The title compound, C(24)H(27)NO(9), is one of the epimers of the Henry reaction of 3-O-benzyl-6-O-benzoyl-2-O-isopropyl-idene-a-d-glucofuran-5-one with nitro-methane. The conformation of the five membered rings is as expected from the precursor compound and the mol-ecule is folded with a dihedral angle of 51.4 (2)° between the aromatic rings. One O-H⋯O hydrogen bond and some intra-molecular and inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions are observed in the structure.

  1. Noncontact detection of homemade explosive constituents via photodissociation followed by laser-induced fluorescence.

    PubMed

    Wynn, C M; Palmacci, S; Kunz, R R; Rothschild, M

    2010-03-15

    Noncontact detection of the homemade explosive constituents urea nitrate, nitromethane and ammonium nitrate is achieved using photodissociation followed by laser-induced fluorescence (PD-LIF). Our technique utilizes a single ultraviolet laser pulse (approximately 7 ns) to vaporize and photodissociate the condensed-phase materials, and then to detect the resulting vibrationally-excited NO fragments via laser-induced fluorescence. PD-LIF excitation and emission spectra indicate the creation of NO in vibrationally-excited states with significant rotational energy, useful for low-background detection of the parent compound. The results for homemade explosives are compared to one another and 2,6-dinitrotoluene, a component present in many military explosives.

  2. Rheological and electrical properties of hybrid nanocomposites of epoxy resins filled with graphite nanoplatelets and carbon black.

    PubMed

    Truong, Quang-Trung; Lee, Seon-Suk; Lee, Dai-Soo

    2011-02-01

    Graphite nanoplatelets (GNP) were prepared by microwave irradiation of natural graphites intercalated with ferric chloride in nitromethane (GIC). Intercalated structure of GIC was confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns. SEM images of GIC after microwave irradiation showed the exfoliation of GIC, the formation of GNPs. Hybrid nanocomposites of bisphenol-A type epoxy resins filled with GNP and a conductive carbon black (CB) were prepared and rheological and electrical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. Viscosity and electrical surface resistivity of the nanocomposites showed minima at certain mixtures of GNP and CB in the epoxy resins.

  3. Broadband mid-infrared measurements for shock induced chemistry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McGrane, Shawn; Bowlan, Pamela; Brown, Kathryn; Bolme, Cynthia; Cawkwell, Marc

    2017-06-01

    Vibrational absorption spectroscopy across the mid-infrared range is a ubiquitous diagnostic of chemical effects due to its sensitivity to small variations in bonding. At the high temperatures and pressures relevant to shock induced chemistry, vibrational spectral peaks become very broad, and accessing as much spectral range as possible with high time resolution can significantly aid in deducing chemical dynamics. Here, we report experiments using broadband (<500 cm-1 to >2000 cm-1) mid-infrared femtosecond supercontinua created by four wave mixing in filaments to perform absorption spectroscopy. These broadband mid-infrared supercontinua are detected through upconversion to visible light. Initial efforts to utilize these methods for measurement of chemical dynamics in shocked nitromethane will be reported.

  4. Bifunctional Iminophosphorane Organocatalysts for Enantioselective Synthesis: Application to the Ketimine Nitro-Mannich Reaction

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    The design, synthesis, and development of a new class of modular, strongly basic, and tunable bifunctional Brønsted base/H-bond-donor organocatalysts are reported. These catalysts incorporate a triaryliminophosphorane as the Brønsted basic moiety and are readily synthesized via a last step Staudinger reaction of a chiral organoazide and a triarylphosphine. Their application to the first general enantioselective organocatalytic nitro-Mannich reaction of nitromethane to unactivated ketone-derived imines allows the enantioselective construction of β-nitroamines possessing a fully substituted carbon atom. The reaction is amenable to multigram scale-up, and the products are useful for the synthesis of enantiopure 1,2-diamine and α-amino acid derivatives. PMID:24107070

  5. Numerical Simulation of Shock Interaction with Deformable Particles Using a Constrained Interface Reinitialization Scheme

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jackson, Thomas L.; Sridharan, Prashanth; Zhang, Ju; Balachandar, S.

    2015-11-01

    In this work we present axisymmetric numerical simulations of shock propagating in nitromethane over an aluminum particle for post-shock pressures up to 10 GPa. The numerical method is a finite-volume based solver on a Cartesian grid, which allows for multi-material interfaces and shocks. To preserve particle mass and volume, a novel constraint reinitialization scheme is introduced. We compute the unsteady drag coefficient as a function of post-shock pressure, and show that when normalized by post-shock conditions, the maximum drag coefficient decreases with increasing post-shock pressure. Using this information, we also present a simplified point-particle force model that can be used for mesoscale simulations.

  6. Deflagration rates of secondary explosives under static MPa - GPa pressure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zaug, Joseph; Young, Christopher; Glascoe, Elizabeth; Maienschein, Jon; Hart, Elaine; Long, Gregory; Black, Collin; Sykora, Gregory; Wardell, Jeffrey

    2009-06-01

    We discuss our measurements of the chemical reaction propagation rate (RPR) as a function of pressure using diamond anvil cell (DAC) and strand burner technologies. Materials investigated include HMX and RDX crystalline powders, LX-04 (85% HMX and 15% Viton A), and Comp B (63% RDX, 36% TNT, 1% wax). The anomalous correspondence between crystal structure, including in some instances isostructural phase transitions, on pressure dependant RPRs of TATB, HMX, Nitromethane, and Viton are elucidated using micro -IR and -Raman spectroscopies. The contrast between DAC GPa and strand burner MPa regime measurements yields insight into explosive material burn phenomena. Here we highlight pressure dependent physicochemical mechanisms that appear to affect the deflagration rate of precompressed energetic materials.

  7. Nonholonomic Hamiltonian Method for Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Reacting Shocks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fahrenthold, Eric; Bass, Joseph

    2015-06-01

    Conventional molecular dynamics simulations of reacting shocks employ a holonomic Hamiltonian formulation: the breaking and forming of covalent bonds is described by potential functions. In general these potential functions: (a) are algebraically complex, (b) must satisfy strict smoothness requirements, and (c) contain many fitted parameters. In recent research the authors have developed a new noholonomic formulation of reacting molecular dynamics. In this formulation bond orders are determined by rate equations and the bonding-debonding process need not be described by differentiable functions. This simplifies the representation of complex chemistry and reduces the number of fitted model parameters. Example applications of the method show molecular level shock to detonation simulations in nitromethane and RDX. Research supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

  8. Detonation Propagation through Nitromethane Embedded Metal Foam

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lieberthal, Brandon; Maines, Warren R.; Stewart, D. Scott

    2015-11-01

    There is considerable interest in developing a better understanding of dynamic behaviors of multicomponent systems. We report results of Eulerian hydrodynamic simulations of shock waves propagating through metal foam at approximately 20% relative density and various porosities using a reactive flow model in the ALE3D software package. We investigate the applied pressure and energy of the shock wave and its effects on the fluid and the inert material interface. By varying pore sizes, as well as metal impedance, we predict the overall effects of heterogeneous material systems at the mesoscale. In addition, we observe a radially expanding blast front in these heterogeneous models and apply the theory of Detonation Shock Dynamics to the convergence behavior of the lead shock.

  9. Ultrafast studies of shock induced chemistry-scaling down the size by turning up the heat

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McGrane, Shawn

    2015-06-01

    We will discuss recent progress in measuring time dependent shock induced chemistry on picosecond time scales. Data on the shock induced chemistry of liquids observed through picosecond interferometric and spectroscopic measurements will be reconciled with shock induced chemistry observed on orders of magnitude larger time and length scales from plate impact experiments reported in the literature. While some materials exhibit chemistry consistent with simple thermal models, other materials, like nitromethane, seem to have more complex behavior. More detailed measurements of chemistry and temperature across a broad range of shock conditions, and therefore time and length scales, will be needed to achieve a real understanding of shock induced chemistry, and we will discuss efforts and opportunities in this direction.

  10. Di­chlorido­[N-(N,N-di­methyl­carbamimido­yl)-N′,N′,4-tri­methyl­benzohydrazonamide]­platinum(II) nitro­methane hemisolvate

    PubMed Central

    Bolotin, Dmitrii S.; Bokach, Nadezha A.; Haukka, Matti

    2014-01-01

    In the title compound, [PtCl2(C13H21N5)]·0.5CH3NO2, the PtII atom is coordinated in a slightly distorted square-planar geometry by two Cl atoms and two N atoms of the bidentate ligand. The (1,3,5-tri­aza­penta­diene)PtII metalla ring is slightly bent and does not conjugate with the aromatic ring. In the crystal, N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds link the complex mol­ecules, forming chains along [001]. The nitromethane solvent molecule shows half-occupancy and is disordered over two sets of sites about an inversion centre. PMID:24826095

  11. Nitrite Formation from Hydroxylamine and Oximes by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

    PubMed Central

    Amarger, Noelle; Alexander, M.

    1968-01-01

    Nitrite was formed from hydroxylamine and several oximes by intact cells and extracts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The activity was induced by the presence of oximes in the culture medium. Nitroalkanes were not intermediates in the conversion of acetaldoxime, acetone oxime, or butanone oxime to nitrite, since nitromethane inhibited the formation of nitrite from the nitro compounds but not from the corresponding oximes. The oxime apparently functions as a constant source of hydroxylamine during growth of the bacterium. Hydroxylamine at low concentration was converted stoichiometrically to nitrite by extracts of the bacterium; high concentrations were inhibitory. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, oxygen, and other unidentified cofactors were necessary for the reaction. Actively nitrifying extracts possessed no hydroxylamine-cytochrome c reductase activity. Hyponitrite, nitrous oxide, and nitric oxide were not metabolized. PMID:4384968

  12. Simulations of heterogeneous detonations and post-detonation turbulent mixing and afterburning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gottiparthi, Kalyana Chakravarthi; Menon, Suresh

    2012-03-01

    We conduct three-dimensional numerical simulations of the propagation of blast waves resulting from detonation of a nitromethane charge of radius 5.9 cm loaded with aluminum particles and analyze the afterburn process as well as the generation of multiple scales ofmixing in the post detonation flow field. In the current study, the particle combustion is observed to be dependent on particle dispersal and mixing of gases in the flow where particle dispersal spreads aluminum within the flow and mixing provides the necessary oxidizer. Thus, 5 μm aluminum particles are burnt more effectively in comparison to 10 μm particles for a fixed initial mass of particles. Also, for a fixed initial particle size, increase in the initial mass of aluminum particles resulted in greater mixing.

  13. The effect of detonation wave incidence angle on the acceleration of flyers by explosives heavily laden with inert additives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Loiseau, Jason; Georges, William; Frost, David L.; Higgins, Andrew J.

    2017-01-01

    The incidence angle of a detonation wave in a conventional high explosive influences the acceleration and terminal velocity of a metal flyer by increasing the magnitude of the material velocity imparted by the transmitted shock wave as the detonation is tilted towards normal loading. For non-ideal explosives heavily loaded with inert additives, the detonation velocity is typically subsonic relative to the flyer sound speed, leading to shockless accelerations when the detonation is grazing. Further, in a grazing detonation the particles are initially accelerated in the direction of the detonation and only gain velocity normal to the initial orientation of the flyer at later times due to aerodynamic drag as the detonation products expand. If the detonation wave in a non-ideal explosive instead strikes the flyer at normal incidence, a shock is transmitted into the flyer and the first interaction between the particle additives and the flyer occurs due to the imparted material velocity from the passage of the detonation wave. Consequently, the effect of incidence angle and additive properties may play a more prominent role in the flyer acceleration. In the present study we experimentally compared normal detonation loadings to grazing loadings using a 3-mm-thick aluminum slapper to impact-initiate a planar detonation wave in non-ideal explosive-particle admixtures, which subsequently accelerated a second 6.4-mm-thick flyer. Flyer acceleration was measured with heterodyne laser velocimetry (PDV). The explosive mixtures considered were packed beds of glass or steel particles of varying sizes saturated with sensitized nitromethane, and gelled nitromethane mixed with glass microballoons. Results showed that the primary parameter controlling changes in flyer velocity was the presence of a transmitted shock, with additive density and particle size playing only secondary roles. These results are similar to the grazing detonation experiments, however under normal loading the largest, higher density particles yielded the highest terminal flyer velocity, whereas in the grazing experiments the larger, low density particles yielded the highest terminal velocity.

  14. The evolution of the temperature field during cavity collapse in liquid nitromethane. Part I: inert case

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Michael, L.; Nikiforakis, N.

    2018-02-01

    This work is concerned with the effect of cavity collapse in non-ideal explosives as a means of controlling their sensitivity. The main objective is to understand the origin of localised temperature peaks (hot spots) which play a leading order role at the early stages of ignition. To this end, we perform two- and three-dimensional numerical simulations of shock-induced single gas-cavity collapse in liquid nitromethane. Ignition is the result of a complex interplay between fluid dynamics and exothermic chemical reaction. In order to understand the relative contribution between these two processes, we consider in this first part of the work the evolution of the physical system in the absence of chemical reactions. We employ a multi-phase mathematical formulation which can account for the large density difference across the gas-liquid material interface without generating spurious temperature peaks. The mathematical and physical models are validated against experimental, analytic, and numerical data. Previous inert studies have identified the impact of the upwind (relative to the direction of the incident shock wave) side of the cavity wall to the downwind one as the main reason for the generation of a hot spot outside of the cavity, something which is also observed in this work. However, it is also apparent that the topology of the temperature field is more complex than previously thought and additional hot spot locations exist, which arise from the generation of Mach stems rather than jet impact. To explain the generation mechanisms and topology of the hot spots, we carefully follow the complex wave patterns generated in the collapse process and identify specifically the temperature elevation or reduction generated by each wave. This enables tracking each hot spot back to its origins. It is shown that the highest hot spot temperatures can be more than twice the post-incident shock temperature of the neat material and can thus lead to ignition. By comparing two-dimensional and three-dimensional simulation results in the context of the maximum temperature observed in the domain, it is apparent that three-dimensional calculations are necessary in order to avoid belated ignition times in reactive scenarios.

  15. C–C Bond formation catalyzed by natural gelatin and collagen proteins

    PubMed Central

    Kühbeck, Dennis; Bijayi Dhar, Basab; Schön, Eva-Maria; Cativiela, Carlos; Gotor-Fernández, Vicente

    2013-01-01

    Summary The activity of gelatin and collagen proteins towards C–C bond formation via Henry (nitroaldol) reaction between aldehydes and nitroalkanes is demonstrated for the first time. Among other variables, protein source, physical state and chemical modification influence product yield and kinetics, affording the nitroaldol products in both aqueous and organic media under mild conditions. Significantly, the scale-up of the process between 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and nitromethane is successfully achieved at 1 g scale and in good yield. A comparative kinetic study with other biocatalysts shows an increase of the first-order rate constant in the order chitosan < gelatin < bovine serum albumin (BSA) < collagen. The results of this study indicate that simple edible gelatin can promote C–C bond forming reactions under physiological conditions, which may have important implications from a metabolic perspective. PMID:23843902

  16. Stand-off detection of vapor phase explosives by resonance enhanced Raman spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ehlerding, Anneli; Johansson, Ida; Wallin, Sara; Östmark, Henric

    2010-10-01

    Stand-off measurements on nitromethane (NM), 2,4-DNT and 2,4,6-TNT in vapor phase using resonance Raman spectroscopy have been performed. The Raman cross sections for NM, DNT and TNT in vapor phase have been measured in the wavelength range 210-300 nm under laboratory conditions, in order to estimate how large resonance enhancement factors can be achieved for these explosives. The measurements show that the signal is greatly enhanced, up to 250.000 times for 2,4-DNT and 60.000 times for 2,4,6-TNT compared to the non-resonant signal at 532 nm. For NM the resonance enhancement enabled realistic outdoor measurements in vapor phase at 13 m distance. This all indicate a potential for resonance Raman spectroscopy as a stand-off technique for detection of vapor phase explosives.

  17. Molecular simulations of Crussard curves of detonation product mixtures at chemical equilibrium: Microscopic calculation of the Chapman-Jouguet state

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bourasseau, Emeric; Dubois, Vincent; Desbiens, Nicolas; Maillet, Jean-Bernard

    2007-06-01

    The simultaneous use of the Reaction Ensemble Monte Carlo (ReMC) method and the Adaptative Erpenbeck EOS (AE-EOS) method allows us to calculate direclty the thermodynamical and chemical equilibrium of a mixture on the hugoniot curve. The ReMC method allow to reach chemical equilibrium of detonation products and the AE-EOS method constraints ths system to satisfy the Hugoniot relation. Once the Crussard curve of detonation products has been established, CJ state properties may be calculated. An additional NPT simulation is performed at CJ conditions in order to compute derivative thermodynamic quantities like Cp, Cv, Gruneisen gama, sound velocity, and compressibility factor. Several explosives has been studied, of which PETN, nitromethane, tetranitromethane, and hexanitroethane. In these first simulations, solid carbon is eventually treated using an EOS.

  18. Implosion-driven technique to create fast shockwaves in high-density gas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Serge, Matthew; Loiseau, Jason; Huneault, Justin; Szirti, Daniel; Higgins, Andrew; Tanguay, Vincent

    2012-03-01

    Pressurized tubes surrounded by either one or two layers (separated by a secondary tube) of sensitized nitromethane and encased in a thick-walled tube (the tamper) were imploded. The distance between the detonation wave in the explosive and shock wave in the innermost tube were measured (the standoff). A simple model based on hoop stress and acoustic interactions between the tubing was developed and used to predict the standoff distance. At low initial pressures (on the order of 7MPa), results indicate that the secondary tube and two layers of explosive did not prove to significantly increase the standoff. However, at higher pressures (on the order of 10 MPa), standoff was noticeably greater when the secondary tube was inserted between the pressurized tube and the tamper. The measured values are in reasonable agreement with the predictions of the model.

  19. A Hydrazone-Based Covalent Organic Framework as an Efficient and Reusable Photocatalyst for the Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling Reaction of N-Aryltetrahydroisoquinolines.

    PubMed

    Liu, Wanting; Su, Qing; Ju, Pengyao; Guo, Bixuan; Zhou, Hui; Li, Guanghua; Wu, Qiaolin

    2017-02-22

    A hydrazone-based covalent organic framework (COF) was synthesized by condensation of 2,5-dimethoxyterephthalohydrazide with 1,3,5-triformylbenzene under solvothermal conditions. The COF material exhibits excellent porosity with a BET surface area of up to 1501 m 2  g -1 , high crystallinity, and good thermal and chemical stability. Moreover, it showed efficient photocatalytic activity towards cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reactions between tetrahydroisoquinolines and nucleophiles such as nitromethane, acetone, and phenylethyl ketone. The metal-free catalytic system also offers attractive advantages including simplicity of operation, wide substrate adaptability, ambient reaction conditions, and robust recycling capability of the catalyst, thus providing a promising platform for highly efficient and reusable photocatalysts. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  20. Unreacted Hugoniots for porous and liquid explosives

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gustavsen, R.L.; Sheffield, S.A.

    1993-08-01

    Numerous authors have measured the Hugoniots of a variety of granular explosives pressed to different densities. Each explosive at each density was typically then treated as a unique material having its own Hugoniot. By combining methods used by Hayes, Sheffield and Mitchell (for describing the Hugoniot of HNS at various densities) with Hermann`s P-{alpha} model, it is only necessary to know some thermodynamic constants or the Hugoniot of the initially solid material and the porous material sound speed to obtain accurate unreacted Hugoniots for the porous explosive. We discuss application of this method to several materials including HMX, PETN, TNT,more » and Tetryl, as well as HNS. We also show that the ``Universal Liquid Hugoniot`` can be used to calculate the unreacted Hugoniot for liquid explosives. With this method only the ambient pressure sound speed and density are needed to predict the Hugoniot. Applications presented include nitromethane and liquid TNT.« less

  1. An aviation security (AVSEC) screening demonstrator for the detection of non-metallic threats at 28-33 GHz

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Salmon, Neil A.; Bowring, Nick; Hutchinson, Simon; Southgate, Matthew; O'Reilly, Dean

    2013-10-01

    The unique selling proposition of millimetre wave technology for security screening is that it provides a stand-off or portal scenario sensing capability for non-metallic threats. The capabilities to detect some non-metallic threats are investigated in this paper, whilst recommissioning the AVSEC portal screening system at the Manchester Metropolitan University. The AVSEC system is a large aperture (1.6 m) portal screening imager which uses spatially incoherent illumination at 28-33 GHz from mode scrambling cavities to illuminate the subject. The imaging capability is critically analysed in terms of this illumination. A novel technique for the measurement of reflectance, refractive index and extinction coefficient is investigated and this then use to characterise the signatures of nitromethane, hexane, methanol, bees wax and baking flour. Millimetre wave images are shown how these liquids in polycarbonate bottles and the other materials appear against the human body.

  2. Gold Raspberry-Like Colloidosomes Prepared at the Water-Nitromethane Interface.

    PubMed

    Smirnov, Evgeny; Peljo, Pekka; Girault, Hubert H

    2018-02-27

    In this study, we propose a simple shake-flask method to produce micron-size colloidosomes from a liquid-liquid interface functionalized with a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) film. A step-by-step extraction process of an organic phase partially miscible with water led to the formation of raspberry-like structures covered and protected by a gold nanofilm. The distinctive feature of the prepared colloidosomes is a very thin shell consisting of small AuNPs of 12 or 38 nm in diameter instead of several hundred nanometers reported previously. The interesting and remarkable property of the proposed approach is their reversibility: the colloidosomes may be easily transformed back to a nanofilm state simply by adding pure organic solvent. The obtained colloidosomes have a broadband absorbance spectrum, which makes them of great interest in applications such as photothermal therapy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy studies, and microreactor vesicles for interfacial electrocatalysis.

  3. Unreacted equation of states of typical energetic materials under static compression: A review

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhaoyang, Zheng; Jijun, Zhao

    2016-07-01

    The unreacted equation of state (EOS) of energetic materials is an important thermodynamic relationship to characterize their high pressure behaviors and has practical importance. The previous experimental and theoretical works on the equation of state of several energetic materials including nitromethane, 1,3,5-trinitrohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazacyclooctane (HMX), hexanitrostilbene (HNS), hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (HNIW or CL-20), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105), triamino-trinitrobenzene (TATB), 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (DADNE or FOX-7), and trinitrotoluene (TNT) are reviewed in this paper. The EOS determined from hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic compressions are discussed and compared. The theoretical results based on ab initio calculations are summarized and compared with the experimental data. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11174045 and 11404050).

  4. Detonation Velocity-Diameter Relation in Gelled Explosive with Inert Inclusions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Higgins, Andrew; Loiseau, Jason; Mi, Xiaocheng

    2017-06-01

    The detonation velocity is measured in a gelled explosive that has been sensitized via the addition of glass microballoons (GMBs) and additionally diluted via the inclusion of large scale (300-700 micron) inert inclusions. The base explosive is nitromethane that has been gelled via the addition of poly(methyl methacrylate) and then sensitized via hot-spot inducing glass microballoons. Inert inclusions (e.g., glass, steel beads) are then added to the explosive to make a heterogeneous explosive with heterogeneities that are at a scale disparate from those of the microballoons. This system has the potential to be a synthetic explosive that can be tuned to have the properties of more complex commercial blasting agents. The velocity-diameter relation is studied using weak confinement (polyvinyl chloride) and time-of-arrival gages. The results are also used to further explore the phenomenon of anomalous scaling between axisymmetric charges (cylinders) and two-dimensional (slab) charges.

  5. Purification and properties of nitroalkane-oxidizing enzyme from Hansenula mrakii.

    PubMed Central

    Kido, T; Yamamoto, T; Soda, K

    1976-01-01

    A nitroalkane-oxidizing enzyme was purified about 1,300-fold from a cell extract of Hansenula mrakii grown in a medium containing nitroethane as the sole nitrogen source by ammonium sulfate fractionation, diethylaminoethyl-cellulose column chromatography, hydroxyapatite column chromatography, and Bio-Gel P-150 column chromatography. The enzyme was shown to be homogeneous upon acrylamide gel electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation. The enzyme exhibits absorption maxima at 274, 370, 415, and 440 nm and a shoulder at 470 nm. Balance studies showed that 2 mol of 2-nitropropane is converted into an equimolar amount of acetone and nitrite with the consumption of 1 mol of oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide is not formed in the enzyme reaction. In addition to 2-nitropropane, 1-nitropropane and nitroethane are oxidatively dentrified by the enzyme, but nitromethane is inert to the enzyme. The nitroalkanes are not oxidized under anaerobic conditions. Images PMID:947888

  6. Detonation Failure Thickness Measurement in AN Annular Geometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mack, D. B.; Petel, O. E.; Higgins, A. J.

    2007-12-01

    The failure thickness of neat nitromethane in aluminum confinement was measured using a novel experimental technique. The thickness was approximated in an annular geometry by the gap between a concentric aluminum tube and rod. This technique was motivated by the desire to have a periodic boundary condition in the direction orthogonal to the annulus thickness, rather than a free surface occurring in typical rectangular geometry experiments. This results in a two-dimensional charge analogous to previous failure thickness setups but with infinite effective width (i.e. infinite aspect ratio). Detonation propagation or failure was determined by the observation of failure patterns engraved on the aluminum rod by the passing detonation. Analysis of these engraved patterns provides a statistical measurement of the spatial density of failure waves. Failure was observed as far as 180 thicknesses downstream. The failure thickness was measured to be 1.45 mm±0.15 mm.

  7. Effect of Shock Precompression on the Critical Diameter of Liquid Explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Petel, Oren E.; Higgins, Andrew J.; Yoshinaka, Akio C.; Zhang, Fan

    2006-07-01

    The critical diameter of both ambient and shock-precompressed liquid nitromethane confined in PVC tubing are measured experimentally. The experiment was conducted for both amine sensitized and neat NM. In the precompression experiments, the explosive is compressed by a strong shock wave generated by a donor explosive and reflected from a high impedance anvil prior to being detonated by a secondary event. The pressures reached in the test sections prior to detonation propagation was approximately 7 and 8 GPa for amine sensitized and neat NM respectively. The results demonstrated a 30% - 65% decrease in the critical diameter for the shock-compressed explosives. This critical diameter decrease is observed despite a significant decrease in the predicted Von Neumann temperature of the detonation in the precompressed explosive. The results are discussed in the context of theoretical predictions based on thermal ignition theory and previous critical diameter measurements.

  8. Shock initiation and detonation properties of bisfluorodinitroethyl formal (FEFO)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gibson, L. L.; Sheffield, S. A.; Dattelbaum, Dana M.; Stahl, David B.

    2012-03-01

    FEFO is a liquid explosive with a density of 1.60 g/cm3 and an energy output similar to that of trinitrotoluene (TNT), making it one of the more energetic liquid explosives. Here we describe shock initiation experiments that were conducted using a two-stage gas gun using magnetic gauges to measure the wave profiles during a shock-to-detonation transition. Unreacted Hugoniot data, time-to detonation (overtake) measurements, and reactive wave profiles were obtained from each experiment. FEFO was found to initiate by the homogeneous initiation model, similar to all other liquid explosives we have studied (nitromethane, isopropyl nitrate, hydrogen peroxide). The new unreacted Hugoniot points agree well with other published data. A universal liquid Hugoniot estimation slightly under predicts the measured Hugoniot data. FEFO is very insensitive, with about the same shock sensitivity as the triamino-trinitro-benzene (TATB)-based explosive PBX9502 and cast TNT.

  9. Shock Reactivity of Non-Porous Mixtures of Manganese and Sulfur

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jetté, F. X.; Goroshin, S.; Higgins, A. J.

    2007-12-01

    Equimolar mixtures of manganese powder and sulfur were melt-cast into solid pellets in order to study the mechanism of shock-enhanced reactivity in non-porous heterogeneous mixtures. This mixture was selected due to the large exothermic heat release of the manganese-sulfur reaction (214 kJ/mol), which causes the reaction to be self-sustaining once initiated. The test samples were placed in planar recovery ampoules and a strong shock was delivered via the detonation of a charge of amine-sensitized nitromethane. Various shock strengths were achieved by placing different thicknesses of PMMA attenuator discs between the explosive charge and the ampoule. The results confirmed that shock-induced reactions can be produced in highly non-porous mixtures. Indeed, the critical shock pressure that caused ignition of the mixture in the ampoule was found to be in the range 2.2-3.0 GPa (pressures were estimated using LS-DYNA simulations of samples with 100% TMD).

  10. Spectral signatures for RDX-based explosives in the 3 micron region

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Osborn, Tabetha; Kaimal, Sindhu; Reeve, Scott W.; Burns, William

    2008-04-01

    Explosive compounds such as RDX, and HMX present significant challenges to optically based sensors. This difficulty is due in part to the low vapor pressures these compounds possess. One approach for sensing explosives that circumvents the low explosive vapor pressure problem, involves focusing on the trace amounts of relatively high vapor pressure impurities that will be present in the vapor signature. In order to effectively detect these volatile impurities, the spectral signature databases must be readily available. One of our goals therefore, is the generation of a database of high resolution spectral signatures for these volatile organic impurities. Some rather formidable spectroscopic measurement challenges have been encountered while working to extend the spectral signature effort to the 3 micron region. Here we will outline progress to date, with a focus on the volatile organic compounds formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, nitromethane, acetone, isobutene, and cyclohexanone.

  11. Measurement of Detonation Velocity for a Nonideal Heterogeneous Explosive in Axisymmetric and Two-Dimensional Geometries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Higgins, Andrew

    2009-12-01

    Detonation in a heterogeneous explosive with a relatively sparse concentration of reaction centers ("hot spots") is investigated experimentally. The explosive system considered is nitromethane gelled with PMMA and with glass microballoons (GMB's) in suspension. The detonation velocity is measured as a function of the characteristic charge dimension (diameter or thickness) in both axisymmetric and two-dimensional geometries. The use of a unique, annular charge geometry (with the diameter of the annulus much greater than the annular gap thickness) permits quasi-two-dimensional detonations to be observed without undesirable lateral rarefactions that result from a finite aspect ratio. The results confirm the prior findings of Gois et al. (1996) which show that, for a low concentration of GMB's, detonation propagation does not exhibit the expected 2:1 scaling from axisymmetric to planar geometries. This reinforces the idea that detonation in highly nonideal explosives is not governed exclusively by global front curvature.

  12. Stress-induced activation of decomposition of organic explosives: a simple way to understand.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Chaoyang

    2013-01-01

    We provide a very simply way to understand the stress-induced activation of decomposition of organic explosives by taking the simplest explosive molecule nitromethane (NM) as a prototype and constraining one or two NM molecules in a shell to represent the condensed phrase of NM against the stress caused by tension and compression, sliding and rotational shear, and imperfection. The results show that the stress loaded on NM molecule can always reduce the barriers of its decomposition. We think the origin of this stress-induced activation is due to the increased repulsive intra- and/or inter- molecular interaction potentials in explosives resulted from the stress, whose release is positive to accelerate the decomposition. Besides, by these models, we can understand that the explosives in gaseous state are easier to analyze than those in condensed state and the voids in condensed explosives make them more sensitive to external stimuli relative to the perfect crystals.

  13. Theory and Modeling of Liquid Explosive Detonation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tarver, Craig M.; Urtiew, Paul A.

    2010-10-01

    The current understanding of the detonation reaction zones of liquid explosives is discussed in this article. The physical and chemical processes that precede and follow exothermic chemical reaction within the detonation reaction zone are discussed within the framework of the nonequilibrium Zeldovich-von Neumann-Doring (NEZND) theory of self-sustaining detonation. Nonequilibrium chemical and physical processes cause finite time duration induction zones before exothermic chemical energy release occurs. This separation between the leading shock wave front and the chemical energy release needed to sustain it results in shock wave amplification and the subsequent formation of complex three-dimensional cellular structures in all liquid detonation waves. To develop a practical Zeldovich-von Neumann-Doring (ZND) reactive flow model for liquid detonation, experimental data on reaction zone structure, confined failure diameter, unconfined failure diameter, and failure wave velocity in the Dremin-Trofimov test for detonating nitromethane are calculated using the ignition and growth reactive flow model.

  14. Determination of detonation parameters for liquid High Explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mochalova, Valentina; Utkin, Alexander

    2011-06-01

    The experimental investigation of detonation parameters and reaction zone structure in liquid HE (bis-(2-fluoro-2,2-dinitroethyl)formal (FEFO), tetranitromethane (TNM), nitromethane (NM)) was conducted. Detonation front in TNM and NM was stable while the instability of detonation in FEFO was observed. Von Neumann spike was recorded for these HE and its parameters were determined. The different methods for C-J point determination were used for each HE. For FEFO reaction time τ was found from experiments with different charge diameters (τ is approximately equal to 300 ns); for TNM - at fixed diameter and different lengths of charges (τ ~ 200 ns); for NM - at fixed diameter and length of charges, but detonation initiation was carried out by different explosive charges (τ ~ 50 ns). It was found that in TNM the detonation velocity depends on charge diameter. Maximum value of reaction rate in investigated liquid HE was observed after shock jump and induction time was not recorded.

  15. Determination of detonation parameters for liquid high explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mochalova, Valentina; Utkin, Alexander

    2012-03-01

    The experimental investigation of detonation parameters and reaction zone structure in liquid HE (bis-(2-fluoro-2,2-dinitroethyl)formal (FEFO), tetranitromethane (TNM), nitromethane (NM)) was conducted by means of laser interferometer VISAR. Detonation front in TNM and NM was stable while the instability of detonation in FEFO was observed. The parameters of Von Neumann spike were determined for these HE. The different methods for C-J point determination were used for each HE. For FEFO reaction time t was found from experiments with different charge diameters (τ is approximately equal to 300 ns); for TNM - at fixed diameter and different lengths of charges (τ ≈ 200 ns); for NM - at fixed diameter and length of charges, but detonation initiation was carried out by different explosive charges (τ ≈ 50 ns). It was found that in TNM the detonation velocity depends on charge diameter. Maximum value of reaction rate in investigated liquid HE was observed after shock jump.

  16. Functionalized Ga2O3 nanowires as active material in room temperature capacitance-based gas sensors.

    PubMed

    Mazeina, Lena; Perkins, F Keith; Bermudez, Victor M; Arnold, Stephen P; Prokes, S M

    2010-08-17

    We report the first evidence for functionalization of Ga(2)O(3) nanowires (NWs), which have been incorporated as the active material in room temperature capacitance gas-sensing devices. An adsorbed layer of pyruvic acid (PA) was successfully formed on Ga(2)O(3) NWs by simple room temperature vapor transport, which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effect of the adsorbed PA on the surface properties was demonstrated by the change in the response of the NW gas-sensing devices. Results indicate that the adsorption of PA reduced the sensitivity of the Ga(2)O(3) NW device to common hydrocarbons such as nitromethane and acetone while improving the response to triethylamine by an order of magnitude. Taking into account the simplicity of this functionalization together with the ease of producing these capacitance-based gas-sensing devices, this approach represents a viable technique for sensor development.

  17. Compact chemical energy system for seismic applications

    DOEpatents

    Engelke, Raymond P.; Hedges, Robert O.; Kammerman, Alan B.; Albright, James N.

    1998-01-01

    A chemical energy system is formed for producing detonations in a confined environment. An explosive mixture is formed from nitromethane (NM) and diethylenetriamine (DETA). A slapper detonator is arranged adjacent to the explosive mixture to initiate detonation of the mixture. NM and DETA are not classified as explosives when handled separately and can be safely transported and handled by workers in the field. In one aspect of the present invention, the chemicals are mixed at a location where an explosion is to occur. For application in a confined environment, the chemicals are mixed in an inflatable container to minimize storage space until it is desired to initiate an explosion. To enable an inflatable container to be used, at least 2.5 wt % DETA is used in the explosive mixture. A barrier is utilized that is formed of a carbon composite material to provide the appropriate barrel geometry and energy transmission to the explosive mixture from the slapper detonator system.

  18. When is an imine not an imine? Unusual reactivity of a series of Cu(II) imine-pyridine complexes and their exploitation for the Henry reaction.

    PubMed

    Cooper, Christine J; Jones, Matthew D; Brayshaw, Simon K; Sonnex, Benjamin; Russell, Mark L; Mahon, Mary F; Allan, David R

    2011-04-14

    In this paper we report the synthesis and solid-state structures for a series of pyridine based Cu(II) complexes and preliminary data for the asymmetric Henry reaction. Interestingly, the solid-state structures indicate the incorporation of an alcohol into one of the imine groups of the ligand, forming a rare α-amino ether group. The complexes have been studied via single crystal X-ray diffraction, EPR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Intriguingly, it has been observed that the alcohol only adds to one of the imine moieties. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have also been employed to rationalise the observed structures. The Cu(II) complexes have been tested in the asymmetric Henry reaction (benzaldehyde + nitromethane or nitroethane) with ee's up to 84% being achieved as well as high conversions and modest diastereoselectivities. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011

  19. Overview of VOC emissions and chemistry from PTR-TOF-MS measurements during the SusKat-ABC campaign: high acetaldehyde, ketene, isoprene and isocyanic acid in wintertime air of the Kathmandu Valley

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sarkar, C.; Sinha, V.; Kumar, V.; Rupakheti, M.; Panday, A. K.; Mahata, K.; Rupakheti, D.; Kathayat, B.; Lawrence, M. G.

    2015-12-01

    During SusKat-ABC (Sustainable Atmosphere for the Kathmandu Valley-Atmospheric Brown Clouds) field campaign conducted in the winter of 2012-2013, a comprehensive study was carried out to characterize the chemical composition of ambient Kathmandu air for speciated VOCs by deploying a Proton Transfer Reaction Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS), the first time to be deployed in South Asia. Due to its high mass resolution (m/Δm > 4200) and temporal resolution (1 minute), 71 ion peaks were detected in the PTR-TOF-MS mass scan data, highlighting the chemical complexity of ambient air in the Valley. Of the 71, 38 species were found to have campaign average concentrations > 200 ppt and were identified based on their spectral characteristics, ambient diel profiles and correlation with specific emission tracers. Distinct diel profiles were observed for the nominal isobaric compounds isoprene (m/z=69.070) and furan (m/z=69.033). Comparison with several sites elsewhere in the world showed mixing ratios of acetaldehyde (~ 9 ppb), acetonitrile (~1 ppb) and isoprene (~ 1 ppb) to be among the highest measured anywhere in the world. Two "new" ambient compounds namely, methanamide (m/z = 46.029) and acetamide (m/z=60.051) which can photochemically produce isocyanic acid in the atmosphere, are reported in this study alongwith nitromethane (a tracer for diesel exhaust) and ketene (a very reactive compound). Two distinct periods were identified during the campaign based on high daytime biogenic emissions of isoprene even in winter and biomass fired brick kiln emissions of acetonitrile, benzene and isocyanic acid. Biomass burning and biomass fired brick kiln emissions were found to be the dominant source for compounds such as propyne, propene, benzene and propanenitrile which correlated strongly with biomass burning tracer acetonitrile (r2 > 0.7). The calculated total VOC OH reactivity was dominated by acetaldehyde (20.1%), ketene (ethenone) (17.1%), isoprene (16.8 %) and propene (15.6%), while oxygenated VOCs and isoprene collectively contributed to more than 70% of the total ozone production potential. The first ambient measurements from any site in South Asia of compounds with significant health effects such as isocyanic acid, formamide, acetamide, naphthalene and nitromethane are reported in this study.

  20. Development of the QA/QC Procedures for a Neutron Interrogation System

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Obhodas, Jasmina; Sudac, Davorin; Valkovic, Vladivoj

    In order to perform QA/QC procedures for a system dedicated to the neutron interrogation of objects for the presence of threat materials one needs to perform measurements of reference materials (RM) having the same (or similar) atomic ratios as real materials. It is well known that explosives, drugs, and various other benign materials, contain chemical elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen in distinctly different quantities. For example, a high carbon-to-oxygen ratio (C/O) is characteristic of drugs. Explosives can be differentiated by measurement of both C/O and nitrogen-to-oxygen (N/O) ratios. The C/N ratio of the chemical warfare agents, coupledmore » with the measurement of elements such as fluorine and phosphorus, clearly differentiate them from the conventional explosives. Correlations between theoretical values and experimental results obtained in laboratory conditions for C/O and N/C ratios of simulants of hexogen (RDX), TNT, DLM2, TATP, cocaine, heroin, yperite, tetranitromethane, peroxide methylethyl-ketone, nitromethane and ethyleneglycol dinitrate are presented. (authors)« less

  1. Synthesis of Azanucleosides by Anodic Oxidation in a Lithium Perchlorate-Nitroalkane Medium and Diversification at the 4'-Nitrogen Position.

    PubMed

    Shoji, Takao; Kim, Shokaku; Chiba, Kazuhiro

    2017-03-27

    Azanucleosides, in which the 4'-oxygen atom has been replaced with a nitrogen atom, have drawn much attention owing to their anticancer and antivirus activity, and tolerance towards nucleases. However, the traditional synthetic strategy requires multiple steps and harsh conditions, thereby limiting the structural and functional diversity of the products. Herein we describe the synthesis of azanucleosides by an electrochemical reaction in a lithium perchlorate-nitroethane medium, followed by postmodification at the 4'-N position. N-Acryloyl prolinol derivatives were converted into azanucleosides by anodic activation of the N-α-C-H bond. Moreover, the use of nitroethane instead of nitromethane lowered the oxidation potential of the N-acryloyl prolinols and increased the Faradic yield. The prepared azanucleosides were efficiently functionalized at the 4'-N-acryloyl group with a lipophilic alkanethiol and a fluorescent dye by conjugate addition and olefin cross-metathesis, respectively. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  2. Enthalpy characteristics of L-proline dissolution in certain water-organic mixtures at 298.15 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Badelin, V. G.; Smirnov, V. I.

    2017-01-01

    A thermochemical study of the processes of L-proline dissolution in aqueous solutions of acetonitrile, 1,4-dioxane, acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide, nitromethane and tetrahydrofuran at T = 298.15 K in the range of organic solvent concentrations x2 = 0-0.25 mole fractions is performed. Standard values of the enthalpies of solution and transfer of L-proline from water to mixed solvent, and the enthalpy coefficients of pairwise interactions between L-proline and molecules of organic solvents, are calculated. The effect the composition of a water-organic mixture and the structure of organic solvents have on the enthalpy characteristics of L-proline dissolution and transfer is examined. The effect the energy properties of intermolecular interactions between components of a mixed solvent has on the intermolecular interactions between L-proline and molecules of cosolvent is estimated. The correlation between the enthalpy characteristics of L-proline dissolution and electron-donor properties of organic cosolvent in aqueous solutions is determined.

  3. Calix[4]pyrrole as a Chloride Anion Receptor: Solvent and Counter-Cation Effects

    PubMed Central

    Sessler, Jonathan L.; Gross, Dustin E.; Cho, Won-Seob; Lynch, Vincent M.; Schmidtchen, Franz P.; Bates, Gareth W.; Light, Mark E.; Gale, Philip A.

    2008-01-01

    The interaction of calixpyrrole with several chloride salts has been studied in the solid state by X-ray crystallography as well as in solution by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and 1H NMR spectroscopic titrations. The titration results in dimethylsulfoxide, acetonitrile, nitromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane and dichloromethane, carried out using various chloride salts, specifically tetraethylammonium (TEA), tetrapropylammonium (TPA), tetrabutylammonium (TBA), tetraethylphosphonium (TEP), tetrabutylphosphonium (TBP), and tetraphenylphosphonium (TPhP) showed no dependence on method of measurement. The resulting affinity constants (Ka's), on the other hand, were found to be highly dependent on the choice of solvent with Ka's ranging from 102−105 being recorded in the test solvents used for this study. In dichloromethane a strong dependence on the counter-cation was also seen, with the Ka's for the interaction with chloride ranging from 102−104. In the case of TPA, TBA and TBP the ITC data could not be fit to a 1:1 binding profile. PMID:16967979

  4. Synthesis and characterization of bifunctional surfaces with tunable functional group pairs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Galloway, John M.; Kung, Mayfair; Kung, Harold H.

    2016-06-01

    Grafting of pairs of functional groups onto a silica surface was demonstrated by tethering both terminals of an organochlorosilane precursor molecule, Cl2(CH3)Si(CH2)4(CO)(OSi(i-Pr)2)(CH2)2Si(CH3)Cl2, that possess a cleavable silyl ester bond, onto a silica surface. Hydrolytic cleavage of the silyl ester bond of the grafted molecule resulted in the generation of organized pairs of carboxylic acid and organosilanol groups. This organosilanol moiety was easily transformed into other functional groups through condensation reactions to form, together with the neighboring acid group, pairs such as carboxylic acid/secondary amine, carboxylic acid/pyridine, and carboxylic acid/phosphine. In the case of carboxylic acid/amine pairing, there was evidence of the formation of amide. A sample grafted with amine-carboxylic acid pairs was three times more active (per free amine) than a sample without such pairs for the nitroaldol condensation of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and nitromethane.

  5. Measurement of Front Curvature and Detonation Velocity for a Nonideal Heterogeneous Explosive in Axisymmetric and Two-Dimensional Geometries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Higgins, Andrew

    2009-06-01

    Detonation in a heterogeneous explosive with a relatively sparse concentration of reaction centers (``hot spots'') is investigated experimentally. The explosive system considered is nitromethane gelled with PMMA and with glass microballoons (GMB's) in suspension. The detonation velocity is measured as a function of the characteristic charge dimension (diameter or thickness) in both axisymmetric and two-dimensional planar geometries. The use of a unique, annular charge geometry (with the diameter of the annulus much greater than the annular gap thickness) permits quasi-two-dimensional detonations to be observed without undesirable lateral rarefactions that result from a finite aspect ratio. The detonation front curvature is also measured directly using an electronic streak camera. The results confirm the prior findings of Gois et al. (1996) which showed that, for a low concentration of GMB's, detonation propagation does not exhibit the expected 2:1 scaling from axisymmetric to planar geometries. This reinforces the idea that detonation in highly nonideal explosives is not governed exclusively by front curvature.

  6. Small-scale dynamic confinement gap test

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cook, Malcolm

    2011-06-01

    Gap tests are routinely used to ascertain the shock sensitiveness of new explosive formulations. The tests are popular since that are easy and relatively cheap to perform. However, with modern insensitive formulations with big critical diameters, large test samples are required. This can make testing and screening of new formulations expensive since large quantities of test material are required. Thus a new test that uses significantly smaller sample quantities would be very beneficial. In this paper we describe a new small-scale test that has been designed using our CHARM ignition and growth routine in the DYNA2D hydrocode. The new test is a modified gap test and uses detonating nitromethane to provide dynamic confinement (instead of a thick metal case) whilst exposing the sample to a long duration shock wave. The long duration shock wave allows less reactive materials that are below their critical diameter, more time to react. We present details on the modelling of the test together with some preliminary experiments to demonstrate the potential of the new test method.

  7. Asymmetric homologation of boronic esters bearing azido and silyloxy substituents.

    PubMed

    Singh, R P; Matteson, D S

    2000-10-06

    In the asymmetric homologation of boronic esters with a (dihalomethyl)lithium, substituents that can bind metal cations tend to interfere. Accordingly, we undertook the introduction of weakly basic oxygen and nitrogen substituents into boronic esters in order to maximize the efficiency of multistep syntheses utilizing this chemistry. Silyloxy boronic esters cannot be made efficiently by direct substitution, but a (hydroxymethyl)boronic ester has been silylated in the usual manner. Conversion of alpha-halo boronic esters to alpha-azido boronic esters has been carried out with sodium azide and a tetrabutylammonium salt as phase-transfer catalyst in a two-phase system with water and either nitromethane or ethyl acetate. These are safer solvents than the previously used dichloromethane, which can form an explosive byproduct with azide ion. Boronic esters containing silyloxy or alkoxy and azido substituents have been shown to react efficiently with (dihalomethyl)lithiums, resulting in efficient asymmetric insertion of the halomethyl group into the carbon-boron bond.

  8. The Miniaturization and Reproducibility of the Cylinder Expansion Test

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rumchik, Chad; Nep, Rachel; Butler, George; Lindsay, C. Michael

    2011-06-01

    The cylinder expansion test (aka Cylex) is a standard way to measure the Gurney energy and determine the JWL coefficients of an explosive and has been utilized by the explosives community for many years. More recently, early time shock information has been found to be useful in examining the early pressure time history during the expansion of the cylinder. Work in the area of nanoenergetics has prompted Air Force researchers to develop a miniaturized version of the Cylex test, for materials with a sufficiently small critical diameter, to reduce the cost and quantity of material required for the test. This paper will cover the development of the half inch diameter miniaturized Cylex test as well as the results of a measurement systems analysis performed on the miniaturized test and the one inch diameter standard Cylex test using nitromethane sensitized with EDA as the explosive. Both tests yielded the same Gurney values with similar levels of variability - approximately 2%. 96ABW-2011-0072

  9. Experimental Investigation of Shock Initiation in Mixtures of Manganese and Sulfur

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jetté, F. X.; Goroshin, S.; Higgins, A. J.

    2009-12-01

    Equimolar mixtures of manganese powder and sulfur at different starting densities were tested in two different types of steel recovery capsules in order to study the shock initiation phenomenon in Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis (SHS) mixtures. Two different sizes of Mn particles were used for these experiments, <10 μm and -325 mesh (<44 μm). This mixture was selected due to the large exothermic heat release of the manganese-sulfur reaction (214 kJ/mol), which causes the reaction to be self-sustaining once initiated. The test samples were placed in planar recovery capsules and a strong shock was delivered via the detonation of a charge of amine-sensitized nitromethane. Various shock strengths were achieved by placing different thicknesses of PMMA attenuator discs between the explosive charge and the capsule. The results confirmed that shock-induced reactions can be produced in highly non-porous mixtures. It was also found that shock interactions with the side walls of the recovery capsule can play a significant role in the initiation.

  10. Experimental Measurements of the Chemical Reaction Zone of Detonating Liquid Explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bouyer, Viviane; Sheffield, Stephen A.; Dattelbaum, Dana M.; Gustavsen, Richard L.; Stahl, David B.; Doucet, Michel

    2009-06-01

    We have a joint project between CEA-DAM Le Ripault and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to study the chemical reaction zone in detonating high explosives using several different laser velocimetry techniques. The short temporal duration of the features (von Neumann spike and sonic locus) of the reaction zone make these measurements difficult. Here, we report results obtained from using and PDV (photon Doppler velocimetry) methods to measure the particle velocity history at a detonating HE (nitromethane)/PMMA interface. Experiments done at CEA were high-explosive-plane-wave initiated and those at LANL were gas-gun-projectile initiated with a detonation run of about 6 charge diameters in all experiments, in either glass or brass confinement. Excellent agreement of the interface particle velocity measurements at both Laboratories were obtained even though the initiation systems and the velocimetry systems were different. Some differences were observed in the von Neumann spike height because of the approximately 2 nanosecond time resolution of the techniques -- in some or all cases the spike top was truncated.

  11. Visual detection of trace nitroaromatic explosive residue using photoluminescent metallole-containing polymers.

    PubMed

    Toal, Sarah J; Sanchez, Jason C; Dugan, Regina E; Trogler, William C

    2007-01-01

    The detection of trace explosives is important for forensic, military, and homeland security applications. Detection of widely used nitroaromatic explosives (trinitrotoluene [TNT], 2,4-dinitrotoluene [DNT], picric acid [PA]) was carried out using photoluminescent metallole-containing polymers. The method of detection is through the quenching of fluorescence of thin films of the polymer, prepared by spray coating organic solutions of the polymer, by the explosive analyte. Visual quenching of luminescence (lambda(em) approximately 400-510 nm) in the presence of the explosive is seen immediately upon illumination with near-UV light (lambda(ex)=360 nm). Detection limits were observed to be as low as 5 ng for TNT, 20 ng for DNT, and 5 ng for PA. In addition, experiments with normal production line explosives and their components show that this technology is also able to detect composition B, Pyrodex, and nitromethane. This method offers a convenient and sensitive method of detection of trace nitroaromatic explosive residue.

  12. Trace explosives sensor testbed (TESTbed)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Collins, Greg E.; Malito, Michael P.; Tamanaha, Cy R.; Hammond, Mark H.; Giordano, Braden C.; Lubrano, Adam L.; Field, Christopher R.; Rogers, Duane A.; Jeffries, Russell A.; Colton, Richard J.; Rose-Pehrsson, Susan L.

    2017-03-01

    A novel vapor delivery testbed, referred to as the Trace Explosives Sensor Testbed, or TESTbed, is demonstrated that is amenable to both high- and low-volatility explosives vapors including nitromethane, nitroglycerine, ethylene glycol dinitrate, triacetone triperoxide, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine. The TESTbed incorporates a six-port dual-line manifold system allowing for rapid actuation between a dedicated clean air source and a trace explosives vapor source. Explosives and explosives-related vapors can be sourced through a number of means including gas cylinders, permeation tube ovens, dynamic headspace chambers, and a Pneumatically Modulated Liquid Delivery System coupled to a perfluoroalkoxy total-consumption microflow nebulizer. Key features of the TESTbed include continuous and pulseless control of trace vapor concentrations with wide dynamic range of concentration generation, six sampling ports with reproducible vapor profile outputs, limited low-volatility explosives adsorption to the manifold surface, temperature and humidity control of the vapor stream, and a graphical user interface for system operation and testing protocol implementation.

  13. Process for decomposing nitrates in aqueous solution

    DOEpatents

    Haas, Paul A.

    1980-01-01

    This invention is a process for decomposing ammonium nitrate and/or selected metal nitrates in an aqueous solution at an elevated temperature and pressure. Where the compound to be decomposed is a metal nitrate (e.g., a nuclear-fuel metal nitrate), a hydroxylated organic reducing agent therefor is provided in the solution. In accordance with the invention, an effective proportion of both nitromethane and nitric acid is incorporated in the solution to accelerate decomposition of the ammonium nitrate and/or selected metal nitrate. As a result, decomposition can be effected at significantly lower temperatures and pressures, permitting the use of system components composed of off-the-shelf materials, such as stainless steel, rather than more costly materials of construction. Preferably, the process is conducted on a continuous basis. Fluid can be automatically vented from the reaction zone as required to maintain the operating temperature at a moderate value--e.g., at a value in the range of from about 130.degree.-200.degree. C.

  14. Volatile organic compounds as markers of quality changes during the storage of wild rocket.

    PubMed

    Luca, Alexandru; Kjær, Anders; Edelenbos, Merete

    2017-10-01

    The quality of leafy green vegetables changes during storage. Leaves become yellow or disintegrate, and an off-odor may develop. In addition, small amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released. In this study, the release of acetone, carbon disulfide, dimethyl sulfide, nitromethane, pentane, 3-methylfuran, 2-ethylfuran, and dimethyl disulfide from wild rocket with different initial qualities was monitored during 8d storage at 10°C and correlated to aerobic bacteria counts, yeast and mold counts, and degree of tissue disintegration. The release of VOCs, except for 3-methylfuran, was influenced by the initial quality of the leaves. The release of pentane and 2-ethylfuran was related to the degree of tissue disintegration, and the release of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide was related to the total aerobic bacteria count. The results demonstrated that VOCs can be used as markers for monitoring the complex quality changes taking place in packaged fresh produce during storage. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Shock Interaction of Metal Particles in Condensed Explosive Detonation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ripley, Robert; Zhang, Fan; Lien, Fue-Sang

    2005-07-01

    For detonation propagation in a condensed explosive with metal particles, a macro-scale physical model describing the momentum transfer between the explosive and particles has yet to be completely established. Previous 1D and 2D meso-scale modeling studies indicated that significant momentum transfer from the explosive to the particles occurs as the leading shock front crosses the particles, thus influencing the initiation and detonation structure. In this work, 3D meso-scale modeling is conducted to further study the two-phase momentum transfer during the shock diffraction and subsequent detonation in liquid nitromethane containing packed metal particles. Detonation of the condensed explosive is computed using an Arrhenius reaction model and a hybrid EOS model that combines the Mie-Gruneisen equation for reactants and the JWL equation for products. The compressible particles are modeled using the Tait EOS, where the material strength is negligible. The effect of particle packing configuration and inter-particle spacing is shown by parametric studies. Finally, a physical description of the momentum transfer is discussed.

  16. Los Alamos Shows Airport Security Technology at Work

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Espy, Michelle; Schultz, Larry; Hunter, James

    Los Alamos scientists have advanced a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology that may provide a breakthrough for screening liquids at airport security. They've added low-power X-ray data to the mix, and as a result have unlocked a new detection technology. Funded in part by the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, the new system is named MagRay. The goal is to quickly and accurately distinguish between liquids that visually appear identical. For example, what appears to be a bottle of white wine could potentially be nitromethane, a liquid that could be used to make an explosive. Both aremore » clear liquids, one would be perfectly safe on a commercial aircraft, the other would be strictly prohibited. How to tell them apart quickly without error at an airport security area is the focus of Michelle Espy, Larry Schultz and their team. In this video, Espy and the MagRay team explain how the new technology works, how they've developed an easy operator interface, and what the next steps might be in transitioning this technology to the private sector.« less

  17. Los Alamos Shows Airport Security Technology at Work

    ScienceCinema

    Espy, Michelle; Schultz, Larry; Hunter, James

    2018-05-30

    Los Alamos scientists have advanced a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology that may provide a breakthrough for screening liquids at airport security. They've added low-power X-ray data to the mix, and as a result have unlocked a new detection technology. Funded in part by the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, the new system is named MagRay. The goal is to quickly and accurately distinguish between liquids that visually appear identical. For example, what appears to be a bottle of white wine could potentially be nitromethane, a liquid that could be used to make an explosive. Both are clear liquids, one would be perfectly safe on a commercial aircraft, the other would be strictly prohibited. How to tell them apart quickly without error at an airport security area is the focus of Michelle Espy, Larry Schultz and their team. In this video, Espy and the MagRay team explain how the new technology works, how they've developed an easy operator interface, and what the next steps might be in transitioning this technology to the private sector.

  18. Shock interaction with deformable particles using a constrained interface reinitialization scheme

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sridharan, P.; Jackson, T. L.; Zhang, J.; Balachandar, S.; Thakur, S.

    2016-02-01

    In this paper, we present axisymmetric numerical simulations of shock propagation in nitromethane over an aluminum particle for post-shock pressures up to 10 GPa. We use the Mie-Gruneisen equation of state to describe both the medium and the particle. The numerical method is a finite-volume based solver on a Cartesian grid, that allows for multi-material interfaces and shocks, and uses a novel constrained reinitialization scheme to precisely preserve particle mass and volume. We compute the unsteady inviscid drag coefficient as a function of time, and show that when normalized by post-shock conditions, the maximum drag coefficient decreases with increasing post-shock pressure. We also compute the mass-averaged particle pressure and show that the observed oscillations inside the particle are on the particle-acoustic time scale. Finally, we present simplified point-particle models that can be used for macroscale simulations. In the Appendix, we extend the isothermal or isentropic assumption concerning the point-force models to non-ideal equations of state, thus justifying their use for the current problem.

  19. Acceleration of plates using non-conventional explosives heavily-loaded with inert materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Loiseau, J.; Petel, O. E.; Huneault, J.; Serge, M.; Frost, D. L.; Higgins, A. J.

    2014-05-01

    The detonation behavior of high explosives containing quantities of dense additives has been previously investigated with the observation that such systems depart dramatically from the approximately "gamma law" behavior typical of conventional explosives due to momentum transfer and thermalization between particles and detonation products. However, the influence of this non-ideal detonation behavior on the divergence speed of plates has been less thoroughly studied and existing literature suggests that the effect of dense additives cannot be explained solely through the straightforward application of the Gurney method with energy and density averaging of the explosive. In the current study, the acceleration history and terminal velocity of aluminum flyers launched by packed beds of granular material saturated by amine-sensitized nitromethane is reported. It was observed that terminal flyer velocity scales primarily with the ratio of flyer mass to mass of the explosive component; a fundamental feature of the Gurney method. Velocity decrement from the addition of particles was only 20%-30% compared to the resulting velocity if propelled by an equivalent quantity of neat explosive.

  20. Protocol for the Synthesis of Ortho-trifluoromethoxylated Aniline Derivatives

    PubMed Central

    Feng, Pengju; Ngai, Ming-Yu

    2016-01-01

    Molecules bearing trifluoromethoxy (OCF3) group often show desired pharmacological and biological properties. However, facile synthesis of trifluoromethoxylated aromatic compounds remains a formidable challenge in organic synthesis. Conventional approaches often suffer from poor substrate scope, or require use of highly toxic, difficult-to-handle, and/or thermally labile reagents. Herein, we report a user-friendly protocol for the synthesis of methyl 4-acetamido-3-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate using 1-trifluoromethyl-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one (Togni reagent II). Treating methyl 4-(N-hydroxyacetamido)benzoate (1a) with Togni reagent II in the presence of a catalytic amount of cesium carbonate (Cs2CO3) in chloroform at RT afforded methyl 4-(N-(trifluoromethoxy)acetamido)benzoate (2a). This intermediate was then converted to the final product methyl 4-acetamido-3-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate (3a) in nitromethane at 120 °C. This procedure is general and can be applied to the synthesis of a broad spectrum of ortho-trifluoromethoxylated aniline derivatives, which could serve as useful synthetic building blocks for the discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials. PMID:26862864

  1. Ion-Stockmayer clusters: Minima, classical thermodynamics, and variational ground state estimates of Li+(CH3NO2)n (n = 1-20)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Curotto, E.

    2015-12-01

    Structural optimizations, classical NVT ensemble, and variational Monte Carlo simulations of ion Stockmayer clusters parameterized to approximate the Li+(CH3NO2)n (n = 1-20) systems are performed. The Metropolis algorithm enhanced by the parallel tempering strategy is used to measure internal energies and heat capacities, and a parallel version of the genetic algorithm is employed to obtain the most important minima. The first solvation sheath is octahedral and this feature remains the dominant theme in the structure of clusters with n ≥ 6. The first "magic number" is identified using the adiabatic solvent dissociation energy, and it marks the completion of the second solvation layer for the lithium ion-nitromethane clusters. It corresponds to the n = 18 system, a solvated ion with the first sheath having octahedral symmetry, weakly bound to an eight-membered and a four-membered ring crowning a vertex of the octahedron. Variational Monte Carlo estimates of the adiabatic solvent dissociation energy reveal that quantum effects further enhance the stability of the n = 18 system relative to its neighbors.

  2. Numerical predictions of shock propagation through unreactive and reactive liquids with experimental validation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stekovic, Svjetlana; Nissen, Erin; Bhowmick, Mithun; Stewart, Donald S.; Dlott, Dana D.

    2017-06-01

    The objective of this work is to numerically analyze shock behavior as it propagates through compressed, unreactive and reactive liquid, such as liquid water and liquid nitromethane. Parameters, such as pressure and density, are analyzed using the Mie-Gruneisen EOS and each multi-material system is modeled using the ALE3D software. The motivation for this study is based on provided high-resolution, optical interferometer (PDV) and optical pyrometer measurements. In the experimental set-up, a liquid is placed between an Al 1100 plate and Pyrex BK-7 glass. A laser-driven Al 1100 flyer impacts the plate, causing the liquid to be highly compressed. The numerical model investigates the influence of the high pressure, shock-compressed behavior in each liquid, the energy transfer, and the wave impedance at the interface of each material in contact. The numerical results using ALE3D will be validated by experimental data. This work aims to provide further understanding of shock-compressed behavior and how the shock influences phase transition in each liquid.

  3. Effect of Particle Morphology on the Reactivity of Explosively Dispersed Titanium Particles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Frost, David L.; Cairns, Malcolm; Goroshin, Samuel; Zhang, Fan

    2009-12-01

    The effect of particle morphology on the reaction of titanium (Ti) particles explosively dispersed during the detonation of either cylindrical or spherical charges has been investigated experimentally. The explosive charges consisted of packed beds of Ti particles saturated with nitromethane. The reaction behaviour of irregularly-shaped Ti particles in three size ranges is compared with tests with spherical Ti particles. The particle reaction is strongly dependent on particle morphology, e.g., 95 μm spherical Ti particles failed to ignite (in cylinders up to 49 mm in dia), whereas similarly sized irregular Ti particles readily ignited. For irregular particles, the uniformity of ignition on the particle cloud surface was almost independent of particle size, but depended on charge diameter. As the charge diameter was reduced, ignition in the conically expanding particle cloud occurred only at isolated spots or bands. For spherical charges, whereas large irregular Ti particles ignited promptly and uniformly throughout the particle cloud, the smallest particles dispersed nonuniformly and ignition occurred at isolated locations after a delay. Hence the charge geometry, as well as particle morphology, influences the reaction behaviour of the particles.

  4. Shock Reactivity of Non-Porous Mixtures of Manganese and Sulfur

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jette, Francois-Xavier; Goroshin, Samuel; Higgins, Andrew

    2007-06-01

    Stoichiometric mixtures of manganese powder and sulfur were melt-cast into solid pellets in order to study the mechanism of shock-enhanced reactivity in non-porous heterogeneous mixtures. This mixture was selected due to the large exothermic heat release of the manganese-sulfur reaction (214 kJ/mol), which causes the reaction to be self-sustaining once initiated. The test samples were placed in planar recovery ampoules and a strong shock was delivered via the detonation of a charge of amine-sensitized nitromethane. Various shock strengths were achieved by placing different thicknesses of PMMA attenuator between the explosive charge and the ampoule. The results confirmed that shock-induced reactions can be produced in the absence of porosity. Indeed, the critical shock pressure that caused ignition of the mixture in the ampoule was found to be in the range 2.2 - 3.8 GPa (pressures were estimated using LS-DYNA simulations). In the cases where the shock was too weak to cause ignition in the ampoule, the sample was extracted and its ignition temperature was determined using a differential thermal analyzer.

  5. Numerical study of blast characteristics from detonation of homogeneous explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Balakrishnan, Kaushik; Genin, Franklin; Nance, Doug V.; Menon, Suresh

    2010-04-01

    A new robust numerical methodology is used to investigate the propagation of blast waves from homogeneous explosives. The gas-phase governing equations are solved using a hybrid solver that combines a higher-order shock capturing scheme with a low-dissipation central scheme. Explosives of interest include Nitromethane, Trinitrotoluene, and High-Melting Explosive. The shock overpressure and total impulse are estimated at different radial locations and compared for the different explosives. An empirical scaling correlation is presented for the shock overpressure, incident positive phase pressure impulse, and total impulse. The role of hydrodynamic instabilities to the blast effects of explosives is also investigated in three dimensions, and significant mixing between the detonation products and air is observed. This mixing results in afterburn, which is found to augment the impulse characteristics of explosives. Furthermore, the impulse characteristics are also observed to be three-dimensional in the region of the mixing layer. This paper highlights that while some blast features can be successfully predicted from simple one-dimensional studies, the growth of hydrodynamic instabilities and the impulsive loading of homogeneous explosives require robust three-dimensional investigation.

  6. Revisiting Shock Initiation Modeling of Homogeneous Explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Partom, Yehuda

    2013-04-01

    Shock initiation of homogeneous explosives has been a subject of research since the 1960s, with neat and sensitized nitromethane as the main materials for experiments. A shock initiation model of homogeneous explosives was established in the early 1960s. It involves a thermal explosion event at the shock entrance boundary, which develops into a superdetonation that overtakes the initial shock. In recent years, Sheffield and his group, using accurate experimental tools, were able to observe details of buildup of the superdetonation. There are many papers on modeling shock initiation of heterogeneous explosives, but there are only a few papers on modeling shock initiation of homogeneous explosives. In this article, bulk reaction reactive flow equations are used to model homogeneous shock initiation in an attempt to reproduce experimental data of Sheffield and his group. It was possible to reproduce the main features of the shock initiation process, including thermal explosion, superdetonation, input shock overtake, overdriven detonation after overtake, and the beginning of decay toward Chapman-Jouget (CJ) detonation. The time to overtake (TTO) as function of input pressure was also calculated and compared to the experimental TTO.

  7. Investigation of common fluorophores for the detection of nitrated explosives by fluorescence quenching.

    PubMed

    Meaney, Melissa S; McGuffin, Victoria L

    2008-03-03

    Previous studies have indicated that nitrated explosives may be detected by fluorescence quenching of pyrene and related compounds. The use of pyrene, however, invokes numerous health and waste disposal hazards. In the present study, ten safer fluorophores are identified for quenching detection of target nitrated compounds. Initially, Stern-Volmer constants are measured for each fluorophore with nitrobenzene and 4-nitrotoluene to determine the sensitivity of the quenching interaction. For quenching constants greater than 50 M(-1), sensitivity and selectivity are investigated further using an extended set of target quenchers. Nitromethane, nitrobenzene, 4-nitrotoluene, and 2,6-dinitrotoluene are chosen to represent nitrated explosives and their degradation products; aniline, benzoic acid, and phenol are chosen to represent potential interfering compounds. Among the fluorophores investigated, purpurin, malachite green, and phenol red demonstrate the greatest sensitivity and selectivity for nitrated compounds. Correlation of the quenching rate constants for these fluorophores to Rehm-Weller theory suggests an electron-transfer quenching mechanism. As a result of the large quenching constants, purpurin, malachite green, and phenol red are the most promising for future detection of nitrated explosives via fluorescence quenching.

  8. Solution-based electrical doping of semiconducting polymer films over a limited depth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kolesov, Vladimir A.; Fuentes-Hernandez, Canek; Chou, Wen-Fang; Aizawa, Naoya; Larrain, Felipe A.; Wang, Ming; Perrotta, Alberto; Choi, Sangmoo; Graham, Samuel; Bazan, Guillermo C.; Nguyen, Thuc-Quyen; Marder, Seth R.; Kippelen, Bernard

    2017-04-01

    Solution-based electrical doping protocols may allow more versatility in the design of organic electronic devices; yet, controlling the diffusion of dopants in organic semiconductors and their stability has proven challenging. Here we present a solution-based approach for electrical p-doping of films of donor conjugated organic semiconductors and their blends with acceptors over a limited depth with a decay constant of 10-20 nm by post-process immersion into a polyoxometalate solution (phosphomolybdic acid, PMA) in nitromethane. PMA-doped films show increased electrical conductivity and work function, reduced solubility in the processing solvent, and improved photo-oxidative stability in air. This approach is applicable to a variety of organic semiconductors used in photovoltaics and field-effect transistors. PMA doping over a limited depth of bulk heterojunction polymeric films, in which amine-containing polymers were mixed in the solution used for film formation, enables single-layer organic photovoltaic devices, processed at room temperature, with power conversion efficiencies up to 5.9 +/- 0.2% and stable performance on shelf-lifetime studies at 60 °C for at least 280 h.

  9. Self-exchange reaction of [Ni(mnt)2](1-,2-) in nonaqueous solutions.

    PubMed

    Kowert, Bruce A; Fehr, Michael J; Sheaff, Pamela J

    2008-07-07

    The rate constant, k, for the homogeneous electron transfer (self-exchange) reaction between the diamagnetic bis(maleonitriledithiolato)nickel dianion, [Ni(mnt) 2] (2-), and the paramagnetic monoanion, [Ni(mnt) 2] (1-), has been determined in acetone and nitromethane (CH 3NO 2) using (13)C NMR line widths at 22 degrees C (mnt = 1,2-S 2C 2(CN) 2). The values of k (2.91 x 10 (6) M (-1) s (-1) in acetone, 5.78 x 10 (6) M (-1) s (-1) in CH 3NO 2) are faster than those for the electron transfer reactions of other Ni(III,II) couples; the structures of [Ni(mnt) 2] (1-) and [Ni(mnt) 2] (2-) allow for a favorable overlap that lowers the free energy of activation. The values of k are consistent with the predictions of Marcus theory. In addition to k, the spin-lattice relaxation time, T 1e, of [Ni(mnt) 2] (1-) is obtained from the NMR line width analysis; the values are consistent with those predicted by spin relaxation theory.

  10. A dynamics prediction of nitromethane → methyl nitrite isomerization in external electric field.

    PubMed

    Ren, Fu-de; Cao, Duan-lin; Shi, Wen-jing

    2016-04-01

    As a follow-up to our investigation into the effect of external electric field on the chemical bond strength, the effects of external electric field on the CH3NO2 → CH3ONO isomerization dynamics were investigated using the MP2/6-311++G(2d,p) and CCSD/6-311++G(2d,p) methods. The rate constants in the absence and presence of various field strengths were calculated. The results show that, when the field strength is larger than +0.0060 a.u. along the C-NO2 bond axis, the barriers of the isomerization are lower than the C-NO2 bond dissociation energies, leading to the preferences of the isomerization over the C-NO2 bond dissociation. In this case, the sensitivities are higher than that in no field. However, in the other fields, the C-NO2 bond scission is favored and the sensitivities are almost equal to that in no field. Several good linear correlations are found between the field strengths and the changes of the bond lengths or corresponding electron densities.

  11. Measurement of wavelength-dependent refractive indices of liquid scintillation cocktails.

    PubMed

    Kossert, Karsten

    2013-12-01

    Refractive indices of several commercial liquid scintillation cocktails were measured by means of an automatic critical-angle dispersion refractometer in the wavelength range from 404.7 nm to 706.5 nm. The results are needed for various applications. In particular, detailed Monte Carlo simulations of liquid scintillation counters that include the computation of optical light require these data. In addition, the refractive index is an important parameter for studies of micelle sizes by means of dynamic light scattering. In this work, the refractive indices were determined for Ultima Gold™, Ultima Gold™ F, Ultima Gold™ LLT, Ultima Gold™ AB, Hionic Fluor™, Permafluor(®)E+, Mineral Oil Scintillator, Insta-Gel Plus, OptiPhase HiSafe 2, OptiPhase HiSafe 3, Ultima Gold™ XR, Insta-Gel Plus, AquaLight, MaxiLight and Ultima Gold™ MV at 16°C, 18°C, 20°C and 22°C. The carbon dioxide absorber Carbo-Sorb(®)E was also analyzed. For some scintillators, various batches were compared and mixtures with water or nitromethane were studied. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  12. Chemical Energy Release in Several Recently Discovered Detonation and Deflagration Flows

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tarver, Craig M.

    2010-10-01

    Several recent experiments on complex detonation and deflagration flows are analyzed in terms of the chemical energy release required to sustain these flows. The observed double cellular structures in detonating gaseous nitromethane-oxygen and NO2-fuel (H2, CH4, and C2H6) mixtures are explained by the amplification of two distinct pressure wave frequencies by two exothermic reactions, the faster reaction forming vibrationally excited NO* and the slower reaction forming highly vibrationally excited N2**. The establishment of a Chapman-Jouguet (C-J) deflagration behind a weak shock wave, the C-J detonation established after a head-on collision with a shock front, and the C-J detonation conditions established in reactive supersonic flows are quantitatively calculated using the chemical energy release of a H2 + Cl2 mixture. For these three reactive flows, these calculations illustrate that different fractions of the exothermic chemical energy are used to sustain steady-state propagation. C-J detonation calculations on the various initial states using the CHEETAH chemical equilibrium code are shown to be in good agreement with experimental detonation velocity measurements for the head-on collision and supersonic flow detonations.

  13. NITRIFICATION BY ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS1

    PubMed Central

    Marshall, K. C.; Alexander, M.

    1962-01-01

    Marshall, K. C. (Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.) and M. Alexander. Nitrification by Aspergillus flavus. J. Bacteriol. 83:572–578. 1962.—Aspergillus flavus has been shown to produce bound hydroxylamine, nitrite, and nitrate when grown in peptone, amino acid, or buffered ammonium media. Free hydroxylamine was not detected in these cultures, but it was found in an unbuffered ammonium medium in which neither nitrite nor nitrate was formed. Evidence was obtained for the presence of β-nitropropionic acid in the filtrate of an actively nitrifying culture. Alumina treatment of an ammonium medium prevented the formation by growing cultures of nitrite and nitrate but not bound hydroxylamine. The effect of alumina treatment was reversed by the addition of 10−3m CeCl3 to the medium. Extracts of the fungus contained peroxidase and an enzyme capable of catalyzing the production of nitrite from β-nitropropionic acid. The nitrite-forming enzyme is apparently specific for β-nitropropionate; no activity was found with nitromethane, nitroethane, and nitropropane as substrates. Nitrate was not reduced to nitrite nor was nitrite oxidized to nitrate by the hyphal extracts. The significance of these observations in nitrification by A. flavus is discussed. PMID:14470254

  14. Analytic calculations of anharmonic infrared and Raman vibrational spectra

    PubMed Central

    Louant, Orian; Ruud, Kenneth

    2016-01-01

    Using a recently developed recursive scheme for the calculation of high-order geometric derivatives of frequency-dependent molecular properties [Ringholm et al., J. Comp. Chem., 2014, 35, 622], we present the first analytic calculations of anharmonic infrared (IR) and Raman spectra including anharmonicity both in the vibrational frequencies and in the IR and Raman intensities. In the case of anharmonic corrections to the Raman intensities, this involves the calculation of fifth-order energy derivatives—that is, the third-order geometric derivatives of the frequency-dependent polarizability. The approach is applicable to both Hartree–Fock and Kohn–Sham density functional theory. Using generalized vibrational perturbation theory to second order, we have calculated the anharmonic infrared and Raman spectra of the non- and partially deuterated isotopomers of nitromethane, where the inclusion of anharmonic effects introduces combination and overtone bands that are observed in the experimental spectra. For the major features of the spectra, the inclusion of anharmonicities in the calculation of the vibrational frequencies is more important than anharmonic effects in the calculated infrared and Raman intensities. Using methanimine as a trial system, we demonstrate that the analytic approach avoids errors in the calculated spectra that may arise if numerical differentiation schemes are used. PMID:26784673

  15. Shock simulations of a single-site coarse-grain RDX model using the dissipative particle dynamics method with reactivity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sellers, Michael S.; Lísal, Martin; Schweigert, Igor; Larentzos, James P.; Brennan, John K.

    2017-01-01

    In discrete particle simulations, when an atomistic model is coarse-grained, a tradeoff is made: a boost in computational speed for a reduction in accuracy. The Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) methods help to recover lost accuracy of the viscous and thermal properties, while giving back a relatively small amount of computational speed. Since its initial development for polymers, one of the most notable extensions of DPD has been the introduction of chemical reactivity, called DPD-RX. In 2007, Maillet, Soulard, and Stoltz introduced implicit chemical reactivity in DPD through the concept of particle reactors and simulated the decomposition of liquid nitromethane. We present an extended and generalized version of the DPD-RX method, and have applied it to solid hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). Demonstration simulations of reacting RDX are performed under shock conditions using a recently developed single-site coarse-grain model and a reduced RDX decomposition mechanism. A description of the methods used to simulate RDX and its transition to hot product gases within DPD-RX is presented. Additionally, we discuss several examples of the effect of shock speed and microstructure on the corresponding material chemistry.

  16. Refined Synthesis of 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-1,3,3-trimethyldipyrrin, a Deceptively Simple Precursor to Hydroporphyrins

    PubMed Central

    Ptaszek, Marcin; Bhaumik, Jayeeta; Kim, Han-Je; Taniguchi, Masahiko; Lindsey, Jonathan S.

    2008-01-01

    2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-1,3,3-trimethyldipyrrin (1) is a crucial building block in the rational synthesis of chlorins and oxochlorins. The prior 5-step synthesis of 1 from pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde (2) employed relatively simple and well-known reactions yet suffered from several drawbacks, including limited scale (≥ 0.5 g of 1 per run). A streamlined preparation of 1 has been developed that entails four steps: (i) nitro-aldol condensation of 2 and nitromethane under neat conditions to give 2-(2-nitrovinyl)pyrrole (3), (ii) reduction of 3 with NaBH4 to give 2-(2-nitroethyl)pyrrole (4), (iii) Michael addition of 4 with mesityl oxide under neat conditions or at high concentration to give γ-nitrohexanonepyrrole 5, and (iv) reductive cyclization of 5 with zinc/ammonium formate to give 1. Several multistep transformations have been established, including the direct conversion of 2 → 1. The advantages of the new procedures include (1) fewer steps, (2) avoidance of several problematic reagents, (3) diminished consumption of solvents and reagents, (4) lessened reliance on chromatography, and (5) scalability. The new procedures facilitate the preparation of 1 at the multigram scale. PMID:19132135

  17. Non-Gurney Scaling of Explosives Heavily Loaded with Dense Inert Additives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Loiseau, Jason; Higgins, Andrew; Frost, David

    2017-06-01

    For most high explosives, the ability to accelerate material to some terminal velocity scales with the ratio of material-mass to charge-mass (M/C) according to the Gurney equations. Generally, the Gurney equation for planar geometry accurately predicts the terminal velocity of the driven material until the M/C ratio is reduced to roughly 0.15 or lower; at which point gasdynamic departures from the assumptions in the model result in systematic underpredictions of the material velocity. The authors conducted a series of open-face sandwich flyer plate experiments to measure the scaling of flyer terminal velocity with M/C for a heterogeneous explosive composed of a packed bed of 280 μm steel particles saturated with amine-sensitized nitromethane (90% NM, 10% diethylenetriamine). The propulsive capability of this explosive did not scale according to a modified form of the Gurney equation. Rather, propulsive efficiency increased as the flyer plate became relatively thicker. In the present study the authors have conducted further experiments using this explosive in symmetric sandwiches as well as for normally-incident detonations initiated via a slapping foil to examine how flyer terminal velocity scales with M/C for alternative geometries and loading conditions.

  18. Complete Mie-Gruneisen Equation of State

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Menikoff, Ralph

    2012-06-28

    The Mie-Gruneisen equation of state (EOS) is frequently used in hydro simulations to model solids at high pressure (up to a few Mb). It is an incomplete EOS characterized by a Gruneisen coefficient, {Lambda} = -V({partial_derivative}{sub e}P){sub V}, that is a function of only V. Expressions are derived for isentropes and isotherms. This enables the extension to a complete EOS. Thermodynamic consistency requires that the specific heat is a function of a single scaled temperature. A complete extension is uniquely determined by the temperature dependence of the specific heat at a fixed reference density. In addition we show that ifmore » the domain of the EOS extends to T = 0 and the specific heat vanishes on the zero isotherm then {Lambda} a function of only V is equivalent to a specific heat with a single temperature scale. If the EOS domain does not include the zero isotherm, then a specific heat with a single temperature scale leads to a generalization of the Mie-Gruneisen EOS in which the pressure is linear in both the specific energy and the temperature. Such an EOS has previously been used to model liquid nitromethane.« less

  19. Modeling Photochemical Dynamics in Optically Active Energetic Materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nelson, Tammie; Bjorgaard, Josiah; Greenfield, Margo; Bolme, Cindy; Brown, Katie; McGrane, Shawn; Scharff, R. Jason; Tretiak, Sergei

    Most high explosives (HEs) absorb in the UV range, making it difficult to develop HEs that can be excited with standard lasers. The conventional optical initiation mechanisms require high laser intensity and occur via indirect thermal or shock processes. A photochemical initiation mechanism could allow control over the chemistry contributing to decomposition leading to initiation. We combine UV femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy and excited state femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) with Nonadiabatic Excited State Molecular Dynamics (NA-ESMD) to model the photochemical pathways in nitromethane (NM), a low sensitivity HE known to undergo UV photolysis. We investigate the ultrafast photodecomposition of NM from the nπ* state excited at 266 nm. The FSRS photoproduct spectrum points to methyl nitrite formation as the dominant photoproduct. A total photolysis quantum yield of 0.27 and an nπ* state lifetime of 20 fs were predicted from simulations. Predicted time scales reveal that NO2 dissociation occurs in 81 +/-4 fs and methyl nitrite formation is much slower at 452 +/-9 fs corresponding to the absorption feature in the TA spectrum. The relative time scales are consistent with isomerization by NO2 dissociation and ONO rebinding.

  20. Nitromethane Bridged Bis(1,3,4-oxadiazoles): Trianionic Energetic Salts with Low Sensitivities.

    PubMed

    Yu, Qiong; Imler, Gregory H; Parrish, Damon A; Shreeve, Jean'ne M

    2017-12-14

    Trianionic energetic salts based on one nitromethylene and two dinitromethyl anions were designed and synthesized. Interestingly, the unstable dinitromethylene group of diethyl 2,2'-((dinitromethylene)bis(1,3,4-oxadiazole-5,2-diyl))bis(2,2-dinitroacetate) (2) was changed to a mononitromethylene group by an aminolysis reaction to form triammonium ((nitromethanidylene)bis(1,3,4-oxadiazole-5,2-diyl))bis(dinitromethanide) (3), whereas in (dinitrobis(5-(trinitromethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)methan) 8 it was hydrolyzed to a carbonyl group resulting in (bis(5-(trinitromethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)methanone) 9. All the new compounds were fully characterized by infrared, multinuclear NMR spectra, and elemental analysis. The structures of triammonium ((nitromethanidylene)bis(1,3,4-oxadiazole-5,2-diyl))bis(dinitromethanide) dihydrate (3⋅2 H 2 O) and bis(2-dinitromethyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-5-yl)methanone (9) were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Based on their different physical and detonation properties, some of the energetic salts were found to exhibit good energetic performance and low sensitivity. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  1. Removal of ion-implanted photoresists on GaAs using two organic solvents in sequence

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oh, Eunseok; Na, Jihoon; Lee, Seunghyo; Lim, Sangwoo

    2016-07-01

    Organic solvents can effectively remove photoresists on III-V channels without damage or etching of the channel material during the process. In this study, a two-step sequential photoresist removal process using two different organic solvents was developed to remove implanted ArF and KrF photoresists at room temperature. The effects of organic solvents with either low molar volumes or high affinities for photoresists were evaluated to find a proper combination that can effectively remove high-dose implanted photoresists without damaging GaAs surfaces. The performance of formamide, acetonitrile, nitromethane, and monoethanolamine for the removal of ion-implanted ArF and KrF photoresists were compared using a two-step sequential photoresist removal process followed by treatment in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Among the various combinations, the acetonitrile + DMSO two-step sequence exhibited the best removal of photoresists that underwent ion implantation at doses of 5 × 1013-5 × 1015 atoms/cm2 on both flat and trench-structured GaAs surfaces. The ability of the two-step process using organic solvents to remove the photoresists can be explained by considering the affinities of solvents for a polymer and its permeability through the photoresist.

  2. Oligoethylene Glycol-substituted Aza-BODIPY Dyes As Red Emitting ER-Probes

    PubMed Central

    Kamkaew, Anyanee; Thavornpradit, Sopida; Puangsamlee, Thamon; Xin, Dongyue; Wanichacheva, Nantanit; Burgess, Kevin

    2015-01-01

    This study features aza-BODIPY (BF2-chelated azadipyrromethene) dyes with two aromatic substituents linked by oligoethylene glycol fragments to increase hydrophilicity of aza-BODIPY for applications in intracellular imaging. To prepare these, two chalcones were attached α,ω onto oligoethylene glycol fragments, then reacted with nitromethane anion. Conjugate addition products from this reaction were then subjected to typical conditions for synthesis of aza-BODIPY dyes (NH4OAc, nBuOH, 120 °C); formation of boracycles in this reaction was concomitant with creation of macrocycles containing the oligoethylene glycol fragments. Similar dyes with acyclic oligoelythene glycol substituents in the same position were used to compare the efficiencies of the intra- and inter-molecular aza-BODIPY forming reactions, and the characteristics of the products. All the fluors with oligoethylene glycol fragments, ie cyclic or acyclic, localized in the endoplasmic reticulum of a fibroblast cell line (WEHI-13VAR), the human pancreatic cancer cell line (PANC-1, rough ER predominates) and human liver cancer cell line (HepG2, smooth ER prevalent). These fluors are potentially useful for near IR (λmax emis at 730 nm) ER staining probes. PMID:26138325

  3. The Effect of Detonation Wave Incidence Angle on the Acceleration of Flyers by Explosives Heavily Laden with Inert Additives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Loiseau, Jason; Georges, William; Frost, David; Higgins, Andrew

    2015-06-01

    The incidence angle of a detonation wave is often assumed to weakly influence the terminal velocity of an explosively driven flyer. For explosives heavily loaded with dense additives, this may not be true due to differences in momentum and energy transfer between detonation products, additive particles, and the flyer. For tangential incidence the particles are first accelerated against the flyer via an expansion fan, whereas they are first accelerated by the detonation wave in the normal case. In the current study we evaluate the effect of normal versus tangential incidence on the acceleration of flyers by nitromethane heavily loaded with a variety of additives. Normal detonation was initiated via an explosively driven slapper. Flyer acceleration was measured with heterodyne laser interferometry (PDV). The influence of wave angle is evaluated by comparing the terminal velocity in the two cases (i.e., normal and grazing) for the heavily loaded mixtures. The decrement in flyer velocity correlated primarily with additive volume fraction and had a weak dependence on additive density or particle size. The Gurney energy of the heterogeneous explosive was observed to increase with flyer mass, presumably due to the timescale over which impinging particles could transfer momentum.

  4. Ion-Stockmayer clusters: Minima, classical thermodynamics, and variational ground state estimates of Li{sup +}(CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}){sub n} (n = 1–20)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Curotto, E., E-mail: curotto@arcadia.edu

    2015-12-07

    Structural optimizations, classical NVT ensemble, and variational Monte Carlo simulations of ion Stockmayer clusters parameterized to approximate the Li{sup +}(CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}){sub n} (n = 1–20) systems are performed. The Metropolis algorithm enhanced by the parallel tempering strategy is used to measure internal energies and heat capacities, and a parallel version of the genetic algorithm is employed to obtain the most important minima. The first solvation sheath is octahedral and this feature remains the dominant theme in the structure of clusters with n ≥ 6. The first “magic number” is identified using the adiabatic solvent dissociation energy, and it marksmore » the completion of the second solvation layer for the lithium ion-nitromethane clusters. It corresponds to the n = 18 system, a solvated ion with the first sheath having octahedral symmetry, weakly bound to an eight-membered and a four-membered ring crowning a vertex of the octahedron. Variational Monte Carlo estimates of the adiabatic solvent dissociation energy reveal that quantum effects further enhance the stability of the n = 18 system relative to its neighbors.« less

  5. Experimental Investigation of Shock Initiation in Mixtures of Manganese and Sulfur

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jette, Francois-Xavier; Goroshin, Sam; Higgins, Andrew

    2009-06-01

    Equimolar mixtures of manganese powder and sulfur at different initial densities were tested in two different types of steel recovery capsules in order to study the shock initiation phenomenon in SHS mixtures. This mixture composition was selected due to the large exothermic heat release of the manganese-sulfur reaction (214 kJ/mol), which causes the reaction to be self-sustaining once initiated. Two different sizes of Mn particles were used for these experiments, 1-5 μm and -325 mesh (44μm or less). The test samples were placed in planar recovery ampoules and a strong shock was delivered via the detonation of a charge of amine-sensitized nitromethane. Various shock strengths were achieved by placing different thicknesses of PMMA attenuator discs between the explosive charge and the ampoule. The results confirmed that shock-induced reactions can be produced in highly non-porous mixtures. It was also found that shock interactions with the side walls of the recovery capsule can play a significant role in the initiation, and that mixtures containing the larger Mn particles were very difficult to initiate in the absence of shock interactions with the capsule walls.

  6. Experimental Measurements of the Chemical Reaction Zone of Detonating Liquid Explosives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bouyer, Viviane; Sheffield, Stephen A.; Dattelbaum, Dana M.; Gustavsen, Richard L.; Stahl, David B.; Doucet, Michel; Decaris, Lionel

    2009-12-01

    We have a joint project between CEA-DAM Le Ripault and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to study the chemical reaction zone in detonating high explosives using several different laser velocimetry techniques. The short temporal duration of the von Neumann spike and early part of the reaction zone make these measurements difficult. Here, we report results obtained from detonation experiments using VISAR (velocity interferometer system for any reflector) and PDV (photon Doppler velocimetry) methods to measure the particle velocity history at a detonating nitromethane/PMMA interface. Experiments done at CEA were high-explosive-plane-wave initiated and those at LANL were gas-gun-projectile initiated with a detonation run of about 6 charge diameters in all experiments. The experiments had either glass or brass confinement. Excellent agreement of the interface particle velocity measurements at both Laboratories were obtained even though the initiation methods and the velocimetry systems were somewhat different. Some differences were observed in the peak particle velocity because of the ˜2 ns time resolution of the techniques—in all cases the peak was lower than the expected von Neumann spike. This is thought to be because the measurements were not high enough time resolution to resolve the spike.

  7. Reaction of Titanium and Zirconium Particles in Cylindrical Explosive Charges

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Frost, David; Cairns, Malcolm; Goroshin, Samuel; Zhang, Fan

    2007-06-01

    The critical conditions for the reaction of high melting-point metallic particles (Ti, Zr) dispersed during the detonation of long cylindrical explosive charges have been investigated experimentally. The charges consisted of packed beds of either spherical titanium particles (with diameters of 35, 90, or 215 μm; AP&C, Inc.) or nonspherical zirconium particles (250 -- 500 μm or 500 -- 600 μm, Atlantic Equipment Eng., NJ) saturated with sensitized liquid nitromethane. For the titanium particles, a threshold particle diameter exists, above which self-sustained particle reaction is not observed, although some particle reaction occurs immediately behind the detonation front then rapidly quenches. For the smallest particles, the proportion of the conical particle cloud that reacts increases with charge diameter, suggesting that the reaction initiation is a competition between particle heating and expansion cooling of the products. For zirconium particles, no critical conditions exist; particle ignition was observed for all particle and charge diameters tested. In this case, interaction of the high pressure detonation wave with the particles is sufficient to initiate reaction at the particle surface after a delay time (˜ 10's μs), which is much less than the time required for thermal equilibration of the particles.

  8. The miniaturization and reproducibility of the cylinder expansion test

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rumchik, Chad; Nep, Rachel; Butler, George C.; Breaux, Bradley; Lindsay, Christopher

    2012-03-01

    The cylinder test (aka cylinder expansion or Cylex test) is a standard way to measure the Gurney velocity and determine the JWL coefficients of an explosive and has been utilized by the explosives community for many years. More recently, early time shock information has been found to be useful in examining the early pressure-time history during the expansion of the cylinder. Work in the area of nanoenergetics has prompted Air Force researchers to develop a miniaturized version of the Cylex test, for materials with a sufficiently small critical diameter, to reduce the cost and quantity of material required for the test. This paper discusses the development of a half-inch diameter version of the Cylex test. A measurement systems analysis of the new miniaturized and the standard one-inch test has been performed using the liquid explosive PLX (nitromethane sensitized with ethylene diamine). The resulting velocity and displacement profiles obtained from the streak records were compared to Photo Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) measurements as well as CTH hydrocode simulations. Measurements of the Gurney value for both diameter tests were in agreement and yielded a similar level of variability of 1%-4%.

  9. Reaction of Titanium and Zirconium Particles in Cylindrical Explosive Charges

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Frost, David L.; Cairns, Malcolm; Goroshin, Samuel; Zhang, Fan

    2007-12-01

    The critical conditions for the reaction of particles of the transition metals titanium (Ti) and zirconium (Zr) dispersed during the detonation of long cylindrical explosive charges have been investigated experimentally. The charges consisted of packed beds of either spherical Ti particles or irregularly shaped Zr particles saturated with sensitized liquid nitromethane. For the Ti particles, a threshold particle diameter exists of 65±25 μm, above which self-sustained particle reaction is not observed for charge diameters up to 49 mm, although some particle reaction occurs immediately behind the detonation front then rapidly quenches. For the smallest particles (40 μm), the proportion of the conical particle cloud that reacts increases with charge diameter, suggesting that the reaction is a competition between particle heating and expansion cooling of the products. For 375 and 550 μm Zr particles, particle ignition was observed for 19 and 41 mm dia charges. In this case, interaction of the detonation wave with the particles is sufficient to initiate reaction at the particle surface after a delay time (˜5 μs), which is much less than the time required for thermal equilibration of the particles.

  10. Effect of Particle Morphology on the Reactivity of Explosively Dispersed Titanium Particles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Frost, David; Cairns, Malcolm; Goroshin, Samuel; Zhang, Fan

    2009-06-01

    The effect of particle morphology on the reaction of titanium (Ti) particles explosively dispersed during the detonation of either cylindrical or spherical charges has been investigated experimentally. The explosive charges consisted of packed beds of Ti particles saturated with nitromethane. The reaction behavior of irregularly-shaped Ti particles in three size ranges is compared with tests with spherical Ti particles. The particle reaction is strongly dependent on particle morphology, e.g., 95 μm spherical Ti particles failed to ignite (in cylinders up to 49 mm in dia), whereas similarly sized irregular Ti particles readily ignited. For irregular particles, the uniformity of ignition on the particle cloud surface was almost independent of particle size, but depended on charge diameter. As the charge diameter was reduced, ignition in the conically expanding particle cloud occurred only at isolated spots or bands. For spherical charges, although large irregular Ti particles ignited promptly and uniformly throughout the particle cloud, the smallest particles dispersed nonuniformly and ignition occurred at isolated locations. In general, particle ignition is a competition between particle heating (which is influenced by particle morphology, size, number density and the local thermodynamic history) and expansion cooling of the products.

  11. Explosive acceleration of plates using nonconventional explosives heavily loaded with inert and reactive materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Loiseau, Jason; Petel, Oren; Huneault, Justin; Serge, Matthew; Frost, David; Higgins, Andrew

    2013-06-01

    The detonation behavior of high explosives containing dispersed quantities or packed beds of dense additives has been previously investigated with the observation that such systems depart from the ``gamma law'' behavior typical of homogeneous explosives due to momentum transfer and thermalization between particles and detonation products. However, the influence of this non-ideal detonation behavior on the divergence speed of plates has been far less rigorously studied and existing literature suggests that the effect of dense additives cannot be explained solely through the straightforward application of the Gurney method with energy and density averaging of the explosive. In the current study, the acceleration history and terminal velocity of aluminum flyers launched by packed beds of granular material saturated by amine-sensitized nitromethane is reported. Two experimental configurations are used to study acceleration either by a purely grazing detonation in a finite thickness slab of explosive or by a normal detonation from an effectively infinite thickness of explosive. Flyer acceleration and velocity is measured via Photonic Doppler Velocimetry. Packed beds of plastic, aluminum, glass, iron, and bismuth are considered and the data is compared to Gurney velocity predictions.

  12. Fluorescence quenching as an indirect detection method for nitrated explosives.

    PubMed

    Goodpaster, J V; McGuffin, V L

    2001-05-01

    A novel approach based on fluorescence quenching is presented for the analysis of nitrated explosives. Seventeen common explosives and their degradation products are shown to be potent quenchers of pyrene, having Stern-Volmer constants that generally increase with the degree of nitration. Aromatic explosives such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (2,4,6-TNT) are more effective quenchers than aliphatic or nitramine explosives. In addition, nitroaromatic explosives are found to have unique interactions with pyrene that lead to a wavelength dependence of their Stern-Volmer constants. This phenomenon allows for their differentiation from other nitrated explosives. The fluorescence quenching method is then applied to the determination of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazine(HMX), 2,4,6-TNT, nitromethane, and ammonium nitrate in various commercial explosive samples. The samples are separated by capillary liquid chromatography with post-column addition of the pyrene solution and detection by laser-induced fluorescence. The indirect fluorescence quenching method shows increased sensitivity and selectivity over traditional UV-visible absorbance as well as the ability to detect a wider range of organic and inorganic nitrated compounds.

  13. The potentiation of the antimicrobial activities of cutting fluid preservatives by EDTA

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Izzat, I.N.; Bennett, E.O.

    1978-01-01

    The potentiation of the antimicrobial activities of cutting fluid preservatives by EDTA was confirmed in experiments in which 500 ppm of the disodium salt of EDTA was used in combination with 12 different metalworking fluids containing 500 ppm of o-phenylphenol, tris(hydroxymethyl) nitromethane, hexahydro- 1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine alone or complexed with iodine, hexahydro- 1,3,5-triethyl-s-triazine, 1-(3-chloroallyl)- 3,5,7-triaza- 1-azoniaadamantane hydrochloride, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 4-(2-nitrobutyl) morpholine and 4,4-(2-ethyl-2-nitrotrimethylene) dimorpholine, or the sodium salt of 2-pyridinethiol- 1-oxide as a preservative. Based on a previous observation that the proper selection of the hydraulic fluid employed in the cutting machine is a major factor in controlling rancidity, the possibility of spoilagemore » control by treating the fluid with EDTA alone was also demonstrated; the EDTA had a greater beneficial effect with a synthetic coolant than with an oil emulsion. Published data on the effects of EDTA indicate that it poses no significant water pollution problems upon disposal, exhibits a low order of animal toxicity, and rarely causes human allergies. Tables and 65 references.« less

  14. Competing supramolecular interactions give a new twist to terpyridyl chemistry: anion- and solvent-induced formation of spiral arrays in silver(I) complexes of a simple terpyridine.

    PubMed

    Hannon, Michael J; Painting, Claire L; Plummer, Edward A; Childs, Laura J; Alcock, Nathaniel W

    2002-05-17

    Multiple competing molecular interactions (metal-ligand, pi-stacking and hydrogen-bonding) in the silver(I) complexes of 4'-thiomethyl-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine give rise to a range of different molecular architectures, in which the metal-ligand coordination requirements are satisfied in quite different ways. Polynuclear supramolecular spirals, aggregated mononuclear and aggregated dinuclear units are all structurally characterised. The metallo-supramolecular architecture obtained displays a remarkable dependence both on the choice of non-coordinated anion and the type of solvent used (coordinating or non-coordinating). The anion dependence is particularly surprising, since the anions are not integrated into the centre of the supramolecular structure. The solution behaviour is also solvent and anion dependent, with aggregation of planar mononuclear cations observed in acetonitrile, but oligonuclear spiral species implicated in nitromethane. The extraordinarily variable geometries of these systems suggest that they provide a novel example of the "frustration" principle, in which opposing tendencies cannot simultaneously be satisfied and identify an alternative approach to the design of metallo-supramolecular systems whose structure is responsive to external agents.

  15. Reaction path of energetic materials using THOR code

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duraes, L.; Campos, J.; Portugal, A.

    1997-07-01

    The method of predicting reaction path, using a thermochemical computer code, named THOR, allows for isobar and isochor adiabatic combustion and CJ detonation regimes, the calculation of the composition and thermodynamic properties of reaction products of energetic materials. THOR code assumes the thermodynamic equilibria of all possible products, for the minimum Gibbs free energy, using a thermal equation of state (EoS). The used HL EoS is a new EoS developed in previous works. HL EoS is supported by a Boltzmann EoS, taking α =13.5 to the exponent of the intermolecular potential and θ=1.4 to the adimensional temperature. This code allows now the possibility of estimating various sets of reaction products, obtained successively by the decomposition of the original reacting compound, as a function of the released energy. Two case studies of thermal decomposition procedure were selected, described, calculated and discussed - Ammonium Nitrate based explosives and Nitromethane - because they are very known explosives and their equivalence ratio is respectively near and greater than the stoicheiometry. Predictions of detonation properties of other condensed explosives, as a function of energy release, present results in good correlation with experimental values.

  16. CH 3NO 2 decomposition/isomerization mechanism and product branching ratios: An ab initio chemical kinetic study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, R. S.; Lin, M. C.

    2009-08-01

    The low-lying energy pathways for the decomposition/isomerization of nitromethane (NM) have been investigated using different molecular orbital methods. Our results show that in addition to the commonly known CH 3 + NO 2 products formed by direct C-N bond breaking and the trans-CH 3ONO formed by nitro-nitrite isomerization, NM can also isomerize to cis-CH 3ONO via a very loose transition state (TS) lying 59.2 kcal/mol above CH 3NO 2 or 0.6 kcal/mol below the CH 3 + NO 2 asymptote predicted at the UCCSD(T)/CBS level of theory. Kinetic results indicate that in the energy range of 59 ± 1 kcal/mol, production of CH 3O + NO is dominant, whereas above the C-N bond breaking threshold, the formation of CH 3 + NO 2 sharply increases and becomes dominant. The k( E) values predicted at different energies clearly indicate that CH 3O + NO could be detected in an infrared multi-photon dissociation study, whereas in UV dissociation experiments with energies high above the C-N bond breaking threshold the CH 3 + NO 2 products are generated predominantly.

  17. Accessing the Nitromethane (CH3NO2) Potential Energy Surface in Methanol (CH3OH)-Nitrogen Monoxide (NO) Ices Exposed to Ionizing Radiation: An FTIR and PI-ReTOF-MS Investigation.

    PubMed

    Góbi, Sándor; Crandall, Parker B; Maksyutenko, Pavlo; Förstel, Marko; Kaiser, Ralf I

    2018-03-08

    (D 3 -)Methanol-nitrogen monoxide (CH 3 OH/CD 3 OH-NO) ices were exposed to ionizing radiation to facilitate the eventual determination of the CH 3 NO 2 potential energy surface (PES) in the condensed phase. Reaction intermediates and products were monitored via infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PI-ReTOF-MS) during the irradiation and temperature controlled desorption (TPD) phase, respectively. Distinct photoionization energies were utilized to discriminate the isomer(s) formed in these processes. The primary methanol radiolysis products were the methoxy (CH 3 O) and hydroxymethyl (CH 2 OH) radicals along with atomic hydrogen. The former was found to react barrierlessly with nitrogen monoxide resulting in the formation of cis- and trans-methyl nitrite (CH 3 ONO), which is the most abundant product that can be observed in the irradiated samples. On the other hand, the self-recombination of hydroxymethyl radicals yielding ethylene glycol (HO(CH 2 ) 2 OH) and glycerol (HOCH 2 CH 2 (OH)CH 2 OH) is preferred over the recombination with nitrogen monoxide to nitrosomethanol (HOCH 2 NO).

  18. Electrical and optical properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) oxidized with poly(4-styrenesulfonate) and AuCl3-doped reduced graphene oxide/single-walled carbon nanotube films for ultraviolet light-emitting diodes.

    PubMed

    Lee, Byeong Ryong; Lee, Jae Hoon; Kim, Kyeong Heon; Kim, Hee-Dong; Kim, Tae Geun

    2014-12-01

    We report the effects of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) oxidized with poly(4-styrenesulfonate) ( PSS) and gold chloride (AuCl) co-doping on the electrical and optical properties of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) films fabricated by dipcoating methods. The RGO/SWNT films were doped with both AuCl3 dissolved in nitromethane and PSS hole injection layers by spin coating to improve their electrical properties by increasing the work function of the RGO/SWNT films, thereby reducing the Schottky barrier height between the RGO/SWNT and p-GaN films. As a result, we obtained a reduced sheet resistance of 851.9 Ω/Ω and a contact resistance of 1.97 x 10(-1) Ω x cm2, together with a high transmittance of 84.1% at 380 nm. The contact resistance of these films should be further reduced to fully utilize the feature of the electrode scheme proposed in this work, but the current result suggests its potential use as a transparent conductive electrode for ultraviolet light-emitting diodes.

  19. Development of the Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures for a Neutron Interrogation System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Obhođaš, Jasmina; Sudac, Davorin; Valković, Vladivoj

    2016-06-01

    In order to perform Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures for a system dedicated to the neutron interrogation of objects for the presence of threat materials one needs to perform measurements of reference materials (RM) i.e. simulants having the same (or similar) atomic ratios as real materials. It is well known that explosives, drugs, and various other benign materials, contain chemical elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen in distinctly different quantities. For example, a high carbon-to-oxygen ratio (C/O) is characteristic of drugs. Explosives can be differentiated by measurement of both (C/O) and nitrogen-to-oxygen (N/O) ratios. The C/N ratio of the chemical warfare agents, coupled with the measurement of elements such as fluorine and phosphorus, clearly differentiate them from the conventional explosives. Here we present the RM preparation, calibration procedure and correlations attained between theoretical values and experimentally obtained results in laboratory conditions for C/O and N/C ratios of prepared hexogen (RDX), TNT, DLM2, TATP, cocaine, heroin, yperite, tetranitromethane, peroxide methylethylketone, nitromethane and ethyleneglycol dinitrate simulants. We have shown that analyses of the gamma ray spectra by using simple unfolding model developed for this purpose gave a nice agreement with the chemical formula of created simulants, thus the calibration quality was successfully tested.

  20. Shock Simulations of Single-Site Coarse-Grain RDX using the Dissipative Particle Dynamics Method with Reactivity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sellers, Michael; Lisal, Martin; Schweigert, Igor; Larentzos, James; Brennan, John

    2015-06-01

    In discrete particle simulations, when an atomistic model is coarse-grained, a trade-off is made: a boost in computational speed for a reduction in accuracy. Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) methods help to recover accuracy in viscous and thermal properties, while giving back a small amount of computational speed. One of the most notable extensions of DPD has been the introduction of chemical reactivity, called DPD-RX. Today, pairing the current evolution of DPD-RX with a coarse-grained potential and its chemical decomposition reactions allows for the simulation of the shock behavior of energetic materials at a timescale faster than an atomistic counterpart. In 2007, Maillet et al. introduced implicit chemical reactivity in DPD through the concept of particle reactors and simulated the decomposition of liquid nitromethane. We have recently extended the DPD-RX method and have applied it to solid hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) under shock conditions using a recently developed single-site coarse-grain model and a reduced RDX decomposition mechanism. A description of the methods used to simulate RDX and its tranition to hot product gases within DPD-RX will be presented. Additionally, examples of the effect of microstructure on shock behavior will be shown. Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

  1. On the neutralization of bacterial spores in post-detonation flows

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gottiparthi, K. C.; Schulz, J. C.; Menon, S.

    2014-09-01

    In multiple operational scenarios, explosive charges are used to neutralize confined or unconfined stores of bacterial spores. The spore destruction is achieved by post-detonation combustion and mixing of hot detonation product gases with the ambient flow and spore clouds. In this work, blast wave interaction with bacterial spore clouds and the effect of post-detonation combustion on spore neutralization are investigated using numerical simulations. Spherical explosive charges (radius, = 5.9 cm) comprising of nitromethane are modeled in the vicinity of a spore cloud, and the spore kill in the post-detonation flow is quantified. The effect of the mass of the spores and the initial distance, , of the spore cloud from the explosive charge on the percentage of spores neutralized is investigated. When the spores are initially placed within a distance of 3.0, within 0.1 ms after detonation of the charge, all the spores are neutralized by the blast wave and the hot detonation product gases. In contrast, almost all the spores survived the explosion when is greater than 8.0. The percentage of intact spores varied from 0 to 100 for 3.0 8.0 with spore neutralization dependent on time spent by the spores in the post-detonation mixing/combustion zone.

  2. The Chemistry of Shocked High-energy Materials: Connecting Atomistic Simulations to Experiments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Islam, Md Mahbubul; Strachan, Alejandro

    2017-06-01

    A comprehensive atomistic-level understanding of the physics and chemistry of shocked high energy (HE) materials is crucial for designing safe and efficient explosives. Advances in the ultrafast spectroscopy and laser shocks enabled the study of shock-induced chemistry at extreme conditions occurring at picosecond timescales. Despite this progress experiments are not without limitations and do not enable a direct characterization of chemical reactions. At the same time, large-scale reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are capable of providing description of the shocked-induced chemistry but the uncertainties resulting from the use of approximate descriptions of atomistic interactions remain poorly quantified. We use ReaxFF MD simulations to investigate the shock and temperature induced chemical decomposition mechanisms of polyvinyl nitrate, RDX, and nitromethane. The effect of various shock pressures on reaction initiation mechanisms is investigated for all three materials. We performed spectral analysis from atomistic velocities at different shock pressures to enable direct comparison with experiments. The simulations predict volume-increasing reactions at the shock-to-detonation transitions and the shock vs. particle velocity data are in good agreement with available experimental data. The ReaxFF MD simulations validated against experiments enabled prediction of reaction kinetics of shocked materials, and interpretation of experimental spectroscopy data via assignment of the spectral peaks to dictate various reaction pathways at extreme conditions.

  3. Complete Mie-Gruneisen Equation of State (update)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Menikoff, Ralph

    2016-03-14

    The Mie-Gruneisen equation of state (EOS) is frequently used in hydro simulations to model solids at high pressure (up to a few Mb). It is an incomplete EOS characterized by a Gr¨uneisen coefficient, = -V (@eP)V , that is a function of only V . Expressions are derived for isentropes and isotherms. This enables the extension to a complete EOS. Thermodynamic consistency requires that the specific heat is a function of a single scaled-temperature. A complete extension is uniquely determined by the temperature dependence of the specific heat at a fixed reference density. In addition we show that if themore » domain of the EOS extends to T = 0 and the specific heat vanishes on the zero isotherm then a function of only V is equivalent to a specific heat with a single temperature scale. If the EOS domain does not include the zero isotherm, then a specific heat with a single temperature scale leads to a generalization of the Mie-Gr¨uneisen EOS in which the pressure is linear in both the specific energy and the temperature. This corresponds to the limiting case of two temperature scales with one of the scales in the high temperature limit. Such an EOS has previously been used to model liquid nitromethane.« less

  4. On the Origin of a Maximum Peak Pressure on the Target Outside of the Stagnation Point upon Normal Impact of a Blunt Projectile and with Underwater Explosion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gonor, Alexander; Hooton, Irene

    2006-07-01

    Impact of a rigid projectile (impactor), against a metal target and a condensed explosive surface considered as the important process accompanying the normal entry of a rigid projectile into a target, was overlooked in the preceding studies. Within the framework of accurate shock wave theory, the flow-field, behind the shock wave attached to the perimeter of the adjoined surface, was defined. An important result is the peak pressure rises at points along the target surface away from the stagnation point. The maximum values of the peak pressure are 2.2 to 3.2 times higher for the metallic and soft targets (nitromethane, PBX 9502), than peak pressure values at the stagnation point. This effect changes the commonly held notion that the maximum peak pressure is reached at the projectile stagnation point. In the present study the interaction of a spherical decaying blast wave, caused by an underwater explosion, with a piece-wise plane target, having corner configurations, is investigated. The numerical calculation results in the determination of the vulnerable spots on the target, where the maximum peak overpressure surpassed that for the head-on shock wave reflection by a factor of 4.

  5. Molecular simulations of Hugoniots of detonation product mixtures at chemical equilibrium: Microscopic calculation of the Chapman-Jouguet state

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bourasseau, Emeric; Dubois, Vincent; Desbiens, Nicolas; Maillet, Jean-Bernard

    2007-08-01

    In this work, we used simultaneously the reaction ensemble Monte Carlo (ReMC) method and the adaptive Erpenbeck equation of state (AE-EOS) method to directly calculate the thermodynamic and chemical equilibria of mixtures of detonation products on the Hugoniot curve. The ReMC method [W. R. Smith and B. Triska, J. Chem. Phys. 100, 3019 (1994)] allows us to reach the chemical equilibrium of a reacting mixture, and the AE-EOS method [J. J. Erpenbeck, Phys. Rev. A 46, 6406 (1992)] constrains the system to satisfy the Hugoniot relation. Once the Hugoniot curve of the detonation product mixture is established, the Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) state of the explosive can be determined. A NPT simulation at PCJ and TCJ is then performed in order to calculate direct thermodynamic properties and the following derivative properties of the system using a fluctuation method: calorific capacities, sound velocity, and Grüneisen coefficient. As the chemical composition fluctuates, and the number of particles is not necessarily constant in this ensemble, a fluctuation formula has been developed to take into account the fluctuations of mole number and composition. This type of calculation has been applied to several usual energetic materials: nitromethane, tetranitromethane, hexanitroethane, PETN, and RDX.

  6. Computational Meso-Scale Study of Representative Unit Cubes for Inert Spheres Subject to Intense Shocks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stewart, Cameron; Najjar, Fady; Stewart, D. Scott; Bdzil, John

    2012-11-01

    Modern-engineered high explosive (HE) materials can consist of a matrix of solid, inert particles embedded into an HE charge. When this charge is detonated, intense shock waves are generated. As these intense shocks interact with the inert particles, large deformations occur in the particles while the incident shock diffracts around the particle interface. We will present results from a series of 3-D DNS of an intense shock interacting with unit-cube configurations of inert particles embedded into nitromethane. The LLNL multi-physics massively parallel hydrodynamics code ALE3D is used to carry out high-resolution (4 million nodes) simulations. Three representative unit-cube configurations are considered: primitive cubic, face-centered and body-centered cubic for two particle material types of varying impedance ratios. Previous work has only looked at in-line particles configurations. We investigate the time evolution of the unit cell configurations, vorticity being generated by the shock interaction, as well as the velocity and acceleration of the particles until they reach the quasi-steady regime. LLNL-ABS-567694. CSS was supported by a summer internship through the HEDP program at LLNL. FMN's work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

  7. The shock sensitivity of nitromethane/methanol mixtures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bartram, Brian; Dattelbaum, Dana; Sheffield, Steve; Gibson, Lee

    2013-06-01

    The dilution of liquid explosives has multiple effects on detonation properties including an increase in critical diameter, spatiotemporal lengthening of the chemical reaction zone, and the development of propagating wave instabilities. Earlier detonation studies of NM/methanol mixtures have shown several effects of increasing dilution, including: 1) a continual increase in the critical diameter, 2) lowering of the Chapman-Jouguet detonation pressure, and 3) slowing of the steady detonation velocity (Koldunov et al., Comb. Expl. Shock Waves). Here, we present the results of a series of gas gun-driven plate-impact experiments to study the shock-to-detonation transition in NM/methanol mixtures. Embedded electromagnetic gauges were used to obtain in situ particle velocity wave profiles at multiple Lagrangian positions in the initiating explosive mixture. From the wave profiles obtained in each experiment, an unreacted Hugoniot locus, the initiation mechanism, and the overtake-time-to-detonation were obtained as a function of shock input condition for mixture concentrations from 100% NM to 50 wt%/50 wt% NM/methanol. Desensitization with dilution is less than expected. For example, little change in overtake time occurs in 80 wt%/20 wt% NM/methanol when compared with neat NM. Furthermore, the shock wave profiles from the gauges indicate that wave instabilities grow in as the overdriven detonation wave settles down following the shock-to-detonation transition.

  8. Comparative simulation study of chemical synthesis of functional DADNE material.

    PubMed

    Liu, Min Hsien; Liu, Chuan Wen

    2017-01-01

    Amorphous molecular simulation to model the reaction species in the synthesis of chemically inert and energetic 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (DADNE) explosive material was performed in this work. Nitromethane was selected as the starting reactant to undergo halogenation, nitration, deprotonation, intermolecular condensation, and dehydration to produce the target DADNE product. The Materials Studio (MS) forcite program allowed fast energy calculations and reliable geometric optimization of all aqueous molecular reaction systems (0.1-0.5 M) at 283 K and 298 K. The MS forcite-computed and Gaussian polarizable continuum model (PCM)-computed results were analyzed and compared in order to explore feasible reaction pathways under suitable conditions for the synthesis of DADNE. Through theoretical simulation, the findings revealed that synthesis was possible, and a total energy barrier of 449.6 kJ mol -1 needed to be overcome in order to carry out the reaction according to MS calculation of the energy barriers at each stage at 283 K, as shown by the reaction profiles. Local analysis of intermolecular interaction, together with calculation of the stabilization energy of each reaction system, provided information that can be used as a reference regarding molecular integrated stability. Graphical Abstract Materials Studio software has been suggested for the computation and simulation of DADNE synthesis.

  9. Molecular simulations of Hugoniots of detonation product mixtures at chemical equilibrium: microscopic calculation of the Chapman-Jouguet state.

    PubMed

    Bourasseau, Emeric; Dubois, Vincent; Desbiens, Nicolas; Maillet, Jean-Bernard

    2007-08-28

    In this work, we used simultaneously the reaction ensemble Monte Carlo (ReMC) method and the adaptive Erpenbeck equation of state (AE-EOS) method to directly calculate the thermodynamic and chemical equilibria of mixtures of detonation products on the Hugoniot curve. The ReMC method [W. R. Smith and B. Triska, J. Chem. Phys. 100, 3019 (1994)] allows us to reach the chemical equilibrium of a reacting mixture, and the AE-EOS method [J. J. Erpenbeck, Phys. Rev. A 46, 6406 (1992)] constrains the system to satisfy the Hugoniot relation. Once the Hugoniot curve of the detonation product mixture is established, the Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) state of the explosive can be determined. A NPT simulation at P(CJ) and T(CJ) is then performed in order to calculate direct thermodynamic properties and the following derivative properties of the system using a fluctuation method: calorific capacities, sound velocity, and Gruneisen coefficient. As the chemical composition fluctuates, and the number of particles is not necessarily constant in this ensemble, a fluctuation formula has been developed to take into account the fluctuations of mole number and composition. This type of calculation has been applied to several usual energetic materials: nitromethane, tetranitromethane, hexanitroethane, PETN, and RDX.

  10. Study of the laser-induced decomposition of energetic materials at static high-pressure by time-resolved absorption spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hebert, Philippe; Saint-Amans, Charles

    2013-06-01

    A detailed description of the reaction rates and mechanisms occurring in shock-induced decomposition of condensed explosives is very important to improve the predictive capabilities of shock-to-detonation transition models. However, direct measurements of such experimental data are difficult to perform during detonation experiments. By coupling pulsed laser ignition of an explosive in a diamond anvil cell (DAC) with time-resolved streak camera recording of transmitted light, it is possible to make direct observations of deflagration phenomena at detonation pressure. We have developed an experimental set-up that allows combustion front propagation rates and time-resolved absorption spectroscopy measurements. The decomposition reactions are initiated using a nanosecond YAG laser and their kinetics is followed by time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The results obtained for two explosives, nitromethane (NM) and HMX are presented in this paper. For NM, a change in reactivity is clearly seen around 25 GPa. Below this pressure, the reaction products are essentially carbon residues whereas at higher pressure, a transient absorption feature is first observed and is followed by the formation of a white amorphous product. For HMX, the evolution of the absorption as a function of time indicates a multi-step reaction mechanism which is found to depend on both the initial pressure and the laser fluence.

  11. Enhanced proton conductivity of proton exchange membranes by incorporating sulfonated metal-organic frameworks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Zhen; He, Guangwei; Zhao, Yuning; Cao, Ying; Wu, Hong; Li, Yifan; Jiang, Zhongyi

    2014-09-01

    In this study, octahedral crystal MIL101(Cr) with a uniform size of ∼400 nm is synthesized via hydrothermal reaction. It is then functionalized with sulfonic acid groups by concentrated sulfuric acid and trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride in nitromethane. The sulfonated MIL101(Cr) are homogeneously incorporated into sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) matrix to prepare hybrid membranes. The performances of hybrid membranes are evaluated by proton conductivity, methanol permeability, water uptake and swelling property, and thermal stability. The methanol permeability increased slightly from 6.12 × 10-7 to 7.39 × 10-7 cm2 s-1 with the filler contents increasing from 0 to 10 wt. %. However, the proton conductivity of the hybrid membranes increased significantly. The proton conductivity is increased up to 0.306 S cm-1 at 75 °C and 100% RH, which is 96.2% higher than that of pristine membranes (0.156 S cm-1). The increment of proton conductivity is attributed to the following multiple functionalities of the sulfonated MIL101(Cr) in hybrid membranes: i) providing sulfonic acid groups as facile proton hopping sites; ii) forming additional proton-transport pathways at the interfaces of polymer and MOFs; iii) constructing hydrogen-bonded networks for proton conduction via -OH provided by the hydrolysis of coordinatively unsaturated metal sites.

  12. Unraveling shock-induced chemistry using ultrafast lasers

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Moore, David Steven

    The exquisite time synchronicity between shock and diagnostics needed to unravel chemical events occurring in picoseconds has been achieved using a shaped ultrafast laser pulse to both drive the shocks and interrogate the sample via a multiplicity of optical diagnostics. The shaped laser drive pulse can produce well-controlled shock states of sub-ns duration with sub-10 ps risetimes, sufficient for investigation offast reactions or phase transformations in a thin layer with picosecond time resolution. The shock state is characterized using ultrafast dynamic ellipsometry (UDE) in either planar or Gaussian spatial geometries, the latter allowing measurements of the equation of state ofmore » materials at a range of stresses in a single laser pulse. Time-resolved processes in materials are being interrogated using UDE, ultrafast infrared absorption, ultrafast UV/visible absorption, and femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy. Using these tools we showed that chemistry in an energetic thin film starts only after an induction time of a few tens of ps, an observation that allows differentiation between proposed shock-induced reaction mechanisms. These tools are presently being applied to a variety of energetic and reactive sample systems, from nitromethane and carbon disulfide, to microengineered interfaces in tunable energetic mixtures. Recent results will be presented, and future trends outlined.« less

  13. Small-Sized Mg–Al LDH Nanosheets Supported on Silica Aerogel with Large Pore Channels: Textural Properties and Basic Catalytic Performance after Activation

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Yusen; Wang, Xiaoxia; Feng, Xiaolan; Ye, Xiao; Fu, Jie

    2018-01-01

    Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been widely used as an important subset of solid base catalysts. However, developing low-cost, small-sized LDH nanoparticles with enhanced surface catalytic sites remains a challenge. In this work, silica aerogel (SA)-supported, small-sized Mg–Al LDH nanosheets were successfully prepared by one-pot coprecipitation of Mg and Al ions in an alkaline suspension of crushed silica aerogel. The supported LDH nanosheets were uniformly dispersed in the SA substrate with the smallest average radial diameter of 19.2 nm and the thinnest average thickness of 3.2 nm, both dimensions being significantly less than those of the vast majority of LDH nanoparticles reported. The SA/LDH composites also showed large pore volume (up to 1.3 cm3·g) and pore diameter (>9 nm), and therefore allow efficient access of reactants to the edge catalytic sites of LDH nanosheets. In a base-catalyzed Henry reaction of benzaldehyde with nitromethane, the SA/LDH catalysts showed high reactant conversions and favorable stability in 6 successive cycles of reactions. The low cost of the SA carrier and LDH precursors, easy preparation method, and excellent catalytic properties make these SA/LDH composites a competitive example of solid-base catalysts. PMID:29462941

  14. Small-Sized Mg-Al LDH Nanosheets Supported on Silica Aerogel with Large Pore Channels: Textural Properties and Basic Catalytic Performance after Activation.

    PubMed

    Wang, Lijun; Wang, Yusen; Wang, Xiaoxia; Feng, Xiaolan; Ye, Xiao; Fu, Jie

    2018-02-16

    Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been widely used as an important subset of solid base catalysts. However, developing low-cost, small-sized LDH nanoparticles with enhanced surface catalytic sites remains a challenge. In this work, silica aerogel (SA)-supported, small-sized Mg-Al LDH nanosheets were successfully prepared by one-pot coprecipitation of Mg and Al ions in an alkaline suspension of crushed silica aerogel. The supported LDH nanosheets were uniformly dispersed in the SA substrate with the smallest average radial diameter of 19.2 nm and the thinnest average thickness of 3.2 nm, both dimensions being significantly less than those of the vast majority of LDH nanoparticles reported. The SA/LDH composites also showed large pore volume (up to 1.3 cm3·g) and pore diameter (>9 nm), and therefore allow efficient access of reactants to the edge catalytic sites of LDH nanosheets. In a base-catalyzed Henry reaction of benzaldehyde with nitromethane, the SA/LDH catalysts showed high reactant conversions and favorable stability in 6 successive cycles of reactions. The low cost of the SA carrier and LDH precursors, easy preparation method, and excellent catalytic properties make these SA/LDH composites a competitive example of solid-base catalysts.

  15. TiO2 Photocatalysis in Aromatic "Redox Tag"-Guided Intermolecular Formal [2 + 2] Cycloadditions.

    PubMed

    Okada, Yohei; Maeta, Naoya; Nakayama, Kaii; Kamiya, Hidehiro

    2018-05-04

    Since the pioneering work by Macmillan, Yoon, and Stephenson, homogeneous photoredox catalysis has occupied a central place in new reaction development in the field of organic chemistry. While heterogeneous semiconductor photocatalysis has also been studied extensively, it has generally been recognized as a redox option in inorganic chemistry where such "photocatalysis" is most often used to catalyze carbon-carbon bond cleavage and not in organic chemistry where bond formation is usually the focal point. Herein, we demonstrate that titanium dioxide photocatalysis is a powerful redox option to construct carbon-carbon bonds by using intermolecular formal [2 + 2] cycloadditions as models. Synergy between excited electrons and holes generated upon irradiation is expected to promote the overall net redox neutral process. Key for the successful application is the use of a lithium perchlorate/nitromethane electrolyte solution, which exhibits remarkable Lewis acidity to facilitate the reactions of carbon-centered radical cations with carbon nucleophiles. The reaction mechanism is reasonably understood based on both intermolecular and intramolecular single electron transfer regulated by an aromatic "redox tag". Most of the reactions were completed in less than 30 min even in aqueous and/or aerobic conditions without the need for sacrificial reducing or oxidizing substrates generally required for homogeneous photoredox catalysis.

  16. Spectral Assignments and Analysis of the Ground State of Nitromethane in High-Resolution FTIR Synchrotron Spectra

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Twagirayezu, Sylvestre; Billinghurst, Brant E.; May, Tim E.; Dawadi, Mahesh B.; Perry, David S.

    2014-06-01

    The Fourier Transform infrared spectra of CH3NO2, have been recorded, in the 400-950 wn spectral region, at a resolution of 0.00096 wn, using the Far-Infrared Beamline at Canadian Light Source. The observed spectra contain four fundamental vibrations: the NO2 in-plane rock (475.2 wn), the NO2 out-of-plane rock (604.9 wn), the NO2 symmetric bend (657.1 wn), and the CN-stretch (917.2 wn). For the lowest torsional state of CN-stretch and NO2 in-plane rock, transitions involving quantum numbers, " = 0; " {≤ 50} and {_a}" {≤ 10}, have been assigned with the aid of an automated ground state combination difference program together with a traditional Loomis Wood approach Ground state combination differences derived from more than 2100 infrared transitions have been fit with the six-fold torsion-rotation program developed by Ilyushin et al. Additional sextic and octic centrifugal distortion parameters are derived for the ground vibrational state. C. F. Neese., An Interactive Loomis-Wood Package, V2.0, {56th},OSU Interanational Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy (2001). V. V. Ilyushin, Z. Kisiel, L. Pszczolkowski, H. Mader, and J. T. Hougen, J. Mol. Spectrosc., 259, 26, (2010).

  17. Decontamination of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine waste water by hydrodynamic cavitation-induced advanced Fenton process.

    PubMed

    Torabi Angaji, Mahmood; Ghiaee, Reza

    2015-03-01

    A pilot scale hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) reactor, using iron metal blades, as the heterogeneous catalyst, with no external source of H₂O₂ was developed for catalytic decontamination of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) waste water. In situ generation of Fenton reagents suggested an induced advanced Fenton process (IAFP) to explain the enhancing effect of the used catalyst in the HC process. The effects of the applied catalyst, pH of the initial solution (1.0-9.7), initial UDMH concentration (2-15 mg/l), inlet pressure (5.5-7.8bar), and downstream pressure (2-6 bar), have been investigated. The results showed that the highest cavitation yield can be obtained at pH 3 and initial UDMH concentration of 10mg/l. Also, an increase in the inlet pressure would lead to an increase in the extent of UDMH degradation. In addition, the optimum value of 3 bar was determined for the downstream pressure that resulted to 98.6% degradation of UDMH after 120 min of processing time. Neither n-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) nor any other toxic byproduct (/end-product) was observed in the investigated samples. Formic acid and acetic acid, as well as nitromethane, were identified as oxidation by-products. The present work has conclusively established that hydrodynamic cavitation in combination with Fenton's chemistry can be effectively used for the degradation of UDMH. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. A combined theoretical and Cambridge Structural Database study of π-hole pnicogen bonding complexes between electron rich molecules and both nitro compounds and inorganic bromides (YO2Br, Y = N, P, and As).

    PubMed

    Bauzá, Antonio; Ramis, Rafael; Frontera, Antonio

    2014-04-17

    Quantum calculations at the DFT-D3/def2-TZVPD level of theory have been used to examine complexes between O2YBr (Y═N, P, and As) molecules and several Lewis bases, that is, NH3, H2O, and HF. The interactions of the lone pair of the ammonia, water, and hydrogen fluoride with the σ-hole and π-hole of O2YBr molecules have been considered. In general, the complexes where the Lewis base lone pair interacts with the π-hole are more favorable than those with σ-hole. The nature of the interactions has been characterized with the Bader theory of atoms in molecules (AIM). We have also studied the ability of trifluoronitromethane and nitromethane to interact with anions using their π-hole along with an analysis the Cambridge Structural Database. We have found a large number of hits that provide strong experimental support for ability of the nitryl (-NO2) group to interact with anions and Lewis bases. In some X-ray structures, the π-hole interaction is crucial in the crystal packing and has a strong influence in the solid state architecture of the complexes. Finally, due to the relevance in atmospheric chemistry, we have studied noncovalent σ/π-hole complexes of nitryl bromide with ozone.

  19. Organocatalytic, Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Nonsymmetric cis-Stilbene Diamines: A Platform for the Preparation of Single-Enantiomer cis-Imidazolines for Protein–Protein Inhibition

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    The finding by scientists at Hoffmann-La Roche that cis-imidazolines could disrupt the protein–protein interaction between p53 and MDM2, thereby inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, raised considerable interest in this scaffold over the past decade. Initial routes to these small molecules (i.e., Nutlin-3) provided only the racemic form, with enantiomers being enriched by chromatographic separation using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a chiral stationary phase. Reported here is the first application of an enantioselective aza-Henry approach to nonsymmetric cis-stilbene diamines and cis-imidazolines. Two novel mono(amidine) organocatalysts (MAM) were discovered to provide high levels of enantioselection (>95% ee) across a broad range of substrate combinations. Furthermore, the versatility of the aza-Henry strategy for preparing nonsymmetric cis-imidazolines is illustrated by a comparison of the roles of aryl nitromethane and aryl aldimine in the key step, which revealed unique substrate electronic effects providing direction for aza-Henry substrate–catalyst matching. This method was used to prepare highly substituted cis-4,5-diaryl imidazolines that project unique aromatic rings, and these were evaluated for MDM2-p53 inhibition in a fluorescence polarization assay. The diversification of access to cis-stilbene diamine-derived imidazolines provided by this platform should streamline their further development as chemical tools for disrupting protein–protein interactions. PMID:25017623

  20. Highly selective and sensitive detection of metal ions and nitroaromatic compounds by an anionic europium(iii) coordination polymer.

    PubMed

    Feyisa Bogale, Raji; Ye, Junwei; Sun, Yuan; Sun, Tongxin; Zhang, Siqi; Rauf, Abdul; Hang, Cheng; Tian, Peng; Ning, Guiling

    2016-07-05

    A luminescent Eu(iii)-based coordination polymer, {[Eu(H2O)5(BTEC)][H(C5H6N2)]·3H2O} () has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions using 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid (H4BTEC) as a linker. Compound possesses an anionic zig-zag chain constructed from the BTEC ligands and [EuO4(H2O)5] nodes. The protonated 4-aminopyridine groups as guests are located between chains. exhibits the characteristic sharp emission bands of Eu(3+) at 578, 593, 615, 652 and 693 nm upon excitation at 290 nm. The strong emission of could be quenched effectively by trace amounts of Fe(3+) ions even in the presence of other metal ions including Al(3+), Ca(2+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), Cr(3+), Cu(2+), Fe(2+), K(+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), Pd(2+) and Zn(2+). Similarly, also exhibits superior selectivity and sensitivity towards 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) compared with other competing interfering analytes, such as 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, 2,6-dinitrotolune, 4-nitrotoluene, nitrobenzene, 1,3-dinitrobenzene, o-xylene, nitromethane, nitropropane, phenol, 4-bromophenol and bromobenzene, through a fluorescence quenching mechanism. The possible fluorescence quenching mechanisms are discussed. Moreover, could be used as a visual fluorescent test paper for selectively detecting trace amounts of Fe(3+) and 4-NP.

  1. Characterization of a Novel Rieske-Type Alkane Monooxygenase System in Pusillimonas sp. Strain T7-7

    PubMed Central

    Li, Ping; Wang, Lei

    2013-01-01

    The cold-tolerant bacterium Pusillimonas sp. strain T7-7 is able to utilize diesel oils (C5 to C30 alkanes) as a sole carbon and energy source. In the present study, bioinformatics, proteomics, and real-time reverse transcriptase PCR approaches were used to identify the alkane hydroxylation system present in this bacterium. This system is composed of a Rieske-type monooxygenase, a ferredoxin, and an NADH-dependent reductase. The function of the monooxygenase, which consists of one large (46.711 kDa) and one small (15.355 kDa) subunit, was further studied using in vitro biochemical analysis and in vivo heterologous functional complementation tests. The purified large subunit of the monooxygenase was able to oxidize alkanes ranging from pentane (C5) to tetracosane (C24) using NADH as a cofactor, with greatest activity on the C15 substrate. The large subunit also showed activity on several alkane derivatives, including nitromethane and methane sulfonic acid, but it did not act on any aromatic hydrocarbons. The optimal reaction condition of the large subunit is pH 7.5 at 30°C. Fe2+ can enhance the activity of the enzyme evidently. This is the first time that an alkane monooxygenase system belonging to the Rieske non-heme iron oxygenase family has been identified in a bacterium. PMID:23417490

  2. Effect of the oxygen balance on ignition and detonation properties of liquid explosive mixtures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Genetier, M.; Osmont, A.; Baudin, G.

    2014-05-01

    The objective is to compare the ignition and detonation properties of various liquid high explosives having negative up to positive oxygen balance (OB): nitromethane (OB < 0), saccharose and hydrogen peroxide based mixture (quasi nil OB), hydrogen peroxide with more than 90% purity (OB > 0). The decomposition kinetic rates and the equations of state (EOS) for the liquid mixtures and detonation products (DP) are the input data for a detonation model. EOS are theoretically determined using the Woolfolk et al. universal liquid polar shock law and thermochemical computations for DP. The decomposition kinetic rate laws are determined to reproduce the shock to detonation transition for the mixtures submitted to planar plate impacts. Such a model is not sufficient to compute open field explosions. The aerial overpressure is well reproduced in the first few microseconds, however, after it becomes worse at large expansion of the fireball and the impulse is underestimated. The problem of the DP EOS alone is that it takes only the detonation into account, the secondary combustion DP - air is not considered. To solve this problem a secondary combustion model has been developed to take the OB effect into account. The detonation model has been validated on planar plate impact experiments. The secondary combustion parameters were deduced from thermochemical computations. The whole model has been used to predict the effects of the oxygen balance on open air blast effects of spherical charges.

  3. Atomistic Simulations of Detonation Instabilities in Condensed Phase Systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kober, Edward; Heim, Andrew; Germann, Timothy; Jensen, Niels

    2007-06-01

    We report the results of simulations of condensed phase detonation phenomena using a model diatomic system: 2AB -> A2 + B2. The initial set of parameters for this system corresponded to the Model 0 set of C. White et al, which exhibits a steady, Chapman-Jouget (CJ) detonation structure with a reaction zone length of 30-100 å. This has a highly compressed CJ state (V/V0˜0.5) that does not consist of discrete molecular species. The potential form was modified so that a more molecular CJ state resulted, consistent with the models for conventional organic explosives. The new system has a less dense CJ state (V/V0˜0.8), and the reaction zone was substantially extended. The reaction rate fits Arrhenius-type kinetics with an activation energy of ˜2 eV, with a minor density dependence. In contrast, the original Model 0 system had a lower activation energy (˜1 eV) with a stronger density dependence. The new system exhibits quite marked two dimensional instability structures with well-defined wavelengths similar to what has been observed for gas-phase detonations and for nitromethane. Depending on the exothermicity and the width of the periodic simulations, these instabilities can result in either detonation failure or quasi-steady propagation. The observed propagation velocities are several per cent higher than CJ values derived from thermodynamic analyses.

  4. Effect of the oxygen balance on ignition and detonation properties of liquid explosive mixtures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Genetier, Marc; Osmont, Antoine; Baudin, Gerard

    2013-06-01

    The objective is to compare ignition and detonation properties of various liquid high explosives having negative up to positive oxygen balance (OB): nitromethane (OB < 0), saccharose and hydrogen peroxide based mixture (quasi nil OB), hydrogen peroxide with more than 90% purity (OB > 0). The decomposition kinetic rates and the equations of state (EOS) for the liquid mixtures and detonation products (DP) are the input data for a detonation model. EOS are theoretically determined using the Woolfolk et al universal liquid polar shock law and thermochemical computations for DP. The decomposition kinetic rate laws are determined to reproduce the shock to detonation transition for the mixtures submitted to planar plate impacts. Such a model is not sufficient to compute open field explosions. The aerial overpressure is well reproduced in the first microseconds, however, after it becomes worse at large expansion of the fireball and the impulse is underestimated. The problem of the DP EOS alone is that it takes into account only the detonation, the secondary combustion DP - air being not considered. To solve this problem a secondary combustion model has been developed to take into account the OB effect. The detonation model has been validated on planar plate impact experiments. The secondary combustion parameters were deduced from thermochemical computations. The whole model has been used to predict the effects of the oxygen balance on open air blast effects of spherical charges.

  5. Study of the laser-induced decomposition of HNO3/ 2-Nitropropane mixture at static high pressures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bouyer, Viviane; Hébert, Philippe; Doucet, Michel

    2007-06-01

    HNO3 / 2-Nitropropane is a well known energetic material on which Raman spectroscopy measurements at static high pressure in a diamond anvil cell (DAC) have already been conducted at CEA/LE RIPAULT in order to examine the evolution of the mixture as a function of composition and pressure [1]. The purpose of the work presented here was to study the laser-induced decomposition of these energetic materials at static high pressures by measuring the combustion front propagation rate in the DAC. First of all, the feasibility of the experimental device was checked with a well known homogeneous explosive, nitromethane. Our results were consistent with those of Rice and Foltz [2]. Then, we investigated the initiation of NA / 2NP mixture as a function of nitric acid proportion, for a given pressure. We chose the mixture for which both the combustion propagation rate and detonation velocity are maximum and we examined the evolution of the front propagation velocity as a function of pressure and energy deposit. [1] Hebert, P., Regache, I., and Lalanne, P., ``High-Pressure Raman Spectroscopy study of HNO3 / 2-Nitropropane Mixtures. Influence of the Composition.'' Proceedings of the 42nd European High-Pressure Research Group Meeting, Lausanne, Suisse, 2004 [2] Rice, S.F., et al., Combustion and Flame 87 (1991) 109-122.

  6. Fabrication and charge/energy-transfer study of 4,7-bis(4-triphenylamino)benzo- 2,1,3-thiadiazole/CuPc composite films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, Yuanyuan; Gu, Shuangxi; Wei, Xiao; Xue, Minzhao; Zhang, Qing; Sheng, Qiaorong; Liu, Yangang

    2010-12-01

    Composite films of 4,7-bis(4-triphenylamino)benzo-2,1,3-thiadiazole (TBT) and copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) are fabricated via protonation-coelectrophoretic deposition from nitromethane solutions of TBT/CuPc mixture in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid as a protonation reagent. A nanospheres-nanowires interpenetrating network structure is obtained when the molar percentage of TBT is 70%. Furthermore, the existence of TBT makes α-phased CuPc be partly transformed into the β-phase, and simultaneously, CuPc disorganizes the TBT unit cells. The blue shift on the absorption edge of TBT and the significant fluorescence quenching in the composite films indicate energy/charge transfer and donor-acceptor (D-A) heterojunction formation. Then these results are proved from another point of view: the mutual overlap of absorption and emission spectra of TBT and CuPc lead to a bidirectional Förster resonance energy transfer at the interface; the molecular energy levels calculated from the results of cyclic voltammetry theoretically determine that there exist a D-A heterojunction and charge transfer from TBT to CuPc. Finally, from the investigation of the field-induced surface photovoltage spectra, it can be concluded that this charge transfer results in efficient dissociation of the photoinduced excitons in the composite films, followed by the generation of a strong photovoltage response.

  7. Theoretical study of the reaction mechanism of CH₃NO₂ with NO₂, NO and CO: the bimolecular reactions that cannot be ignored.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Ji-Dong; Kang, Li-Hua; Cheng, Xin-Lu

    2015-01-01

    The intriguing decompositions of nitro-containing explosives have been attracting interest. While theoretical investigations have long been concentrated mainly on unimolecular decompositions, bimolecular reactions have received little theoretical attention. In this paper, we investigate theoretically the bimolecular reactions between nitromethane (CH3NO2)-the simplest nitro-containing explosive-and its decomposition products, such as NO2, NO and CO, that are abundant during the decomposition process of CH3NO2. The structures and potential energy surface (PES) were explored at B3LYP/6-31G(d), B3P86/6-31G(d) and MP2/6-311 + G(d,p) levels, and energies were refined using CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ methods. Quantum chemistry calculations revealed that the title reactions possess small barriers that can be comparable to, or smaller than, that of the initial decomposition reactions of CH3NO2. Considering that their reactants are abundant in the decomposition process of CH3NO2, we consider bimolecular reactions also to be of great importance, and worthy of further investigation. Moreover, our calculations show that NO2 can be oxidized by CH3NO2 to NO3 radical, which confirms the conclusion reached formerly by Irikura and Johnson [(2006) J Phys Chem A 110:13974-13978] that NO3 radical can be formed during the decomposition of nitramine explosives.

  8. Effect of quench on alpha/beta pulse shape discrimination of liquid scintillation cocktails.

    PubMed

    DeVol, Timothy A; Theisen, Christopher D; DiPrete, David P

    2007-05-01

    The objectives of this paper are (1) to illustrate that knowledge of the external quench parameter is insufficient to properly setup a pulse shape discriminating liquid scintillation counter (LSC) for quantitative measurement, (2) to illustrate dependence on pulse shape discrimination on the radionuclide (more than just radiation and energy), and (3) to compare the pulse shape discrimination (PSD) of two commercial instruments. The effects various quenching agents, liquid scintillation cocktails, radionuclides, and LSCs have on alpha/beta pulse shape discriminating liquid scintillation counting were quantified. Alpha emitting radionuclides (239)Pu and (241)Am and beta emitter (90)Sr/(90)Y were investigated to quantify the nuclide dependence on alpha/beta pulse shape discrimination. Also, chemical and color quenching agents, nitromethane, nitric acid, and yellow dye impact on alpha/beta pulse shape discrimination using PerkinElmer Optiphase "HiSafe" 2 and 3, and Ultima Gold AB liquid scintillation cocktails were determined. The prepared samples were counted on the PerkinElmer Wallac WinSpectral 1414 alpha/beta pulse shape discriminating LSC. It was found that for the same level of quench, as measured by the external quench parameter, different quench agents influenced the pulse shape discrimination and the pulse shape discrimination parameters differently. The radionuclide also affects alpha/beta pulse shape discrimination. By comparison with the PerkinElmer Tri-carb 3150 TR/AB, the Wallac 1414 exhibited better pulse shape discrimination capability under the same experimental conditions.

  9. Challenges in the Structure Determination of Self-Assembled Metallacages: What Do Cage Cavities Contain, Internal Vapor Bubbles or Solvent and/or Counterions?

    PubMed

    Givelet, Cecile C; Dron, Paul I; Wen, Jin; Magnera, Thomas F; Zamadar, Matibur; Čépe, Klára; Fujiwara, Hiroki; Shi, Yue; Tuchband, Michael R; Clark, Noel; Zbořil, Radek; Michl, Josef

    2016-05-25

    Proving the structures of charged metallacages obtained by metal ion coordination-driven solution self-assembly is challenging, and the common use of routine NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry is unreliable. Carefully determined diffusion coefficients from diffusion-ordered proton magnetic resonance (DOSY NMR) for six cages of widely differing sizes lead us to propose a structural reassignment of two molecular cages from a previously favored trimer to a pentamer or hexamer, and another from a trimer to a much higher oligomer, possibly an intriguing tetradecamer. In the former case, strong support for the reassignment to a larger cage is provided by an observation of a slow reversible transformation of the initially formed cage into a smaller but spectrally very similar one upon dilution. In the latter case, freeze-fracture transmission electron micrographs demonstrate that at least some of the solutions are colloidal, and high-resolution electron transmission and atomic force microscopy images are compatible with a tetradecamer but not a trimer. Comparison of solute partial molar volumes deduced from measurement of solution density with volumes anticipated from molecular models argues strongly against the presence of large voids (solvent vapor bubbles) in cages dissolved in nitromethane. The presence of bubbles was previously proposed in an attempt to account for the bilinear nature of the Eyring plot of the rate constant for pyridine ligand edge exchange reaction in one of the cages and for the unusual activation parameters in the high-temperature regime. An alternative interpretation is proposed now.

  10. The Hydrogen Bonded Structures of Two 5-Bromobarbituric Acids and Analysis of Unequal C5–X and C5–X′ Bond Lengths (X = X′ = F, Cl, Br or Me) in 5,5-Disubstituted Barbituric Acids

    PubMed Central

    Gelbrich, Thomas; Braun, Doris E.; Oberparleiter, Stefan; Schottenberger, Herwig; Griesser, Ulrich J.

    2017-01-01

    The crystal structure of the methanol hemisolvate of 5,5-dibromobarbituric acid (1MH) displays an H-bonded layer structure which is based on N–H⋯O=C, N–H⋯O(MeOH) and (MeOH)O–H⋯O interactions. The barbiturate molecules form an H-bonded substructure which has the fes topology. 5,5′-Methanediylbis(5-bromobarbituric acid) 2, obtained from a solution of 5,5-dibromobarbituric acid in nitromethane, displays a N–H⋯O=C bonded framework of the sxd type. The conformation of the pyridmidine ring and the lengths of the ring substituent bonds C5–X and C5–X′ in crystal forms of 5,5-dibromobarbituric acid and three closely related analogues (X = X′ = Br, Cl, F, Me) have been investigated. In each case, a conformation close to a C5-endo envelope is correlated with a significant lengthening of the axial C5–X′ in comparison to the equatorial C5–X bond. Isolated molecule geometry optimizations at different levels of theory confirm that the C5-endo envelope is the global conformational energy minimum of 5,5-dihalogenbarbituric acids. The relative lengthening of the axial bond is therefore interpreted as an inherent feature of the preferred envelope conformation of the pyrimidine ring, which minimizes repulsive interactions between the axial substituent and pyrimidine ring atoms. PMID:28670485

  11. The propulsive capability of explosives heavily loaded with inert materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Loiseau, J.; Georges, W.; Frost, D. L.; Higgins, A. J.

    2018-01-01

    The effect of inert dilution on the accelerating ability of high explosives for both grazing and normal detonations was studied. The explosives considered were: (1) neat, amine-sensitized nitromethane (NM), (2) packed beds of glass, steel, or tungsten particles saturated with amine-sensitized NM, (3) NM gelled with PMMA containing dispersed glass microballoons, (4) NM gelled with PMMA containing glass microballoons and steel particles, and (5) C-4 containing varying mass fractions of glass or steel particles. Flyer velocity was measured via photonic Doppler velocimetry, and the results were analysed using a Gurney model augmented to include the influence of the diluent. Reduction in accelerating ability with increasing dilution for the amine-sensitized NM, gelled NM, and C-4 was measured experimentally. Variation of flyer terminal velocity with the ratio of flyer mass to charge mass (M/C) was measured for both grazing and normally incident detonations in gelled NM containing 10% microballoons by mass and for steel beads saturated with amine-sensitized NM. Finally, flyer velocity was measured in grazing versus normal loading for a number of explosive admixtures. The augmented Gurney model predicted the effect of dilution on accelerating ability and the scaling of flyer velocity with M/C for mixtures containing low-density diluents. The augmented Gurney model failed to predict the scaling of flyer velocity with M/C for mixtures heavily loaded with dense diluents. In all cases, normally incident detonations propelled flyers to higher velocity than the equivalent grazing detonations because of material velocity imparted by the incident shock wave and momentum/energy transfer from the slapper used to uniformly initiate the charge.

  12. AuCl3 doping-induced conductive unstability for CVD-grown graphene on glass substrate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Jiaqing; Liu, Xianming; Cao, Xueying; Zhang, Peng; Lei, Xiaohua; Chen, Weimin

    2017-09-01

    Graphene is a candidate material for next-generation high performance transparent conducting film (TCF) to replace indium tin oxide (ITO) materials. However, the sheet resistance of large area graphene obtained by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method is higher than other kinds of TCFs. The main strategies for improving the electrical conductivity of graphene films have been based on various doping treatments. AuCl3 is one of the most effective dopants. In this paper, we investigate the influence of AuCl3 doping on the conductive stability of CVD-grown graphene. Large area graphene film synthesized by CVD and transferred to glass substrates is taken as experimental sample. AuCl3 in nitromethane is used to dope the graphene films to improve the electrical conductivity. Another sample without doping is prepared for comparison. The resistances of graphene under periodic visible light irradiation with and without AuCl3 doping are measured. Results show that the resistances for all samples increase exponentially under lighting, while decrease slowly in an exponential form as well after the light is switched off. The relative resistance changes for undoped and doped samples are compared under 445nm light irradiation with 40mW/cm2, 60mW/cm2, 80mW/cm2, 100mW/cm2 in atmosphere and vacuum. The change rate and degree for doped graphene are greater than that of undoped graphene. It is evident from the experimental data that AuCl3 doping may induce conductive unstability for CVD-grown graphene on glass substrate.

  13. The propulsive capability of explosives heavily loaded with inert materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Loiseau, J.; Georges, W.; Frost, D. L.; Higgins, A. J.

    2018-07-01

    The effect of inert dilution on the accelerating ability of high explosives for both grazing and normal detonations was studied. The explosives considered were: (1) neat, amine-sensitized nitromethane (NM), (2) packed beds of glass, steel, or tungsten particles saturated with amine-sensitized NM, (3) NM gelled with PMMA containing dispersed glass microballoons, (4) NM gelled with PMMA containing glass microballoons and steel particles, and (5) C-4 containing varying mass fractions of glass or steel particles. Flyer velocity was measured via photonic Doppler velocimetry, and the results were analysed using a Gurney model augmented to include the influence of the diluent. Reduction in accelerating ability with increasing dilution for the amine-sensitized NM, gelled NM, and C-4 was measured experimentally. Variation of flyer terminal velocity with the ratio of flyer mass to charge mass ( M/ C) was measured for both grazing and normally incident detonations in gelled NM containing 10% microballoons by mass and for steel beads saturated with amine-sensitized NM. Finally, flyer velocity was measured in grazing versus normal loading for a number of explosive admixtures. The augmented Gurney model predicted the effect of dilution on accelerating ability and the scaling of flyer velocity with M/ C for mixtures containing low-density diluents. The augmented Gurney model failed to predict the scaling of flyer velocity with M/ C for mixtures heavily loaded with dense diluents. In all cases, normally incident detonations propelled flyers to higher velocity than the equivalent grazing detonations because of material velocity imparted by the incident shock wave and momentum/energy transfer from the slapper used to uniformly initiate the charge.

  14. Organic vapor discrimination with chemiresistor arrays of temperature modulated tin-oxide nanowires and thiolate-monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Scholten, K; Bohrer, F I; Dattoli, E; Lu, W; Zellers, E T

    2011-03-25

    This paper explores the discrimination of organic vapors with arrays of chemiresistors (CRs) employing interface layers of tin-oxide nanowires (NWs) and thiolate-monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (MPNs). The former devices use contact-printed mats of NWs on micro-hotplate membranes to bridge a pair of metal electrodes. Oxidation at the NW surface causes changes in charge transport, the temperature dependence of which differs among different vapors, permitting vapor discrimination. The latter devices use solvent cast films of MPNs on interdigital electrodes operated at room temperature. Sorption into the organic monolayers causes changes in film tunneling resistance that differ among different vapors and MPN structures, permitting vapor discrimination. Here, we compare the performance and assess the 'complementarity' of these two types of sensors. Calibrated responses from an NW CR operated at two different temperatures and from a set of four different MPN CRs were generated for three test vapors: n-hexane, toluene, and nitromethane. This pooled data set was then analyzed using principal components regression classification models with varying degrees of random error superimposed on the responses via Monte Carlo simulation in order to estimate the rates of recognition/discrimination for arrays comprising different combinations of sensors. Results indicate that the diversity of most of the dual MPN-CR arrays exceeds that of the dual NW-CR array. Additionally, in assessing all possible arrays of 4-6 CR sensors, the recognition rates of the hybrid arrays (i.e. MPN + NW) were no better than that of the 4-sensor array containing only MPN CRs.

  15. Graphite intercalation with fluoroanions by chemical and electrochemical methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ozmen-Monkul, Bahar

    New acceptor-type graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) containing perfluoroalkyl anions have been synthesized by using both chemical and electrochemical methods and characterized by elemental and thermogravimetric analyses. Investigation into these graphite intercalation compounds can provide novel materials and a detailed understanding of their properties. GICs of composition Cx[FB(C2F 5)3]·deltaF are prepared for the first time by the intercalation of fluoro-tris(pentafluoroethyl)borate anion, [FB(C2F 5)3]-, under ambient conditions in aqueous (48%) hydrofluoric acid containing the oxidant K2[MnF6]. Powder-XRD data indicate that products are pure stage 2 and physical mixture of stage 2 and stage 3 after 1 h to 20 h reaction times. The calculated basal repeat distance, Ic, is 1.20 nm for stage 2 and 1.54-1.56 nm for stage 3 GICs, corresponding to gallery heights of di = 0.86-0.89 nm. In addition, stage 2 GIC of C x[FB(C2F5)3]·deltaCH 3NO2 having di = 0.84 nm is prepared by electrochemical oxidation of graphite in a nitromethane electrolyte. The elemental analyses of these complex GICs required that a new sample digestion protocol be developed. After digestion, the fluoride amounts in these GIC samples were analyzed by using ion-selective fluoride combination electrode. The method developed is able to provide fluoride anion content in GICs without interference from the decomposition products of [FB(C 2F5)3]- anion. For the boron analyses the same digestion procedure above is used and the B contents were determined by ICP-AES. For Cx[FB(C2F 5)3]·deltaF, both compositional parameters x and delta are obtained from the results of elemental B and F analyses. For the chemically prepared GICs at 1 h to 20 h, calculated x values were in the range of 51-56 and the calculated delta values increased with reaction time from approx. 0-2. Combining B analysis and TGA mass loss gives a composition of x = 44 and delta = 0.37 for the electrochemically prepared GIC of Cx[FB(C2F5)3]·deltaCH 3NO2. Energy minimized structure for the isolated borate anion and powder XRD data show that the borate anions adopt a "lying-down" orientation where the long axes of [FB(C2F5)3] - intercalate anions are parallel to the encasing graphene sheets. The same electrochemical synthesis strategy is also used for the preparation of a new acceptor-type GIC containing the cyclo-hexafluoropropane-1,3-bis(sulfonyl)amide anion, [CF2(CF2SO2)2N] -. The gallery heights of 0.85-0.86 nm are determined by powder X-ray diffraction for stage 2 and 3 products. These GICs are obtained by electrochemical oxidation of graphite in a nitromethane electrolyte. GICs containing the linear anion, [(CF3SO2)2N]- are also prepared in order to compare the gallery heights and the electron charge distributions that helps to understand the GIC stabilities within the graphene sheets. The compositions of GICs containing [CF2(CF 2SO2)2N]- are determined by thermogravimetric, fluorine and nitrogen elemental analyses. GICs of composition Cx[(C2F 5)3PF3] are prepared for the first time by the intercalation of tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (FAP) anion, [(C 2F5)3PF3]- by electrochemical oxidation of graphite. Powder-XRD data indicate that products are of stages 2-4 with gallery heights of 0.82-0.86 nm. These GICs are characterized by the same methods using TGA and F ion-selective probe analyses.

  16. Overview of VOC emissions and chemistry from PTR-TOF-MS measurements during the SusKat-ABC campaign: high acetaldehyde, isoprene and isocyanic acid in wintertime air of the Kathmandu Valley

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sarkar, C.; Sinha, V.; Kumar, V.; Rupakheti, M.; Panday, A.; Mahata, K. S.; Rupakheti, D.; Kathayat, B.; Lawrence, M. G.

    2015-09-01

    The Kathmandu Valley in Nepal suffers from severe wintertime air pollution. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are key constituents of air pollution, though their specific role in the Valley is poorly understood due to insufficient data. During the SusKat-ABC (Sustainable Atmosphere for the Kathmandu Valley-Atmospheric Brown Clouds) field campaign conducted in Nepal in the winter of 2012-2013, a comprehensive study was carried out to characterize the chemical composition of ambient Kathmandu air, including the determination of speciated VOCs by deploying a Proton Transfer Reaction Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS)-the first such deployment in South Asia. 71 ion peaks (for which measured ambient concentrations exceeded the 2 σ detection limit) were detected in the PTR-TOF-MS mass scan data, highlighting the chemical complexity of ambient air in the Valley. Of the 71 species, 37 were found to have campaign average concentrations greater than 200 ppt and were identified based on their spectral characteristics, ambient diel profiles and correlation with specific emission tracers as a result of the high mass resolution (m/Δm > 4200) and temporal resolution (1 min) of the PTR-TOF-MS. The highest average VOC mixing ratios during the measurement period were (in rank order): acetaldehyde (8.8 ppb), methanol (7.4 ppb), acetone (4.2 ppb), benzene (2.7 ppb), toluene (1.5 ppb), isoprene (1.1 ppb), acetonitrile (1.1 ppb), C8-aromatics (~ 1 ppb), furan (~ 0.5 ppb), and C9-aromatics (0.4 ppb). Distinct diel profiles were observed for the nominal isobaric compounds isoprene (m/z = 69.070) and furan (m/z = 69.033). Comparison with wintertime measurements from several locations elsewhere in the world showed mixing ratios of acetaldehyde (~ 9 ppb), acetonitrile (~ 1 ppb) and isoprene (~ 1 ppb) to be among the highest reported till date. Two "new" ambient compounds namely, formamide (m/z = 46.029) and acetamide (m/z = 60.051), which can photochemically produce isocyanic acid in the atmosphere, are reported in this study along with nitromethane (a tracer for diesel exhaust) which has only recently been detected in ambient studies. Two distinct periods were selected during the campaign for detailed analysis: the first was associated with high wintertime emissions of biogenic isoprene, and the second with elevated levels of ambient acetonitrile, benzene and isocyanic acid from biomass burning activities. Emissions from biomass burning and biomass co-fired brick kilns were found to be the dominant sources for compounds such as propyne, propene, benzene and propanenitrile which correlated strongly with acetonitrile (r2 > 0.7), a chemical tracer for biomass burning. The calculated total VOC OH reactivity was dominated by acetaldehyde (24.0 %), isoprene (20.2 %) and propene (18.7 %), while oxygenated VOCs and isoprene collectively contributed to more than 68 % of the total ozone production potential. Based on known SOA yields and measured ambient concentrations in the Kathmandu Valley, the relative SOA production potential of VOCs were: benzene > naphthalene > toluene > xylenes > monoterpenes > trimethyl-benzenes > styrene > isoprene. The first ambient measurements from any site in South Asia of compounds with significant health effects such as isocyanic acid, formamide, acetamide, naphthalene and nitromethane have been reported in this study. Our results suggest that mitigation of intense wintertime biomass burning activities, in particular point sources such biomass co-fired brick kilns, would be important to reduce the emission and formation of toxic VOCs (such as benzene and isocyanic acid) in the Kathmandu Valley and improve its air quality.

  17. Overview of VOC emissions and chemistry from PTR-TOF-MS measurements during the SusKat-ABC campaign: high acetaldehyde, isoprene and isocyanic acid in wintertime air of the Kathmandu Valley

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sarkar, Chinmoy; Sinha, Vinayak; Kumar, Vinod; Rupakheti, Maheswar; Panday, Arnico; Mahata, Khadak S.; Rupakheti, Dipesh; Kathayat, Bhogendra; Lawrence, Mark G.

    2016-03-01

    The Kathmandu Valley in Nepal suffers from severe wintertime air pollution. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are key constituents of air pollution, though their specific role in the valley is poorly understood due to insufficient data. During the SusKat-ABC (Sustainable Atmosphere for the Kathmandu Valley-Atmospheric Brown Clouds) field campaign conducted in Nepal in the winter of 2012-2013, a comprehensive study was carried out to characterise the chemical composition of ambient Kathmandu air, including the determination of speciated VOCs, by deploying a proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS) - the first such deployment in South Asia. In the study, 71 ion peaks (for which measured ambient concentrations exceeded the 2σ detection limit) were detected in the PTR-TOF-MS mass scan data, highlighting the chemical complexity of ambient air in the valley. Of the 71 species, 37 were found to have campaign average concentrations greater than 200 ppt and were identified based on their spectral characteristics, ambient diel profiles and correlation with specific emission tracers as a result of the high mass resolution (m / Δm > 4200) and temporal resolution (1 min) of the PTR-TOF-MS. The concentration ranking in the average VOC mixing ratios during our wintertime deployment was acetaldehyde (8.8 ppb) > methanol (7.4 ppb) > acetone + propanal (4.2 ppb) > benzene (2.7 ppb) > toluene (1.5 ppb) > isoprene (1.1 ppb) > acetonitrile (1.1 ppb) > C8-aromatics ( ˜ 1 ppb) > furan ( ˜ 0.5 ppb) > C9-aromatics (0.4 ppb). Distinct diel profiles were observed for the nominal isobaric compounds isoprene (m / z = 69.070) and furan (m / z = 69.033). Comparison with wintertime measurements from several locations elsewhere in the world showed mixing ratios of acetaldehyde ( ˜ 9 ppb), acetonitrile ( ˜ 1 ppb) and isoprene ( ˜ 1 ppb) to be among the highest reported to date. Two "new" ambient compounds, namely formamide (m / z = 46.029) and acetamide (m / z = 60.051), which can photochemically produce isocyanic acid in the atmosphere, are reported in this study along with nitromethane (a tracer for diesel exhaust), which has only recently been detected in ambient studies. Two distinct periods were selected during the campaign for detailed analysis: the first was associated with high wintertime emissions of biogenic isoprene and the second with elevated levels of ambient acetonitrile, benzene and isocyanic acid from biomass burning activities. Emissions from biomass burning and biomass co-fired brick kilns were found to be the dominant sources for compounds such as propyne, propene, benzene and propanenitrile, which correlated strongly with acetonitrile (r2 > 0.7), a chemical tracer for biomass burning. The calculated total VOC OH reactivity was dominated by acetaldehyde (24.0 %), isoprene (20.2 %) and propene (18.7 %), while oxygenated VOCs and isoprene collectively contributed to more than 68 % of the total ozone production potential. Based on known secondary organic aerosol (SOA) yields and measured ambient concentrations in the Kathmandu Valley, the relative SOA production potential of VOCs were benzene > naphthalene > toluene > xylenes > monoterpenes > trimethylbenzenes > styrene > isoprene. The first ambient measurements from any site in South Asia of compounds with significant health effects such as isocyanic acid, formamide, acetamide, naphthalene and nitromethane have been reported in this study. Our results suggest that mitigation of intense wintertime biomass burning activities, in particular point sources such biomass co-fired brick kilns, would be important to reduce the emission and formation of toxic VOCs (such as benzene and isocyanic acid) in the Kathmandu Valley.

  18. Luminescent MOFs comprising mixed tritopic linkers and Cd(II)/Zn(II) nodes for selective detection of organic nitro compounds and iodine capture

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rachuri, Yadagiri; Bisht, Kamal Kumar; Parmar, Bhavesh; Suresh, Eringathodi

    2015-03-01

    Two CPs {[Cd3(BTC)2(TIB)2(H2O)4].(H2O)2}n (1) and {[Zn3(BTC)2(TIB)2].(H2O)6}n (2) composed of tripodal linkers BTC (1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) and TIB (1,3,5-tris(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene) were synthesized via solvothermal route and structurally characterized. Single crystal structural analysis reveals 1 possesses a novel 3D framework structure, whereas 2 represents a previously established compound. Owing to the d10 configuration of metal nodes and robust 3D frameworks, 1 and 2 exhibit excellent fluorescence properties which have been exploited to sense organic nitro compounds in vapor phase. Compound 1 demonstrates selective sensing of nitromethane over structurally similar methanol with ca. 70 and 43% fluorescence quenching in case of former and later. Similarly, 58% fluorescence quenching was observed in case of nitrobenzene over the structurally resembling toluene for which 30% quenching was observed. Compound 2 did not show any preference for nitro compounds and exhibited comparable fluorescence quenching when exposed to the vapors of nitro or other geometrically resembling organic molecules. Furthermore, adsorption experiments revealed that 1 and 2 can uptake 2.74 and 14.14 wt% molecular iodine respectively in vapor phase which can be released in organic solvents such as hexane and acetonitrile. The maximal iodine uptake in case of 1 and 2 corresponds to 0.15 and 0.80 molecules of iodine per formula unit of respective frameworks. Comprehensive structural description, thermal stability and luminescence behavior for both CPs has also been presented.

  19. Continuous probing of cold complex molecules with infrared frequency comb spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Spaun, Ben; Changala, P. Bryan; Patterson, David; Bjork, Bryce J.; Heckl, Oliver H.; Doyle, John M.; Ye, Jun

    2016-05-01

    For more than half a century, high-resolution infrared spectroscopy has played a crucial role in probing molecular structure and dynamics. Such studies have so far been largely restricted to relatively small and simple systems, because at room temperature even molecules of modest size already occupy many millions of rotational/vibrational states, yielding highly congested spectra that are difficult to assign. Targeting more complex molecules requires methods that can record broadband infrared spectra (that is, spanning multiple vibrational bands) with both high resolution and high sensitivity. However, infrared spectroscopic techniques have hitherto been limited either by narrow bandwidth and long acquisition time, or by low sensitivity and resolution. Cavity-enhanced direct frequency comb spectroscopy (CE-DFCS) combines the inherent broad bandwidth and high resolution of an optical frequency comb with the high detection sensitivity provided by a high-finesse enhancement cavity, but it still suffers from spectral congestion. Here we show that this problem can be overcome by using buffer gas cooling to produce continuous, cold samples of molecules that are then subjected to CE-DFCS. This integration allows us to acquire a rotationally resolved direct absorption spectrum in the C-H stretching region of nitromethane, a model system that challenges our understanding of large-amplitude vibrational motion. We have also used this technique on several large organic molecules that are of fundamental spectroscopic and astrochemical relevance, including naphthalene, adamantane and hexamethylenetetramine. These findings establish the value of our approach for studying much larger and more complex molecules than have been probed so far, enabling complex molecules and their kinetics to be studied with orders-of-magnitude improvements in efficiency, spectral resolution and specificity.

  20. Dehydrogenation of ammonia-borane by cationic Pd(II) and Ni(II) complexes in a nitromethane medium: hydrogen release and spent fuel characterization.

    PubMed

    Kim, Sung-Kwan; Hong, Sung-Ahn; Son, Ho-Jin; Han, Won-Sik; Michalak, Artur; Hwang, Son-Jong; Kang, Sang Ook

    2015-04-28

    A highly electrophilic cationic Pd(II) complex, [Pd(MeCN)4][BF4]2 (1), brings about the preferential activation of the B-H bond in ammonia-borane (NH3·BH3, AB). At room temperature, the reaction between 1 in CH3NO2 and AB in tetraglyme leads to Pd nanoparticles and formation of spent fuels of the general formula MeNHxBOy as reaction byproducts, while 2 equiv. of H2 is efficiently released per AB equiv. at room temperature within 60 seconds. For a mechanistic understanding of dehydrogenation by 1, the chemical structures of spent fuels were intensely characterized by a series of analyses such as elemental analysis (EA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), solid state magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR spectra ((2)H, (13)C, (15)N, and (11)B), and cross polarization (CP) MAS methods. During AB dehydrogenation, the involvement of MeNO2 in the spent fuels showed that the mechanism of dehydrogenation catalyzed by 1 is different from that found in the previously reported results. This AB dehydrogenation derived from MeNO2 is supported by a subsequent digestion experiment of the AB spent fuel: B(OMe)3 and N-methylhydroxylamine ([Me(OH)N]2CH2), which are formed by the methanolysis of the AB spent fuel (MeNHxBOy), were identified by means of (11)B NMR and single crystal structural analysis, respectively. A similar catalytic behavior was also observed in the AB dehydrogenation catalyzed by a nickel catalyst, [Ni(MeCN)6][BF4]2 (2).

  1. Turbulent Mixing and Afterburn in Post-Detonation Flow with Dense Particle Clouds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Menon, Suresh

    2015-06-01

    Reactive metal particles are used as additives in most explosives to enhance afterburn and augment the impact of the explosive. The afterburn is highly dependent on the particle dispersal and mixing in the post-detonation flow. The post-detonation flow is generally characterized by hydrodynamic instabilities emanating from the interaction of the blast waves with the detonation product gases and the ambient air. Further, influenced by the particles, the flow evolves and develops turbulent structures, which play vital role in determining mixing and combustion. Past studies in the field in open literature are reviewed along with some recent studies conducted using three dimensional numerical simulations of particle dispersal and combustion in the post-detonation flow. Spherical nitromethane charges enveloped by particle shells of varying thickness are considered along with dense loading effects. In dense flows, the particles block the flow of the gases and therefore, the role of the inter-particle interactions on particle dispersal cannot be ignored. Thus, both dense and dilute effects must be modeled simultaneously to simulate the post-detonation flow. A hybrid equation of state is employed to study the evolution of flow from detonation initiation till the late time mixing and afterburn. The particle dispersal pattern in each case is compared with the available experimental results. The burn rate and the energy release in each case is quantified and the effect of total mass of the particles and the particle size is analyzed in detail. Strengths and limitations of the various methods used for such studies as well as the uncertainties in the modeling strategies are also highlighted. Supported by Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

  2. Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, in-vitro antibacterial and antiproliferative activities of some metal(II) complexes of 3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one Schiff base

    PubMed Central

    Osowole, Aderoju Amoke

    2012-01-01

    The Schiff base, 3-hydroxy-4-{[4-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]imino}-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one, and its Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pd(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by microanalysis, conductance, 1H NMR, infrared and electronic spectral measurements. The ligand exists in the ketoimine form in chloroform, and in the enolimine form in the solid state, as shown by 1H NMR and IR spectroscopies. The ligand coordinates to the metal ions in the ratio 1:1, using NO chromophores forming complexes of the type [MLNO3]H2O, with the exception of the Zn(II) and Pd(II) complexes. Electronic measurements are indicative of a four coordinate square-planar geometry for all the complexes, except for the Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes which assume a tetrahedral geometry. None is an electrolyte in nitromethane. The ligand and the metal complexes are air-stable, but decomposed on heating at 120 °C and in the range 150-156 °C respectively. The antibacterial studies reveal that the Co(II) and the Cu(II) complexes exhibit broad-spectrum activity against Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with inhibitory zones range of 14.0-22.0 and 13.0-25.0 mm respectively. The antiproliferative studies show that the Zn(II) complex has the best in-vitro anticancer activity against both HT-29 (colon) carcinoma and MCF-7 (human breast) adenocarcinoma with IC50 values of 6.46 µm and 3.19 µm, which exceeds the activity of Cis-platin by 8 % and 63 % respectively. PMID:27350773

  3. Simultaneous Analysis of 22 Volatile Organic Compounds in Cigarette Smoke Using Gas Sampling Bags for High-Throughput Solid-Phase Microextraction

    PubMed Central

    Sampson, Maureen M.; Chambers, David M.; Pazo, Daniel Y.; Moliere, Fallon; Blount, Benjamin C.; Watson, Clifford H.

    2015-01-01

    Quantifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in cigarette smoke is necessary to establish smoke-related exposure estimates and evaluate emerging products and potential reduced-exposure products. In response to this need, we developed an automated, multi-VOC quantification method for machine-generated, mainstream cigarette smoke using solidphase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME-GC–MS). This method was developed to simultaneously quantify a broad range of smoke VOCs (i.e., carbonyls and volatiles, which historically have been measured by separate assays) for large exposure assessment studies. Our approach collects and maintains vapor-phase smoke in a gas sampling bag, where it is homogenized with isotopically labeled analogue internal standards and sampled using gas-phase SPME. High throughput is achieved by SPME automation using a CTC Analytics platform and custom bag tray. This method has successfully quantified 22 structurally diverse VOCs (e.g., benzene and associated monoaromatics, aldehydes and ketones, furans, acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene, vinyl chloride, and nitromethane) in the microgram range in mainstream smoke from 1R5F and 3R4F research cigarettes smoked under ISO (Cambridge Filter or FTC) and Intense (Health Canada or Canadian Intense) conditions. Our results are comparable to previous studies with few exceptions. Method accuracy was evaluated with third-party reference samples (≤15% error). Short-term diffusion losses from the gas sampling bag were minimal, with a 10% decrease in absolute response after 24 h. For most analytes, research cigarette inter- and intrarun precisions were ≤20% relative standard deviation (RSD). This method provides an accurate and robust means to quantify VOCs in cigarette smoke spanning a range of yields that is sufficient to characterize smoke exposure estimates. PMID:24933649

  4. Mori-Zwanzig theory for dissipative forces in coarse-grained dynamics in the Markov limit

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Izvekov, Sergei

    2017-01-01

    We derive alternative Markov approximations for the projected (stochastic) force and memory function in the coarse-grained (CG) generalized Langevin equation, which describes the time evolution of the center-of-mass coordinates of clusters of particles in the microscopic ensemble. This is done with the aid of the Mori-Zwanzig projection operator method based on the recently introduced projection operator [S. Izvekov, J. Chem. Phys. 138, 134106 (2013), 10.1063/1.4795091]. The derivation exploits the "generalized additive fluctuating force" representation to which the projected force reduces in the adopted projection operator formalism. For the projected force, we present a first-order time expansion which correctly extends the static fluctuating force ansatz with the terms necessary to maintain the required orthogonality of the projected dynamics in the Markov limit to the space of CG phase variables. The approximant of the memory function correctly accounts for the momentum dependence in the lowest (second) order and indicates that such a dependence may be important in the CG dynamics approaching the Markov limit. In the case of CG dynamics with a weak dependence of the memory effects on the particle momenta, the expression for the memory function presented in this work is applicable to non-Markov systems. The approximations are formulated in a propagator-free form allowing their efficient evaluation from the microscopic data sampled by standard molecular dynamics simulations. A numerical application is presented for a molecular liquid (nitromethane). With our formalism we do not observe the "plateau-value problem" if the friction tensors for dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) are computed using the Green-Kubo relation. Our formalism provides a consistent bottom-up route for hierarchical parametrization of DPD models from atomistic simulations.

  5. Identification of improvised explosives residues using physical-chemical analytical methods under real conditions after an explosion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kotrlý, Marek; Mareš, Bohumil; Turková, Ivana; Beroun, Ivo

    2016-05-01

    Within the analysis of cases relating to the use of explosives for crimes, we have experienced a shift from using industrial explosives towards substances made in amateur and illegal way. Availability of industrial explosives is increasingly limited to a narrow sphere of subjects with a relevant permission. Thus, on the part of perpetrators, terrorists, ever greater attention is paid to illegal production of explosives that are easily made from readily available raw materials. Another alarming fact is the availability of information found on the internet. Procedures of preparation are often very simple and do not require even a deeper professional knowledge. Explosive characteristics are not actually accessible for many of these substances (detonation velocity, sensitivity, working capacity, brisance, physical and chemical stability, etc.). Therefore, a project is being implemented, which on grounds of assessment of individual information available in literature and on the internet, aiming at choosing individual areas of potentially abusable substances (e.g. mixtures of nitric acid (98%) with organic substances, mixtures nitromethane and tetranitromethane with organic substances, mixtures of chlorates and perchlorates of alkali metals with organic substances, chemically individual compounds of organic base type of perchloric acid, azides, fulminates, acetylides, picrates, styphnates of heavy metals, etc.). It is directed towards preparation of these explosives also in non-stoichiometric mixtures, conducting test explosives, determination of explosive characteristics (if they are unknown) and analysis of both primary phases and post-blast residues through available analytical techniques, such as gas and liquid chromatography with mass detection, FTIR, micro-Raman spectrometry, electron microscopy with microanalysis and Raman microspectrometry directly in SEM chamber for analysis at the level of individual microparticles. The received characteristics will be used to extend knowledge database for security forces.

  6. The accessibility of etheno-nucleotides to collisional quenchers and the nucleotide cleft in G- and F-actin.

    PubMed Central

    Root, D. D.; Reisler, E.

    1992-01-01

    Recent publication of the atomic structure of G-actin (Kabsch, W., Mannherz, H. G., Suck, D., Pai, E. F., & Holmes, K. C., 1990, Nature 347, 37-44) raises questions about how the conformation of actin changes upon its polymerization. In this work, the effects of various quenchers of etheno-nucleotides bound to G- and F-actin were examined in order to assess polymerization-related changes in the nucleotide phosphate site. The Mg(2+)-induced polymerization of actin quenched the fluorescence of the etheno-nucleotides by approximately 20% simultaneously with the increase in light scattering by actin. A conformational change at the nucleotide binding site was also indicated by greater accessibility of F-actin than G-actin to positively, negatively, and neutrally charged collisional quenchers. The difference in accessibility between G- and F-actin was greatest for I-, indicating that the environment of the etheno group is more positively charged in the polymerized form of actin. Based on calculations of the change in electric potential of the environment of the etheno group, specific polymerization-related movements of charged residues in the atomic structure of G-actin are suggested. The binding of S-1 to epsilon-ATP-G-actin increased the accessibility of the etheno group to I- even over that in Mg(2+)-polymerized actin. The quenching of the etheno group by nitromethane was, however, unaffected by the binding of S-1 to actin. Thus, the binding of S-1 induces conformational changes in the cleft region of actin that are different from those caused by Mg2+ polymerization of actin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:1304380

  7. cis-1,3,4,6-Tetranitrooctahydroimidazo-[4,5-d]imidazole (BCHMX), its properties and initiation reactivity.

    PubMed

    Klasovitý, Dusan; Zeman, Svatopluk; Růzicka, Ales; Jungová, Marcela; Rohác, Michal

    2009-05-30

    Using the (15)N NMR chemical shifts of nitrogen atoms in nitramino groups of cis-1,3,4,6-tetranitrooctahydroimidazo-[4,5-d]imidazole (bicyclo-HMX or BCHMX) and additional 10 nitramines, we have assessed its reactivity in detonation, under the influence of impact, and by action of electric spark. It is stated that the thermal stability of BCHMX is higher than that of 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX). The longest NN bond in the BCHMX molecule (1.412(4)A) is the cause for its higher impact reactivity, which is at the level of that of penterythritol tetranitrate (PETN). In the experimentally determined detonation velocity, BCMX can be slightly better performing than RDX. From the standpoint of friction sensitivity, BCHMX is similar to 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX). Attention was also focused on the solubility-temperature dependence of BCHMX in acetone, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, dimethyl sulfoxide, tetrahydrofurane, and nitromethane. X-ray crystallographic study of BCHMX (C(4)H(6)N(8)O(8), M(r)=294.17), has been carried out at the temperature of 150K with the following results: a=8.5430(8), b=6.9480(6), c=8.7780(8)A, alpha=90.0(7) degrees , beta=102.452(11) degrees , gamma=90.0(9) degrees , V=508.777(8)A(3), Z=2, D(x)=1.920 g cm(-3), lambda(Mo Ka)=0.71073A, micro=0.169 cm(-1), F(000)=856, final R=0.0414 for 1254 independent observed reflections. In the BCHMX crystal there were found more short contacts in the molecular crystal of BCHMX data of Gilardi creating extensive supramolecular architecture.

  8. "Catalysis in a tea bag": synthesis, catalytic performance and recycling of dendrimer-immobilised bis- and trisoxazoline copper catalysts.

    PubMed

    Gaab, Manuela; Bellemin-Laponnaz, Stéphane; Gade, Lutz H

    2009-01-01

    Bis- and trisoxazolines (BOX and trisox), containing a linker unit in the ligand backbone that allows their covalent attachment to carbosilane dendrimers, have been employed as polyfunctional ligands for recyclable Cu(II) Lewis acid catalysts that were immobilised in a membrane bag. The oxazolines contained an alkynyl unit attached to their backbone that was deprotonated with LDA or BuLi and then reacted with the chlorosilyl termini of zeroth-, first- and second-generation carbosilane dendrimers in the presence of TlPF(6). The functionalised dendritic systems were subsequently separated from excess ligand by way of dialysis. The general catalytic potential of these systems was assessed by studying two benchmark reactions, the alpha-hydrazination of a beta-keto ester as well as the Henry reaction of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde with nitromethane. For both reactions the bisoxazoline-based catalysts displayed superior selectivity and, in particular, catalyst activity. The latter was interpreted as being due to the hindered decoordination of the third oxazoline unit, the key step in the generation of the active catalyst, in the immobilised trisox-copper complexes. Solutions of the second-generation dendrimer catalysts were placed in membrane bags, fabricated from commercially available dialysis membranes, with the purpose of catalyst recycling based on dialysis. Overall, the supported BOX catalyst gave good and highly reproducible results throughout the study, whereas the performance of the trisox dendrimer system decreased monotonically. The reason for the different behaviour is the markedly lower activity of trisox-based catalysts relative to those based on the BOX ligand. This necessitated an increased reaction time for each cycle of the trisox derivatives, resulting in higher levels of catalyst leaching, which was attributed to a modification of the structure of the membrane by its exposure to the solvent trifluoroethanol at 40 degrees C.

  9. Proximal detection of energetic materials on fabrics by UV-Raman spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chirico, R.; Almaviva, S.; Colao, F.; Fiorani, L.; Nuvoli, M.; Schweikert, W.; Schnürer, F.; Cassioli, L.; Grossi, S.; Mariani, L.; Angelini, F.; Menicucci, I.; Palucci, A.

    2014-05-01

    In the last decades there have been several terroristic attacks with improvised explosive devices (IED) that have raised the need for new instrumentation, for homeland security applications, to obtain a reliable and effective fight against terrorism. Public transportation has been around for about 150 years, but terroristic attacks against buses, trains, subways, etc., is a relatively recent phenomenon [1]. Since 1970, transportation has been an increasingly attractive target for terrorists. Most of the attacks to transport infrastructures take place in countries where public transportation is the primary way to move. Terrorists prefer to execute a smaller-scale attack with certainty of success rather than a complex and demanding operation to cause massive death and destruction. [1]. Many commonly available materials, such as fertilizer, gunpowder, and hydrogen peroxide, can be used as explosives and other materials, such as nails, glass, or metal fragments, can be used to increase the amount of shrapnel propelled by the explosion. The majority of substances that are classified as chemical explosives generally contain oxygen, nitrogen and oxidable elements such as carbon and hydrogen [2]. The most common functional group in military explosives is NO2. That functionality can be attached to oxygen (ONO2) in the nitrate esters (PETN), to carbon (C-NO2) in the nitroarenes (TNT) and nitroalkanes (Nitromethane), and to nitrogen (N-NO2) as in the nitramines (RDX). Some organic peroxides, such as TATP and HMTD, are popular amongst terrorists because they are powerful initiators that can be easily prepared from easily available ingredients. Azides are also powerful primary explosives commonly used as initiators (commercial detonators) in civilian and military operations, therefore they could be potentially used by terrorists as initiators for IEDs.

  10. Multiprobe Spectroscopic Inverstigation of Molecular-level Behavior within Aqueous 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sarkar, Abhra; Ali, Maroof; Baker, Gary A

    2009-01-01

    In this work, an array of molecular-level solvent featuressincluding solute-solvent/solvent-solvent interactions, dipolarity, heterogeneity, dynamics, probe accessibility, and diffusionswere investigated across the entire composition of ambient mixtures containing the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [bmim][BF4], and pH 7.0 phosphate buffer, based on results assembled for nine different molecular probes utilized in a range of spectroscopic modes. These studies uncovered interesting and unusual solvatochromic probe behavior within this benchmark mixture. Solvatochromic absorbance probessa watersoluble betaine dye (betaine dye 33), N,N-diethyl-4-nitroaniline, and 4-nitroanilineswere employed to determine ET (a blend of dipolarity/polarizability and hydrogen bond donor contributions) and the Kamlet-Taft indices * (dipolarity/polarizability), R (hydrogenmore » bond donor acidity), and (hydrogen bond acceptor basicity) characterizing the [bmim][BF4] + phosphate buffer system. These parameters each showed a marked deviation from ideality, suggesting selective solvation of the individual probe solutes by [bmim][BF4]. Similar conclusions were derived from the responses of the fluorescent polarity-sensitive probes pyrene and pyrene-1-carboxaldehyde. Importantly, the fluorescent microfluidity probe 1,3-bis(1-pyrenyl)propane senses a microviscosity within the mixture that significantly exceeds expectations derived from simple interpolation of the behavior in the neat solvents. On the basis of results from this probe, a correlation between microviscosity and bulk viscosity was established; pronounced solvent-solvent hydrogen-bonding interactions were implicit in this behavior. The greatest deviation from ideal additive behavior for the probes studied herein was consistently observed to occur in the buffer-rich regime. Nitromethane-based fluorescence quenching of pyrene within the [bmim][BF4] + phosphate buffer system showed unusual compliance with a sphere-of-action quenching model, a further manifestation of the microheterogeneity of the system. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopic results for both small (BODIPY FL) and macromolecular (Texas Red-10 kDa dextran conjugate) diffusional probes provide additional evidence in support of microphase segregation inherent to aqueous [bmim][BF4].« less

  11. A critical overview of non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis. Part I: mobility and separation selectivity.

    PubMed

    Kenndler, Ernst

    2014-03-28

    This two-part review critically gives an overview on the theoretical and practical advances in non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) achieved over the recent five years. Part I starts out by reviewing the aspects relevant to electromigration in organic solvents and evaluates potential advantages of the latter in comparison to aqueous solvent systems. The crucial role of solubility for the species involved in CE - analytes and back ground electrolyte constituents - is discussed both for ionic and neutral compounds. The impact of organic solvents on the electrophoretic and electroosmotic mobility and on the ionization (pKa values) of weak acids and bases is highlighted. Special emphasis is placed on methanol, acetonitrile and mixtures of these solvents, being the most frequent employed media for NACE applications. In addition, also solvents less commonly used in NACE will be covered, including other alcohols, amides (formamide, N-methylformamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide), propylene carbonate, dimethylsulphoxide, and nitromethane. The discussions address the consequences of dramatic pKa shifts frequently seen for weak acids and bases, and the important contributions of medium-specific electroosmotic flow (EOF) to electromigration in nonaqueous media. Important for NACE, the role of the water content on pKa and mobility is analyzed. Finally, association phenomena rather specific to nonaqueous solvents (ion pairing, homo- and heteroconjugation) will be addressed, along with their potential advantages for the development of NACE separation protocols. It is pointed out that this review is not intended as a listing of all papers that have been published on NACE in the period mentioned above. It rather deals with general aspects of migration and selectivity in organic solvent systems, and discusses - critically - examples from the literature with particular interest to the topic. An analog discussion about the role of the solvent on efficiency will be presented in Part II. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Photochemical sensitization by azathioprine and its metabolites. Part 3. A direct EPR and spin-trapping study of light-induced free radicals from 6-mercaptopurine and its oxidation products.

    PubMed

    Moore, D E; Sik, R H; Bilski, P; Chignell, C F; Reszka, K J

    1994-12-01

    Sunlight has been implicated in the high incidence of skin cancer found in patients receiving 6-mercaptopurine (PSH) in the form of its pro-drug azathioprine. In this study we have used EPR spectroscopy in conjunction with the spin-trapping technique to determine whether PSH and its metabolic or photochemical oxidation products generate highly reactive free radicals upon UV irradiation. When an aqueous anaerobic solution (pH 5 or 9) of PSH (pKa = 7.7) and either 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) or nitromethane (NM) were irradiated (lambda > 300 nm) with a Xe arc lamp, the corresponding purine-6-thiyl (PS.) radical adduct and the reduced form of the spin trap (MNP/H. or CH3NO2.-) were observed. However, no radical adducts were detected when PSH and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) were irradiated (lambda = 320 nm) in oxygen-free buffer. These findings suggest that PSH does not photoionize but that instead MNP and NM are reduced by direct electron transfer from excited state PSH, 1.3(PSH)*. In aerobic solution, oxygen can act as an electron acceptor and the O2.- and PS. radicals are formed and trapped by DMPO. 6-Mercaptopurine did photoionize when irradiated with a Nd:YAG laser at 355 nm as evidenced by the appearance of the DMPO/H.(eq- + H+) adduct, which decreased in intensity in the presence of N2O. 1.3(6-Mercaptopurine)* oxidized ascorbate, formate and reduced glutathione to the corresponding ascorbyl, CO2.- or glutathiyl radicals. The photochemical behavior of 6-thioxanthine and 6-thiouric acid was similar to PSH. However, the excited states of these metabolic oxidation products exhibited stronger reducing properties than 1.3(PSH)*.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

  13. Multi-scale coarse-graining of non-conservative interactions in molecular liquids

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Izvekov, Sergei, E-mail: sergiy.izvyekov.civ@mail.mil; Rice, Betsy M.

    2014-03-14

    A new bottom-up procedure for constructing non-conservative (dissipative and stochastic) interactions for dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) models is described and applied to perform hierarchical coarse-graining of a polar molecular liquid (nitromethane). The distant-dependent radial and shear frictions in functional-free form are derived consistently with a chosen form for conservative interactions by matching two-body force-velocity and three-body velocity-velocity correlations along the microscopic trajectories of the centroids of Voronoi cells (clusters), which represent the dissipative particles within the DPD description. The Voronoi tessellation is achieved by application of the K-means clustering algorithm at regular time intervals. Consistently with a notion of many-bodymore » DPD, the conservative interactions are determined through the multi-scale coarse-graining (MS-CG) method, which naturally implements a pairwise decomposition of the microscopic free energy. A hierarchy of MS-CG/DPD models starting with one molecule per Voronoi cell and up to 64 molecules per cell is derived. The radial contribution to the friction appears to be dominant for all models. As the Voronoi cell sizes increase, the dissipative forces rapidly become confined to the first coordination shell. For Voronoi cells of two and more molecules the time dependence of the velocity autocorrelation function becomes monotonic and well reproduced by the respective MS-CG/DPD models. A comparative analysis of force and velocity correlations in the atomistic and CG ensembles indicates Markovian behavior with as low as two molecules per dissipative particle. The models with one and two molecules per Voronoi cell yield transport properties (diffusion and shear viscosity) that are in good agreement with the atomistic data. The coarser models produce slower dynamics that can be appreciably attributed to unaccounted dissipation introduced by regular Voronoi re-partitioning as well as by larger numerical errors in mapping out the dissipative forces. The framework presented herein can be used to develop computational models of real liquids which are capable of bridging the atomistic and mesoscopic scales.« less

  14. Hazardous gases and oxygen depletion in a wet paddy pile: an experimental study in a simulating underground rice mill pit, Thailand.

    PubMed

    Yenjai, Pornthip; Chaiear, Naesinee; Charerntanyarak, Lertchai; Boonmee, Mallika

    2012-01-01

    During the rice harvesting season in Thailand, large amounts of fresh paddy are sent to rice mills immediately after harvesting due to a lack of proper farm storage space. At certain levels of moisture content, rice grains may generate hazardous gases, which can replace oxygen (O(2)) in the confined spaces of underground rice mill pits. This phenomenon has been observed in a fatal accident in Thailand. Our study aimed to investigate the type of gases and their air concentrations emitted from the paddy piles at different levels of moisture content and duration of piling time. Four levels of moisture content in the paddy piles were investigated, including dry paddy group (< 14% wet basis (wb)), wet paddy groups (22-24, 25-27 and 28-30%wb). Our measurements were conducted in 16 experimental concrete pits 80 × 80 cm wide by 60 cm high. Gases emitted were measured with an infrared spectrophotometer and a multi-gas detector every 12 h for 5 days throughout the experiment. The results revealed high levels of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) (range 5,864-8,419 ppm) in all wet paddy groups, which gradually increased over time. The concentration of carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH(4)), nitromethane (CH(3)NO(2)) and nitrous oxide (N(2)O) in all wet paddy groups increased with piling time and with moisture content, with ranges of 11-289; 2-8; 36-374; and 4-26 ppm, respectively. The highest levels of moisture content in the paddy piles were in the range 28-30%wb. Nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) concentrations were low in all paddy groups. The percentage of O(2) in the wet paddy groups decreased with piling time and moisture content (from 18.7% to 4.1%). This study suggested that hazardous gases could be emitted in moist paddy piles, and their concentrations could increase with increasing moisture content and piling time period.

  15. Radiation-Induced Chemical Reactions in Hydrogel of Hydroxypropyl Cellulose (HPC): A Pulse Radiolysis Study.

    PubMed

    Yamashita, Shinichi; Ma, Jun; Marignier, Jean-Louis; Hiroki, Akihiro; Taguchi, Mitsumasa; Mostafavi, Mehran; Katsumura, Yosuke

    2016-12-01

    We performed studies on pulse radiolysis of highly transparent and shape-stable hydrogels of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) that were prepared using a radiation-crosslinking technique. Several fundamental aspects of radiation-induced chemical reactions in the hydrogels were investigated. With radiation doses less than 1 kGy, degradation of the HPC matrix was not observed. The rate constants of the HPC composing the matrix, with two water decomposition radicals [hydroxyl radical ( • OH) and hydrated electron ([Formula: see text])] in the gels, were determined to be 4.5 × 10 9 and 1.8 × 10 7 M -1 s -1 , respectively. Direct ionization of HPC in the matrix slightly increased the initial yield of [Formula: see text], but the additionally produced amount of [Formula: see text] disappeared immediately within 200 ps, indicating fast recombination of [Formula: see text] with hole radicals on HPC or on surrounding hydration water molecules. Reactions of [Formula: see text] with nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and nitromethane (CH 3 NO 2 ) were also examined. Decay of [Formula: see text] due to scavenging by N 2 O and CH 3 NO 2 were both slower in hydrogels than in aqueous solutions, showing slower diffusions of the reactants in the gel matrix. The degree of decrease in the decay rate was more effective for N 2 O than for CH 3 NO 2 , revealing lower solubility of N 2 O in gel than in water. It is known that in viscous solvents, such as ethylene glycol, CH 3 NO 2 exhibits a transient effect, which is a fast reaction over the contact distance of reactants and occurs without diffusions of reactants. However, such an effect was not observed in the hydrogel used in the current study. In addition, the initial yield of [Formula: see text], which is affected by the amount of the scavenged precursor of [Formula: see text], in hydrogel containing N 2 O was slightly higher than that in water containing N 2 O, and the same tendency was found for CH 3 NO 2 .

  16. Detection of Chemical Precursors of Explosives

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Li, Jing

    2012-01-01

    Certain selected chemicals associated with terrorist activities are too unstable to be prepared in final form. These chemicals are often prepared as precursor components, to be combined at a time immediately preceding the detonation. One example is a liquid explosive, which usually requires an oxidizer, an energy source, and a chemical or physical mechanism to combine the other components. Detection of the oxidizer (e.g. H2O2) or the energy source (e.g., nitromethane) is often possible, but must be performed in a short time interval (e.g., 5 15 seconds) and in an environment with a very small concentration (e.g.,1 100 ppm), because the target chemical(s) is carried in a sealed container. These needs are met by this invention, which provides a system and associated method for detecting one or more chemical precursors (components) of a multi-component explosive compound. Different carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are loaded (by doping, impregnation, coating, or other functionalization process) for detecting of different chemical substances that are the chemical precursors, respectively, if these precursors are present in a gas to which the CNTs are exposed. After exposure to the gas, a measured electrical parameter (e.g. voltage or current that correlate to impedance, conductivity, capacitance, inductance, etc.) changes with time and concentration in a predictable manner if a selected chemical precursor is present, and will approach an asymptotic value promptly after exposure to the precursor. The measured voltage or current are compared with one or more sequences of their reference values for one or more known target precursor molecules, and a most probable concentration value is estimated for each one, two, or more target molecules. An error value is computed, based on differences of voltage or current for the measured and reference values, using the most probable concentration values. Where the error value is less than a threshold, the system concludes that the target molecule is likely. Presence of one, two, or more target molecules in the gas can be sensed from a single set of measurements.

  17. Excited electronic state decomposition mechanisms and dynamics of nitramine energetic materials and model systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Greenfield, Margo

    Energetic materials play an important role in aeronautics, the weapon industry, and the propellant industry due to their broad applications as explosives and fuels. RDX (1,3,5-trinitrohexahydro-s-triazine), HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine), and CL-20 (2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane) are compounds which contain high energy density. Although RDX and HMX have been studied extensively over the past several decades a complete understanding of their decomposition mechanisms and dynamics is unknown. Time of flight mass spectroscopy (TOFMS) UV photodissociation (ns) experiments of gas phase RDX, HMX, and CL-20 generate the NO molecule as the initial decomposition product. Four different vibronic transitions of the initial decomposition product, the NO molecule, are observed: A2Sigma(upsilon'=0)←X 2pi(upsilon"=0,1,2,3). Simulations of the rovibronic intensities for the A←X transitions demonstrate that NO dissociated from RDX, HMX, and CL-20 is rotationally cold (˜20 K) and vibrationally hot (˜1800 K). Conversely, experiments on the five model systems (nitromethane, dimethylnitramine (DMNA), nitropyrrolidine, nitropiperidine and dinitropiperazine) produce rotationally hot and vibrationally cold spectra. Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) experiments are performed to rule out the possible decomposition product OH, generated along with NO, perhaps from the suggested HONO elimination mechanism. The OH radical is not observed in the fluorescence experiments, indicating the HONO decomposition intermediate is not an important pathway for the excited electronic state decomposition of cyclic nitramines. The NO molecule is also employed to measure the dynamics of the excited state decomposition. A 226 nm, 180 fs light pulse is utilized to photodissociate the gas phase systems. Stable ion states of DMNA and nitropyrrolidine are observed while the energetic materials and remaining model systems present the NO molecule as the only observed product. Pump-probe transients of the resonant A←X (0-0) transition of the NO molecule show a constant signal indicating these materials decompose faster than the time duration of the 226 nm laser light. Calculational results together with the experimental results indicate the energetic materials decompose through an internal conversion to very highly excited (˜5 eV of vibrational energy) vibrational states of their ground electronic state, while the model systems follow an excited electronic state decomposition pathway.

  18. Luminescent MOFs comprising mixed tritopic linkers and Cd(II)/Zn(II) nodes for selective detection of organic nitro compounds and iodine capture

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rachuri, Yadagiri; Bisht, Kamal Kumar; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research

    2015-03-15

    Two CPs ([Cd{sub 3}(BTC){sub 2}(TIB){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}].(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}){sub n} (1) and ([Zn{sub 3}(BTC){sub 2}(TIB){sub 2}].(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}){sub n} (2) composed of tripodal linkers BTC (1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) and TIB (1,3,5-tris(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene) were synthesized via solvothermal route and structurally characterized. Single crystal structural analysis reveals 1 possesses a novel 3D framework structure, whereas 2 represents a previously established compound. Owing to the d{sup 10} configuration of metal nodes and robust 3D frameworks, 1 and 2 exhibit excellent fluorescence properties which have been exploited to sense organic nitro compounds in vapor phase. Compound 1 demonstrates selective sensing of nitromethane over structurally similar methanolmore » with ca. 70 and 43% fluorescence quenching in case of former and later. Similarly, 58% fluorescence quenching was observed in case of nitrobenzene over the structurally resembling toluene for which 30% quenching was observed. Compound 2 did not show any preference for nitro compounds and exhibited comparable fluorescence quenching when exposed to the vapors of nitro or other geometrically resembling organic molecules. Furthermore, adsorption experiments revealed that 1 and 2 can uptake 2.74 and 14.14 wt% molecular iodine respectively in vapor phase which can be released in organic solvents such as hexane and acetonitrile. The maximal iodine uptake in case of 1 and 2 corresponds to 0.15 and 0.80 molecules of iodine per formula unit of respective frameworks. Comprehensive structural description, thermal stability and luminescence behavior for both CPs has also been presented. - Graphical abstract: Two 3D luminescent CPs comprising mixed tripodal ligands have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Iodine encapsulation capacity of synthesized CPs is evaluated and their fluorescence quenching in presence of small organic molecules is exploited for sensing of nitro organics. - Highlights: • Two 3D mixed ligand coordination polymers containing Cd and Zn center are prepared. • Crystal structure and thermal stability of synthesized CPs has been described. • Photoluminescence intensity of CPs was observed to vary in presence of organic vapors. • Photoluminescence quenching in case of Cd CP is exploited to selectively sense nitro organics. • These thermally stable robust CPs are also used for iodine adsorption.« less

  19. Symmetric functionalization of polyhedral phenylsilsesquioxanes as a route to nano-building blocks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roll, Mark Francis

    The design and synthesis of nanometer scale structures is of intense current interest. Herein we report on the ability to use symmetric, robust, mutable silsesquioxane ([RSiO3/2]n) nano-building blocks to produce well-defined 3-D structures for electronic or adsorption applications. We are able to show the systematic effects of supermolecular coordination to modulate the density of the molecular packing. This dissertation first describes the synthesis of the elusive decaphenylsilsesquioxane, and the exploration of the substitutionally specific para iodination of the octa-, deca- and dodeca-(p-iodophenyl)-silsesquioxanes, whose single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures are reported. Octa( p-iodophenyl)-silsesquioxane shows supermolecular coordination via Desiraju's halogen-halogen short-contact synthon, forming an open structure with a solvent accessible cavity comprising 40% of the unit cell. The application of palladium, nickel and copper catalyzed cross-coupling techniques using the carbon-iodine bond is explored in order to divergently synthesize crystalline derivatives. These derivatives include the octa(diphenylacetylene)-silsesquioxane and the octa(hexaphenylbenzene)silsesquioxane (56 Aryl), whose single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures are reported. We show that 56 Aryl, which contains more carbon atoms than any other discrete molecule in the Cambridge Structural Database, crystallizes into an extremely open structure with a solvent accessible cavity comprising 55% of the total volume. The supermolecular ordering driven by the bulky hexaphenylbenzene moieties gives nanometer-scale channels along the ab plane. Substitutional specificity is explored in the bromination of octaphenylsilsesquioxane (OPS), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures are reported for the octa-, hexadeca- and tetraicosa-brominated derivatives. Precise synthetic control is demonstrated by the unique catalyst-free bromination of OPS, providing the octa(o-bromophenyl)-silsesquioxane in low yield. An iron tribromide catalyzed hexadeca-bromination gives the crystalline octa(2,5-dibromopheny1)silsesquioxane in good yield, with a high density of 2.3 g/cc. Finally, the iron tribromide-catalyzed tetraicosa-bromination of OPS is described, producing a low yield of crystals with a solid solution of substitution patterns coordinated by bromine-bromine short contacts. Lastly, the Scholl-type, dehydrogenative cyclization of the octa(hexaarylbenzene)silsesquioxane systems is explored by the addition of iron trichloride/nitromethane to a refluxing solution of the silsesquioxane in stannic chloride/dichloromethane. The products are analyzed by Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption and Ionization - Time of Flight Mass Spectroscopy and Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectroscopy.

  20. Nanoconfinement Effects in Catalysis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kung, Harold H.

    In this investigation, the unique properties that stem from the constrained environment and enforced proximity of functional groups at the active site were demonstrated for a number of systems. The first system is a nanocage structure with silicon-based, atom-thick shells and molecular-size cavities. The shell imparts the expected size exclusion for access to the interior cavity, and the confined space together with the hydrophobic shell strongly influences the stability of charged groups. One consequence is that the interior amine groups in a siloxane nanocage exhibit a shift in their protonation ability that is equivalent to about 4 pH units. Inmore » another nanocage structure designed to possess a core-shell structure in which the core periphery is decorated with carboxylic acid groups and the shell interior is populated with silanol groups, the restricted motion of the core results in limiting the stoichiometry of reaction between carboxylic acid and a Co 2CO 8 complex, which leads to formation and stabilization of Co(I) ions in the nanocage. The second designed catalytic structure is a supported, isolated, Lewis acid Sn-oxide unit derived from a (POSS)-Sn-(POSS) molecular complex (POSS = incompletely condensed silsesquioxane). The Sn center in the (POSS)-Sn-(POSS) complex is present in a tetrahedral coordination, as confirmed by single crystal x-ray crystallography and Sn NMR, and its Lewis acid character is demonstrated with its binding to amines. The retention of the tetrahedral coordination of Sn after heterogenization and mild oxidative treatment is confirmed by characterization using EXAFS, NMR, UV-vis, and DRIFT, and its Lewis acid character is confirmed by stoichiometric binding with pyridine. This Sn-catalyst is active in hydride transfer reactions as a typical solid Lewis acid. In addition, the Sn centers can also create Brønsted acidity with alcohol by binding the alcohol strongly as alkoxide and transferring the hydroxyl H to the neighboring Sn-O-Si bond. The resulting acidic silanol is active in epoxide ring opening and acetalization reactions. The open structure of the Sn center makes it accessible to larger molecules, including cellobiose which can be converted to 5-(hydroxymethyl)-furfural. The third structure is a support planted with functional group pairing of a known separation distance. Using a precursor molecule that contains a hydrolysable silyl ester bond, and making use of known chemistry to convert silanol groups into amino/pyridyl and phosphinyl groups, silica surfaces with carboxylic acid/silanol, carboxylic acid/amine, carboxylic acid/pyridine, and carboxylic acid/phosphine pairs can be constructed. The amino groups paired with carboxylic acid on such a surface is more active in the Henry reaction of 4-nitobenzaldehyde with nitromethane.« less

  1. The Universal Role of Tubulence in the Propagation of Strong Shocks and Detonation Waves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, John H.

    2001-06-01

    The passage of a strong shock wave usually results in irreversible physical and chemical changes in the medium. If the chemical reactions are sufficiently exothermic, the shock wave can be self-propagating, i.e., sustained by the chemical energy release via the expansion work of the reaction products. Although shocks and detonations can be globally stable and propagate at constant velocities (in the direction of motion), their structure may be highly unstable and exhibit large hydrodynamic fluctuations, i.e., turbulence. Recent investigations on plastic deformation of polycrystalline material behind shock waves have revealed particle velocity dispersion at the mesoscopic level, a result of vortical rotational motion similar to that of turbulent fluid flows at high Reynolds number.1 Strong ionizing shocks in noble gases2, as well as dissociating shock waves in carbon dioxide,3 also demonstrate a turbulent density fluctuation in the non-equilibrium shock transition zone. Perhaps the most thoroughly investigated unstable structure is that of detonation waves in gaseous explosives.4 Detonation waves in liquid explosives such as nitromethane also take on similar unstable structure as gaseous detonations.5 There are also indications that detonations in solid explosives have a similar unsteady structure under certain conditions. Thus, it appears that it is more of a rule than an exception that the structure of strong shocks and detonations are unstable and exhibit turbulent-like fluctuations as improved diagnostics now permit us to look more closely at the meso- and micro-levels. Increasing attention is now devoted to the understanding of the shock waves at the micro-scale level in recent years. This is motivated by the need to formulate physical and chemical models that contain the correct physics capable of describing quantitatively the shock transition process. It should be noted that, in spite of its unstable 3-D structure, the steady 1-D conservation laws (in the direction of propagation) apply across the shock transition zone if the downstream equilibrium plane is taken far enough away to ensure the decay of the turbulent fluctuations. Thus, the Hugoniot properties of one-dimensional propagation of shock and detonation waves remain valid. However, the conservation laws do not describe the important propagation mechanisms (i.e., the physical and chemical processes that effect the transition from initial to the final state) in the wave structure. Since gaseous detonations enjoy the advantage of being able to be observed experimentally in great detail, its complex turbulent structure is now quite well established. Furthermore, the equation of state for perfect gases is well known and the chemistry of most gas phase reactions is also sufficiently understood quantitatively to permit detailed numerical simulation of the complex detonation structure. Thus, a good database of information exists for gaseous detonation, and in this paper we shall explore the turbulent structure of gaseous detonation with the aim of answering the question as to "why nature prefers to evoke such a complicated manner to effect its propagation." We will then attempt to generalize the discussion to the "terra incognita" of condensed phase materials where the structure is much less understood. 1. Meshcheryakov, Yu.I., and Atroshenko, S.A., Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved. Fiz., 4, 105-123 (1992). 2. Glass, I.I, and Liu, W.S., J. Fluid Mech., 84(1), 55-77 (1978). 3. Griffiths, R.W., Sanderman, R.J., and Hornung, H.G., J. Phys. D., 8, 1681-1691 (1975). 4. Lee, J.H.S., Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech., 16, 311-336 (1984). 5. Mallory, H.D., J. Appl. Physics, 38, 5302-5306 (1967).

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